Mason woke up in a medical room, hooked up to multiple machines and several medical personnel working around him. One of them, a serious looking older gentleman, was checking his vital signs when Mason opened his eyes.
"Well good morning, you had quite the accident last week. I have many questions for you, but I'll let you gather your bearings first." The old man greeted Mason.
"Last week?" Mason mumbled.
"Mhm. You've been in a state of Rift Miasma Oversaturation. Honestly, I was quite certain you'd never wake up. You were very lucky." The man responded.
"What about the recruitment process? Did I miss that?" Mason sat up, only to be gently pushed back down by the man.
"Yes, but no. There are several letters for you from a multitude of Academies." The old man flashed a light in Masons eyes, checking for responsiveness.
"So I'm just a leftover." Mason sighed, not that he expected any different. The old man chuckled.
"Don't be so down trodden. Yes, the letters are all from the basic Academies, but the top ten never send letters. They recruit in person. When you're ready, I'll send your visitors up. But first, your parents want to see you." The old man smiled. Mason nodded and the old man motioned for a nurse.
"Tell the madam and the gentleman outside that they're free to come see their child." The old man directed. The nurse nodded and left. A few moments later a short woman with graying brown hair burst in, her amber eyes cold and calculating, but full of worry.
"Mother." Mason sat up and greeted.
"Lay down. You don't need to stress yourself for me." The woman's name was Lisa Carter, she sported her twin daggers as she wasn't allowed to have her spear within the hospitals, long arms were prohibited within medical facilities.
"If he can move, then he's fine." A tall man with a full head of dark smoky gray hair that used to be pitch black, walked in and stated. His stone blue eyes were stern, but softened with slight worry. His sword adorned his hip. He was known as Robert Carter. His eyes scanned the room and he only relaxed slightly when no danger was immediately sensed.
"Father." Mason greeted.
"I heard you ended up completely consuming a Rift Core. So I did alot of investigating. It seems that a tech was ordered to tamper with the settings to purposefully cripple you or kill you and a guard was sent to finish the job." Robert began. No matter what, Robert Carter always stood in business, and his anger was deep when it came to his son.
"That explains alot. Who ordered it?" Mason inquired.
"The orders came from an unknown source. The tech and guard were let off with warnings." Robert sighed.
"Well, nothing much that can be done now. How are you feeling Mason? Are you veins or nerves fried?" Lisa asked.
"They're both fine. Both his mana circulation and Cosmic Energy Circulation is functional." The old doctor stated in response. This garnered surprise from all present.
"Both?" Robert stood.
"Yes, he's both lucky and unlucky. He has both circuits, but as there is no prior case, it may be that he'll never grow stronger than he is now." The doctor warned.
"Well, he's alive, he can still utilize his skills. Just graduate school, and then you can come home. But remember the rules son, you can't come home until you've succeeded." Robert reminded Mason.
"Yes Father, I am aware." Mason replied. A knock resounded and the door opened, three well dressed people came in, one female, two male. They ignored the nurse and walked directly up to Mason. The first man, a tall green haired fellow bowed to Masons parents and then looked directly at Mason.
"Mason Carter, I am Anthony Garcia. I am here in behalf of Ocean Academy, we cordially invite you to attend next week's Academy Tour. Thank you for your time." The man left an envelope with the Ocean Academy Seal and walked out of the room.
The second man, a short bulky red haired and bearded fellow bowed as well to Robert and Lisa before addressing Mason. Immediately Mason knew this man was one of the Dweller races in an Alliance with humanity.
"I am Darwin Flamesmith, here on behalf of Fallstone Academy. We cordially invite you to our Academy's Tour three days from today. Have a good evening." He too left an envelope with a top ten Academy seal and exited.
The woman, muscular, tall, white haired and stern, bowed respectfully to Masons parents before stressing Mason.
"Lucia Whiteaxe. Olympus Academy. I'm here to take you on our tour tomorrow. I will wait for you downstairs. Be there at six hundred hours, not a minute later." She left without another word.
"I like her, choose that Academy." Robert nodded.
"It's highly possible." Mason replied, he too like the too-the-point introduction from the woman. Moments later three more men entered the room. He was invited to the tours to Phoenix Academy, Serpent Academy, and Giantfall Academy. By the end of the day he had been invited to 9 Academies in the top ten.
"They must be interested in your dual circuit ability." Lisa logically devised. Mason was booked all the way out to the following week with tours, satisfied but confused. Right before his parents left, another woman walked in. She wore casual attire and her hair was done up in a messy bun, and reeked of alcohol.
"I'm sorry, am I late? Oh, good evening." The woman greeted Masons parents casually.
"I'm sorry, visiting hours-"
"Don't worry about the hours. He's discharging tonight, I'll have him back before six for Lucia's tour." The woman dismissed the doctor. The doctor sighed and left.
"Helhiem Academy I presume?" Robert addressed the woman.
"Robbie, it's not like you to ask such redundant questions." The woman replied playfully.
"Helen-"
"Lisa! Oh you look stunning as usual dear! How's the quiet life? Hmm? Yeah let's talk another time love." The woman walked passed Masons mom like she wasn't there. She looked infuriated and reached for her daggers. Robert sighed and shook his head whilest stopping her.
"Mason, I presume you're well enough to move around yes? I'm Helen Thorne, director of Helhiem Academy. I'm taking you on a tour of the Academy right now." The woman addressed Mason.
"Now? I'm hardly dressed for such-"
"We're here." Helen yawned. Mason looked around at the sudden scenery change.
"What the fuck just happened?" Mason asked, shocked.
"Space-Time magic. Or Rift magic if you prefer." Helen replied simply.
"Rift magic?" Mason questioned, he was still in the hospital gown so his cheeks felt breezy.
"Don't sweat the details, let's just do the tour. Since I plan on having you as a student, let's begin with the Freshman wing. Classes are numbered with an alphabeta next to them. Students are pseudo ranked before they begin classes. S through B ranks are in classes Alpha, or A. Students ranked from C to E are in classes Beta, or B, these will be your classes. We typically won't do F ranks, but you'll be the first.
"Next we have Dorms, the higher the rank the less people you will share with. You'll most likely be put into a six man dorm room. Training areas are provided regardless of rank, but, there are those who prevent lower ranks from training so do be a dear and do as you please with them. We have classes ranging from basic theories to master practical courses. As you possess both Rift energies, I suggest evening the classes you take.
"Lastly, attendance. This is a be on time or don't be here at all kind of Academy. Thus is fully a merit based Academy, what you accomplish, impacts your grade. I don't care for favoritism and neither do the professors that teach here. Social status doesn't exist within these walls, but there will be those that attempt to flaunt it, ease put them in their places. That's to tour, I look forward to September 1st." As soon as all the waping over the school was done, Mason was standing in his hospital room, looking completely pale and baffled.
"What the fuck just happened....?" Mason exhaled.
*6 am*
Mason stood waiting at the door, properly clothed with his sword and dagger. Lucia walked in, looking very pleased upon seeing Mason on time.
"Extra points for being early, Mason." Lucia stated.
"No point in being late." Mason replied.
"A mindset highly desirable in Olympus Academy. Shall we depart?" Lucia held her hand out. Thinking it was a handshake, Mason reached out and grasped her hand, only to be dragged along by Lucia to an awaiting car.
"Having all ten top academies striving to aquire you makes decisions hard on students. Though it does not happen often, or rather at all, Olympus proudly boasts the best resources. As for you, with dual energies, we whole heartedly want to boost your potential, despite what the doctors have stated. Though both are on the lower ends, we have very high expectations for you." Lucia began, as she practically threw Mason into the car.
"I see, is there a way to better understand my condition?" Mason adjusted himself and sat properly. Lucia regrabbed his hand and then continued, as if he were about to vanish or run away.
"Unfortunately there is not. But, we are already working out a plan to help you undergo self research on your condition. As you are a special case, Helen and I have agreed to have you attend both of our academies should you decide to go to either of ours as the main. Of course, that's hoping you chose Olympus or Helhiem. Whomever you chose, will get you for the first half of the year and officially have you on the student roster. As your case will take a combined effort to understand and research." Lucia explained. Mason felt as if he just learned of something he shouldn't have.
"It sounds like my situation is something that may not be solved so easily or soon." Mason winced as Lucia squeezed his hand just a little too hard.
"It may not be possible at all within the foreseeable decades. Your condition is one I've never seen before, but you are rumored to not be the first. Rumor is, that in the Zeroith Generation, there was a Rifter in South Korea that had both energies, and they were reportedly the strongest Rifter to date. Though these are rumors, Jin Siwoo, the rumored strongest Rifter, entered R Zero and never returned." Lucia explained.
"I'm not sure how that helps my situation, knowing about supposed rumors." Mason replied.
"It means that it's possible, if we can get in contact with the Seoul Academy and their Rifter Association, that we can get any information they may have gathered about Jin Siwoo from that time period. Which may assist us in finding out the status of your abilities." Lucia responded, but whatever she had said, activated something. Mason was no longer paying much attention to Lucia, as he was preoccupied with staring at a transparent green screen that simply said
[System Reboot in Progress....]