Claudius pointed me to a room where I could lay down and logout. Leaving MSE, I didn't wake back up, instead I went into my learning space and sat. I had some major decisions to make, after all even Claudius said that we'd hold on for several more waves without problem. Looking at history, that means that at least a thousand years would pass before Earth was in trouble. Which means, I could live a great, mostly peaceful life for at least a thousand years, hanging out with my friends and enjoying myself. Or, I could join Storm's Refuge and spend the next thousand years doing the same things while receiving better training and status. After all, it's not like they're about to throw a rookie cultivator on the front lines.
Thinking about it, the implants were ingenious. Get everyone excited about cultivating and gaining strength, creating a massive base of possible powerhouses to help defend Earth. The vast majority of the population will live in ignorant bliss, fighting the corrupted just to gain strength. Those elite few who manage to become truly powerful would then be told the truth and join the fight to save Earth.
I tried to take the time to think my decision through, but honestly just the thought of training at Storm's Refuge makes me happy. The environment there, so full of Elemental Energy, was like being in heaven. I don't know if anything other than being forced to see my friends and family as enemies could make me give that up.
Decision made, I used my implant to try and call my dad... No service of course. My mom's supposed to be in California for another day, so maybe I can get through to her. Calling her, she picked up on the second ring.
"My baby! I've been trying to call you and your father for ages, how'd you manage to get through?"
"Hey mom, I'm using my implant to call you, the regular phones and cell lines are down."
"How are you, are you safe? If you're not I'm going to kill your father!" She said, the obvious worry in her voice filing me with warmth.
"I'm fine mom, I'm at Connor's. The storm is insane, it snowed so much that his roof collapsed! We had to retreat to his panic room in the basement. Don't worry though, we've got everything we could need for at least a week."
"Well, at least you're with someone. Your dad told me you opened your mindscape, I'm so proud of you baby!"
"Yeah, about that. Have you ever heard of Storm's Refuge?" I asked her, wondering what her answer would be.
Silence...
"Why are you asking about the storm?" My mom finally asked after a while.
"Well..." I went on to tell her all about the trial I wondered into and how I passed it.
"Did they tell you the truth about them?" My mom asked, more serious than I'd ever heard her be.
"Yeah, they said I get the choice to join them or forget everything. I don't want to forget this, and the opportunity... As long as I cultivate I'll be pulled into this fight eventually, I'd rather be prepared for it."
Another long silence, before she sight sadly and said, "Storm's Refuge is a very powerful, but small group. They only accept the best of the best, so you passing tells me a lot. If you want to join them do it, just make sure that whatever mental refining technique you pick out allows you to combine it with at least one other technique. I'll explain when I see you in person after the storm."
"Are you sure mom? I know you're not telling me something."
"Yeah, this is actually good." I could hear her smiling, "By joining Storm's Refuge you can avoid a lot of bullshit that I really didn't want you to have to get involved in. Even my family can't complain about you joining them! Hehehehe, this is just perfect I can't wait to shove this in that bitch Cynthia's face!"
"Uhh, mom?"
"Oh, never mind that, she's just my sister. We have a bit of a competition going on is all... Anyway, I'm so proud of you! Now stop wasting your time and get strong!"
"Love you too." I said, before hanging up with a massive smile on my face. I don't get to talk to or see my mom often. Ever since we moved to Colorado she's had to spend a lot of time out of the state. She's always been vague about it, but I think that it has something to do with her family, and with me joining Storm's Refuge maybe she can be home more often. The thought of seeing her makes me incredibly happy.
Logging back into MSE, I walked in to see Claudius.
"That was fast." He said, looking up from where he was working on a flag. Examining it, I can understand tiny bits and pieces, it seems to be a containment formation for energy with some kind of attack? I'm not really sure, but just looking at it I can tell how advanced it is.
"I talked to my mom, she told me to join the Storm because it'll get me out of a ton of bullshit with her side of the family she didn't want me to have to deal with."
"Ohh, do you happen to know your mother's maiden name?"
"Demitrov, she always said she was Russian but I never met her family."
"Ah, yes did she ask you to make sure you pick a refinement manual that can be combined?"
"Yes, I wasn't sure what she meant by that though."
"The Demitrov family is a fairly powerful group of sorcerers and elementalists that have been around for almost 10,000 years. They possess an incredible affinity with shielding and defensive techniques of all kinds. My guess is she want's to make sure whatever refinement technique you pick won't conflict with the family's techniques."
Nodding, he clapped his hands together in anticipation as he stood and walked to me. "That won't be a problem. Now, the longer you last before you pass out, the more beneficial it'll be to you. Try your best." He put his hand on my shoulder, and a massive amount energy shot threw me in an instant.
*Ding*
*You have joined the Storm Refuge's Faction: Inheritance acquired, merging with soul.*
I didn't pay attention to the popups, instead I was just trying to withstand the massive influx of energy. It was bypassing my mindscape, rushing directly into my soul and forcing it to evolve. The familiar feeling of Air and Lightning Elemental energy rushed into my soul, reinforcing it. Meanwhile, an interloper I'd just begun to feel recently, the cold and wet feeling that I'd felt since I stepped onto the mountain forced it's way in, carving room for itself inside my soul. After a while, all of the energies started to move together and combine creating a new, unpredictable energy. At times, it was explosive and violent, others gentle and welcoming. Finally, they combined together into a mark.
"ARGGHHH!!!"
I screamed in pain, unable to hold it in any longer as the mark branded itself on my soul. Somehow, I managed to stay awake through the pain, remembering Claudius' advice to last as long as I could.
*Ding*
*Mark of the Storm Acquired*
*Inheritance fully received, affinities changed*
*Elemental Affinities: Light (Low) Darkness (None) Water (Extreme) Fire (None) Earth (None) Air (Max) Lightning (Max)
*Special Affinities: Storm (Medium)*
*Suggested upgrade to implant before continuing training: Add water and storm affinities. Cost: $35,000*
*Automatically Upgrading: Payment authorized by Storm's Refuge*
*Warning: User will fall unconscious during upgrading process, please reach safe zone within 15 minutes.*
*Warning: System override initiated by administrator Claudius ****** beginning upgrade immediately.
That was the last thing I saw, before the blackness took hold.