The two soldiers gave Arlen a free hand as they had accomplished their mission of bringing him to the academy and giving him a map with the facilities and instructions for today and they had more things to do.
—I seem to have to apply to one of the academy's departments today.
"Do you have any ideas?"
—The truth is I'd like the combat one.
"Eh, I'd expect nothing less from you."
Arlen smiled as he read the list of available departments.
—But the truth is, there are more departments than I expected, although well, it makes sense considering what this academy is. Combat, mechanics, finance, science and arts departments. And if we see how the 5 departments are distributed on the map we can see how each department is a district in this city.
"Really impressive. But isn't the academy a bit big for just the IOH kids?"
—That's what I was thinking.
Then Arlen opened the pamphlet where the academy information came and there was the information Arlen and Edgar were looking for.
[The IOH Academy, the academy of humanity.
Thanks to the agreement signed between the IOH and the 5 families, it was established that, although humanity was divided, education during the two years following compulsory education would be done in the same center with the purpose of remembering that we are all of the same race and that we are united by history.
In this center students are free to choose what to study and what to specialize in. It doesn't matter if you like art, mechanics, finance, science or combat. You decide what to do.
And if you have doubts because you want to become strong, but you like the arts, don't worry. Whichever department you choose, it was established that all students must pass a few combat classes regardless of the department. The goal is not to encourage hatred among students, but rather, from IOH, we want all humans to be able to defend themselves against the common evil, the Reddajs.
Thank you very much and welcome,
The Director]
—Wow, I didn't expect that. Does that mean that the leaders of the current families know each other?
"So it seems, it's really impressive that even so humanity is not united under one flag."
Arlen agreed with Edgar, and they both wondered why.
"Hey first of all we will have to comply with what they tell us in the instructions. We have to go to the secretary's building to register."
—Yes, let's go.
While Arlen was walking he decided to ask Edgar about the doubts he had about the system.
—So tell me. You said earlier that your goal is to make me the strongest man in humanity, is that right?
"Well, maybe I got my hopes up a little. My goal is to make you strong, how strong you become is up to you and you alone. You can decide it's not worth your time to get strong and for me to simply be a voice in your head."
Arlen was nodding at Edgar's words, in the end what he was telling him made quite a bit of sense.
—There's one thing I don't understand, if your goal is to make me strong why don't you give me so much power to make it happen? —he asked.
"Because if I give you so suddenly so much power your body would not be able to store it and you would explode."
Hearing that Arlen got a shiver as he imagined himself exploding.
'Better little by little, yes.'
—Then the next question is next how do I become strong?
After hearing that Edgar, if he could smile, would have a smirk on his face.
"To become strong you have to accomplish the Quests or missions I set for you. For example, this one."
[Keep me warm:
Stay a minimum of 5 hours under the Sun.
Progress: 0/5
Reward: 5 exp]
—Eh, well, sounds easy, I guess. And what's this 'Awaken state' thing?
"Don't you know? It indicates to what extent you can draw power from your bloodline. There are 5 levels: Novice, Veteran, Expert, Master and Complete. And it's more gradual than anything else, that is, someone who has just entered the 'Veteran state' is not capable, nor as strong, of someone who has been in that state longer."
—So through the ability to analyze I can more or less understand a person's power.
"That's right."
—And the last question before we go in. Can I awaken a bloodline?
"Of course you can. Also, not just any one, but if I told you now it would ruin the surprise."
Entering the secretarial building Arlen had a smile on his face that caught the secretary off guard.
'This kid looks so happy.'
But what she didn't know was that he had been given some of the best news he could receive. He can really fight against the destiny that had been imposed on him, now he can change and be the person he always wanted to be. He was so grateful, to his parents, to Brand and to Edgar, thanks to them he can change.
After filling out the form and checking the box for 'Combat Department', he was handed a piece of paper with a building and a time. She said goodbye and left the secretary building to continue her tour of the city.
The secretary stared at the screen where she had a report with the information of the child she had just attended to. For her this child was an example, an example of overcoming and joy. According to the report he had been bullied for a long time but the fact that he could still smile was an indicator of the strong will he had.
—Of all the departments did he have to apply to combat, is he a masochist?
The secretary could only sigh and get on with her work.
'Come on tell me, Edgar, you can't leave me like this.'
Arlen felt Edgar chuckle inside his head.
"I'm not going to tell you no matter how much you ask."
—Well, but if I complete the Quests you say I'll get strong, then give me a bunch of quests.
"No, no, it doesn't work like that, the quests are meant to make you strong, if I set you a quest and it doesn't make you strong there's no point."
—And '5 hours under the Sun' makes me strong?
"Of course. Don't doubt it."
Arlen really wondered if Edgar was pulling his leg or was he serious. Turning back to look at the quest he had set for him he glanced at the clock.
—It's 10:37 in the morning. I have nothing to do until 17:00, looks like I'll be able to take a walk around town.
The rest of the day he wandered around the city. The city was quite large, but the shape of the buildings said a lot about the district you were in.
In the art district the buildings had different shapes, you could almost say that no two buildings were the same. In the finance district mainly tall buildings with large windows prevailed, it was the smallest district, but it certainly stood out quite a bit. The science district was the most boring, all the buildings had the same shape and it stood out because in that district most of the people walked around in their bathrobes. The mechanical district was quite different as well, there were large buildings and smaller ones, there also seemed to be warehouses and so called testing sites. Finally, what would be my home for two years, the combat district.
When I got to that district I got a message out of nowhere from the system.
[Quests (Keep me warm) complete.
Reward: 5 exp]
[Additional reward: 1 point]
[Level: 0 (5/10)]
-It's real. Also, an additional reward?
"Of course it is, do you think I was lying to you? And the extra reward thing is because you've been in the Sun during the hours when the Sun is hottest."
—Really impressive.
"Well, this is just the beginning, you're still not aware of the potential you have."
Arlen went to complain, but the sound of his stomach reminded them what time it was.
—Nearly 4 p.m. and I haven't eaten... Will there be any place left open?
Luckily he quickly found a place selling cheap snacks and drinks. It was then, as he was enjoying his meal, that a commotion formed in the combat district.
—What's going on?