NOVEL WEB Chapter 10: Getting used to my life.
Date: 8th Tempestia, 1763 (Emberday)
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Library, The Octagon Academy
Railan's POV:
It has been a few days since I was announced as a trainee Student Council Member and to my ill luck, the people assigned the same position as me were none other than Desmond Frostguard, the prodigious Prince of Frostholm, the Hero: Siddhanth, the Heroine: Elena and Mohini, the daughter of the Vajra of Celestia. If it had been just them, I am pretty sure there would have been no issues during the announcement, but the moment my name was announced, every first-year who ranked higher than me shouted in disbelief as my name and rank were notified.
It perfectly made sense, as to why a student ranked 286 out of 300 admitted would be given the privilege that only the TOP 4 candidates in the first year received. Even amongst the chosen first years, Desmond didn't even look at me, Elena and Mohini behaved as they normally do and Siddhanth, it was a fan moment for me. It's like you see your favorite celebrity wave to you or call out your name from the stage and smile at you, you just feel as if the time has stopped only for you!
I feel no shame to admit this, as a 30-year-old man in the previous world, I was the number one fan, not just of the novel, but also Siddhanth. He inspired me.
Just as the novels described him, he was such a nice and warm person. Not a shred of animosity! To think that he will shoulder the fate of the world alone, made my heart heavy again. I wanted to just tell him everything, that may happen to him in the future and warn him but I just can't go up to him and tell him all that, can I?
If I rob him of the moments that he is currently enjoying and living, doesn't that makes me an even bigger villain to him, giving him all that information, he didn't ask for and robbing him of the few pleasant days of his life, just so that I can have it easy? it just really doesn't make any sense!
I am not sure if all of those events will play according to my knowledge since this world is not proceeding according to it. I just can't give him that uncertainty, I need to find evidence strong enough that can support my knowledge.
Thus, when he met me, I acted normally while my THE POKER FACE kept on calming me throughout that whole Shadowday last week. Well, I would say that the entire first week was chaotic. Since that announcement, every student in the academy( except a few maybe) has been looking at me with uneasiness. For some, it's like they are looking for an opportunity to settle some unknown scores with me. Some look at me with disgust and now, I came to know another exciting rumor about me that I was given the position to appease the curse, otherwise, I might unleash that on the Academy and I am being kept in control by the Student Council under the guise of "Trainee".
Well, it doesn't sound to be a far-fetch thought. If there exists a curse of unknown origins, definitely people will try to make their own assumptions and theory. But it also has a few plus points, as I don't have to wait in lines as people just move aside when I walk in!
It's not like, I have been sitting idle since my self-proclamation.
It's been now 4 days since I started following my created schedule. It goes as follows:
Waking up at 5:00 AM sharp, going for a fast run. Well, Farkas, also joins me, but as my stats are so low, it's not easy for me to run for long, On the first day, I was able to run just for 5 miles, which is pretty low even from my other world. It felt as if I was running for the first time in my life which later Farkas pointed came out to be true.
Then I would do fast pace walking back again. Followed by an hour-long session of learning basic fighting techniques with Farkas. I mean, this body has sharp reflexes indicating the fact that it has done some training but not continued as I once again learned from Farkas, about the useless person, I was before.
After that, I go for a bath and hurry up to reach the academy by 8~8:30 to report as a student Council Trainee.
Then, it's normal Academy day till 5:00 PM, after which we have 2 hr long session where the Dorm Representatives/Seniors train you and teach you basic stuff and some training. Co-incidentally for me, some of my dorm Representatives constitute the Student Council and thus, instead of a 2hr session, I have 2-hr training followed by 1-hr of walking around the campus as "night guard" along with a Senior Student Council Member. After that, I need to submit a proper report of my "guard duty" to Ms. President, where she never accepts the first draft and asks me to redo it again, even if both of them are exactly the same. The second one is accepted. While it was supposed to be a weekly rotation of trainees, due to my "punishment", I will be doing this for my entire semester. Well, the remaining Trainees also don't have it easy, but both the President and Vice-President of the Student Council, the Sun and the Moon of the Academy belonged to my Dorm and as such, they are the ones that handle me directly.
Though Aurelius is a lot gentler than Ms. President, even he is helpless when it comes to Celestia StarBorne. But the time spent with Aurelius is really great, he always has something interesting to show and tell, In the novel, the character of Aurelius was never drawn out in such detail, so it amazes me how simple and honest he actually is.
Even, the lunch-time is reduced, typically it would be 2 hrs from 12 - 2:00 PM, however, the student council, only has 1-hr and the other is spent to monitor around and make sure that everything is going fine and report in case of any emergency or unnatural scenario.
One thing that many people, don't understand in this world, is the fact about abilities and strength.
Abilities are very random, in this world, something one practices for a long time, might become an ability while some people are born with some abilities naturally. But what causes this phenomenon?
The most common answer that I have received is experience. Suppose you master something, by practicing it repeatedly. In that case, it becomes a skill, and on further refining it and refining it, it may become an ability when it becomes an ability it gets encoded in the "very being" of the person and thus, can be transferred to the future generations. As future generations are not exactly the same, they have different "variations" of the ability and it becomes a part of that family. Thus, these people then train and hone their abilities and the cycle continues.
However, most people believe that once enlightenment is achieved, your abilities become more prominent and your stats are more or less defined.
However, most people don't know this fact, that it's not like, after crest manifestation, everything is decided! Crest manifestation simply opens the means to actively utilize mana and Aura. Each person continues to grow after that too, however, the required proportion to be able to see a "comparable difference" changes.
Think of it as a game, initially, you were a low-level player, and as you gain experience your level increases but if you keep on hunting the same low-level monster in the game or use low-level potions to increase your experience, slowly and slowly it will become difficult to increase your level as you'll require more and more experience points. It is a similar case here, Once people achieve a certain efficiency it becomes difficult for them to continue gaining from the same practice. It will require more and more hours which everyone cannot spend. That is why, many people generally "stop growing" after the years of their academic life. And that is why we have only a few people like Principal Adolas. Well, on their part, these guys were monsters even during their early years, their starting stats were themselves high, so they were used to doing rigorous training from the start to further improve. And this is the very reason, why sometimes people who kept on doing their daily chores throughout their life, slowly but steadily are able to achieve abilities.
As one grows, it allows them to use more Mana.
Mana and Aura are two different things.
When we say Mana capacity, we mean the maximum output of mana-based magic that one can produce that completely makes them unable to use mana until that capacity is filled with outside Mana.
Aura, is different, in the sense that it is the life energy of the person itself. It remains present until the person is alive.
This is what all the first-year students have learned in the Basic Magic Theory Class.
Most of the academic study stuff is easy for me, and I think it's because of my knowledge of this world as well as the previous one. So that is a plus for me. I don't necessarily need to dedicate my time to assignments, I just complete them during the classes, and the new SCAN ability of mine also comes into play, I noticed that it helps me with answering the assignment questions as well. It's not like I need that help but it offers the most optimal solution in no time, my reading time is also significantly reduced, I tried using this on some enchanted library books and found some interesting results:
1. If the book is readable, meaning it can be accessed by First-year students, I don't exactly need to read it line by line, the SCAN ability just "scans" and gives me the summarised version and all the necessary information.
2. If the book is non-readable, meaning not for First-years per se, this ability still tries to scan them! however success is very limited, it may be partially due to the effect of Lock Spells and the low level of my ability.
Thus, I came to the conclusion that, if this ability gets upgraded it will definitely help me in the long run.
However, I also need to improve my mana stats as well in order to be able to keep up with the drain these abilities cause.
THE POKER FACE drains mana very slowly, it's partially due to the fact it is a Passive ability as well as partially depending upon against "what thing" is it trying to shield me from, it drained my mana almost completely when dealing with Principal Adolas's spell.
The SCAN ability on the other hand has a high mana drain, simply due to the fact that it is an active ability meaning that it needs to be activated in order to be utilized. I can only use it on a few questions or books and after that, it becomes unusable until my mana replenishes. The duration for which it is used also plays an important role here.
However, one good thing about low mana capacity is that it replenishes fast!
However, certain spells and abilities require a huge quantity from the start, so it's not ideal to be content with a low mana capacity.
One thing Aurelius told me is that I really have a high rate at which I intake outside mana, it's not an extraordinary thing per se but he says that my low mana capacity stat makes it unique. He further explained to me that there is a relation to the amount of mana one can intake vs the total capacity and it's there to make sure one doesn't intakes more than what it can store otherwise it would be like a bomb and you'll just blast because of too much mana left to store. Think of it as the two sides balancing out each other, The outside is an expanse so when we disperse mana it gets scattered whereas our body is finite so when there is a mana intake there needs to be something to regulate it and that is what we define by mana capacity.
{Meanwhile, while Railan was lost in his thoughts}
Date: 8th Tempestia, 1763 (Emberday)
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Library, The Octagon Academy
Mohini's POV:
What's he always doing?
He comes in the library at around 12 with his lunch, sometimes, every day and either he just starts writing or just keeps thinking, I mean it's really hard to hear what he is thinking, my spells and ability don't work against him well. He definitely has a passive skill to block it but a skill of such a high grade that can block my eyes.
Ya, since young, I had this ability to see into people's thoughts, and that's when I realized people think and say different things, one might think of the other as a friend but the other person might just be using him, the only person, I can trust is my father, he always spoke his mind, in his own words, " If there is someone to threaten my words or I feel the need to hide them, I am unfit as the Vajra."
Railan is nothing like my father but there is something intriguing about him and I want to get to the root of that. However, I just can't read what's going on in his head. It's a complete mystery.
While I was lost in my own thoughts, some girls passed by me,
"Do you see that, that Guy over there is Railan Braveheart?" said one girl.
"You mean the son of the great adventurer Sir Simon Braveheart and the one with the curse?" asked another one from the group.
"Yes, somehow, only he survived that curse that killed every associated person in the family of those explorers that died while on the exploration of the dark continent!"
"But how did he survive, if no one else?"
"Some believe her mother made a deal with the dark mages or witches and offered herself and the people who died due to the curse as sacrifices to save him,"
"You mean he is associated with those dark mages?"
"So you are saying that she chose to save him, over all others?"
"Ya and did you know, he ranked 286th out of all the people in the entrance test"
'Ya, I heard the principal declare that," replied another in the group.
"Don't you think it makes no sense? why was he chosen as the 286th ranked person along with the top scorers?"
"Ya, it makes no sense, what were the selection criteria, even if we are ranked far better than him, why were we not chosen then?" asked girl no 2.
"You know, I have heard that, he threatened to unleash the curse somehow and demanded to be chosen, he was called to the Principal's office and then his butler rushed in to save him, you know that?" replied back girl no 1.
"What, What do you mean?"
"Ya, what I am saying is the absolute truth, currently, they are keeping him as "trainee" but are actually looking for ways to counter it? that is why he is assigned under the direct care of Aurelius and Miss StarBorne!" said girl no 1.
These Rumors about Railan started the moment he was announced as a trainee. While we also didn't understand why he was chosen, we believed that Principal Adolas wouldn't do anything half-minded, he never cared about things like trusteeship or whatever, he is what my father described as " a challenge yet to conquer" so there is no way that a first-year student would best the Principal. Even that rumor about him "threatening to curse" is wrong, first of all, he is not that type of a person, he is how to describe someone near yet aloof! someone you can find anywhere in the world, yet so unique once you meet him. It's hard to essentially encapsulate his presence in a single sentence. Even if he had such an ability to cast the curse, he wouldn't do that just for a mere "traineeship" when he is given the most amount of work.
Secondly, we have Principal Adolas, himself backing Railan for the traineeship as explained by Miss President when she showed the Principal's letter, there is no way he would do that and jeopardize his students if there was even a trounce of a chance of the curse spreading.
Yet, people believe what they want to believe in order to make sense of their own reality.
Well, anyways, Railan doesn't seem to care about what people think of him!
But, I just don't get it how can he be so weak, I would have gotten it if it was Siddhanth, the extraordinary commoner, the 2nd topmost student amongst the first years, and if the principal backed him up, and wrote a letter for him, there would have been absolutely no issues, I mean he is clearly different, standing toe to toe with Desmond, however, his grades made so that he doesn't require any backing and he has shown his worth during the training and other exercises but choosing Railan? this just doesn't make sense.
I don't know why, it's just the way Railan talks or whatever, it feels like he knows the people even better than they know themselves. Amongst the few training schedules, we had together with the Student Council, it's clear his stats are very low, but it still feels like he knows what the other person is thinking but is unable to overthrow it due to his obvious low stats. I am not sure it makes any sense, I am myself confused, how can a person with such low stats force an opponent with far higher stats to rethink their own attack because their cards have been all out? like he lost the physical battle but won the wits one?
I have been training under my father for a long so I know when I see someone I can clearly tell whether he is a fighter or a normal person!
It's small things like the eyes, the hand movements & their coordination, etc.
While he lacks that agility, his eyes look as if he has endured a lot!
A noble with such low stats is uncommon but a commoner with such High stats is truly unbelievable somehow I feel as if Railan has something more than what meets the eye.
I have been watching him for a week now and I haven't noticed anything unusual, ya he spends a lot of time in the library but maybe he is just one of those nerds, I guess. Well, I'll keep on observing after all my father specially told me to be wary of him.
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Library, The Octagon Academy
"See, you guys, later, I think, I'll head back, I am not feeling that well today, so I'll just take a half day and go back to my dorm room"
"Hey, is everything alright, I'll accompany you, do you need anything?" asked girl no. 2
"No, no, I am fine, you guys go ahead and attend the class, just forward me the notes if any, I'll just relax in my room"
"Oh, ok, god bye take care, and relax, will chat during dinner, goodbye" Girls no 2 and 3 waved at their friends as they hurried back to their classes.
{She starts walking back towards the dorm rooms, currently, no one is there as a girl no 1 travels back but not to her room}
...
{She opens the room and moves in and sees a dark figure sitting on her chair, his face cannot be seen}
"Did you do as I told you?" said the man in the dark robe.
"Master, you know how much I hate transforming myself into stupid little shit," said the girl as she transformed herself back to his original form, a man wearing a jail uniform( white and black thick lining shirt and pajama) with broken handcuffs on either hand and a sinister smile on his face as his fingers transformed into long pointed nails(?) made of iron(?) or a very hard substance, they sparked a little as he brought them together.
"Shhh, she is sleeping, do not disturb her, she is my new puppet," said that man his face still not visible whilst his entire body is just like a black smoke.
"Master but what about that other new puppet you gained?"
The moment he said this, he was suddenly pushed to the ground, his face flat against the floor, unable to move his entire body,
"Don't remind me of him, that Railan guy, will pay, this doll here Ravenna Shadowstrike is more than enough for that weak scum"
"Master, I am so sorry but I don't understand, why are we igniting rumors about him? Can't I just go and kill him now?"
"You dumb servant of mine, he is surrounded by Farkas, the mad beast, the moment you would step even close to his dorm room, you will see yourself in between Farkas's fangs, his ears and sense of smell cannot be ignored. It is to date a miracle how that damned Simon Braveheart tamed that untamable wild animal"
"So, that is why we are now reduced to spreading rumors?" asked the servant, trying to bring himself back up.
"I am creating a chain of thoughts in the student's minds, we are just fanning the flames, all of them had those thoughts, this way it becomes easier to mind control them and eliminate Railan Braveheart for good,"
"I just feel we are taking unnecessary steps to eliminate a nobody!" said the servant his head bowed down
"We can't be discovered, until my Lord's orders, and that Railan is a stain on my Lord's greatness, he needs to be removed!"
"Was anyone suspicious about you?"
"Na, those stupid little shits didn't even know I was never a part of their life and told me all of their secrets, they thought of me as their best friend, I just want to kill them all and make a beautiful piece of art with their body parts," said the servant trying to hold back his cynical laugh.
"I will soon let you loose, the student field trip at the month's end will be your party, enjoy killing them there," he said as he raised his hand and signaled the servant to sit next to his feet.
"Thank you, master," said the servant as his master pat his head and tied those cuffs again!
"Don't want you to go running now" as they both slowly vanished from the room, while the girl Ravenna slept the entire time as if she was in a coma!
To be continued