Chapter 5 - The Talk

One day before the armor selection, Seraphim called all the saints in his office. One by one, they would come in and have a little meeting with him. 13 was the first one, a few minutes after entering she left with a paper in her hand. The others that were waiting in front of the door surrounded her and started to make questions. Seraphim opened the door and called 21.\\

—What happened there? — Adam asked 13 when 21 entered.\\

—Nothing much, he just said some things about how am I going on the classes, my strong points and how I can use them more effectively.\\

—What is this paper? — 41 asked her.\\

—It is the information they collected on the first day and in the classes.\\

—Can I see it?\\

—Yes.\\

She hands him the papers and he start to read it. It had some medical information that they all filled in on the first day, blood type, allergies, broken bones some other stuff. He keeps on reading until something confuses him.\\

—What SPEP stands for?\\

—Oh, Seraphim said that SPEP is… Saint… Potential energy something. It says how much mana you have available.\\

—Yours is four… — The girl 12 grabbed the paper and started to ask confused.— Is it good? Like… I know you have a lot but, it is a four… What's the unity in this??\\

—This number is not like the exact amount, it does not have a unity. It is just to represent. Seraphim said that one is a small amount but it is the most common, two is a bit bigger, three is really good and four is like amazing… He said…\\

21 get out of the room and says:\\

—14, it's your turn.\\

41 immediately grab the paper from 21's hand and start to read it. He jumps the information about the classes and goes straight to the SPEP part. He starts to giggle as 21 try to grab the paper from his hands.\\

—21's SPEP is 1… Man I am sorry…

—Shut up dumbass, what is the problem with that?\\

He placed his hand on 21's shoulder and said:\\

—Do you want a hug?...\\

21 pushed him away.\\

— 13 is like… four times stronger than you are. — 41 and Adam continued laughing.\\

—That is not how this works. — 13 intervened — It just means that I have more energy than he has.\\

—Yes. The Archduke said that even though I don't have a big amount of mana, I can use what I have in a very efficient way. He said that I could even become a Paladin if I continue the way I am now…\\

—Wow, that is impressive. — The girl 12 spoke. — In what Major Division?\\

—Probably specialist…— 41 whispered to those beside him — 21 is not exactly a Hawkeye… \\

—Shut up\\

—Or a duelist…\\

—Shut Up!\\

—Or good at spells, invocations or alchemy…\\

—SHUT UP!

It was true, 21 was not going well in a certain amount of the classes he was going, in the Mage division, the only class he was able to keep up with the others was potions and control. In elemental magic, the only elements he was able to use so far were light, wind and darkness. 41 was also going bad in this class, he could not use any but ice, however the other saint going to this class, 22, was able to use all elements except for darkness. The other two were very jealous of her. In the Warrior division, 21 had many problems in the longrange weapons class, he was not good in duels, and he was a real denial in the dual wielding class. 13 and the boy 12 were amazing in these classes. 41 had an especial talent for the melee weapons and duels; he was able to properly use a wide variety of weapons effortlessly, almost by instinct, even though he had problems with the body enhancement, all he needed to do in those classes was let it all out.\\

There were only two more saints to go, Seraphim finished talking to 31 and called 41 in his office. He entered with a smile from ear to ear on his face. Seraphim smiled back to him.\\

—Hello.\\

—Hi, take a seat please.\\

—Wow… I like this place. This decoration brings a vivid air to the office… Very different from the murder dungeon atmosphere in the rest of the castle.\\

—Thank you. — Seraphim said giggling. —Well, you are attending all classes, right? That is impressive. Of course, you have your weak points but it is not a big number. — He was looking at the classes report.\\

—Can I become a Paladin? —He asked excited and smiling.\\

—Anyone can, but it is hard to say it for sure now because the classes aren't in the hardest point, if you want to become a Paladin you should go only in the classes of one Major Division. —The smile in 41's face starts to fade away — I can see that you have many problems controlling your energy; in all of the three branches there are at least one subject that requires a good control — His smile fades even more — If you want to become a Paladin this year, which is something that No one ever did, I suggest that you stop going to all of the classes and use that extra time to train the Warrior classes. So far, these are the classes that your performance is the best, you should focus on that.\\

41 exhibited a rare mask of sadness. They stood there in silence for a few seconds.\\

—Why that look on your face? I literally told you that you have the chance of doing something that have never been done before…\\

—I… —He lift his head, turns to Seraphim and says — If I do what you said, about going to less classes, But… if I go only to the Mage division classes… do you think I can still become a Paladin?\\

Seraphim closed his eyes and thought for a moment.\\

—You see… from now on, all of the classes you start to get very intense and difficult, the amount of time you will have to dedicate to each one you have to be bigger, even if you have certain facility to comprehend what is going on, replicate it in a satisfactory level requires time and dedication.\\

41 was about to talk something, but Seraphim continued.\\

—I said the same thing to 21. You should try to focus on your strong points. After the armor selection, you guys will have combat classes, where you will need to apply everything you learned in the other classes with mastery. If are overloaded with classes that you are not good at and train only to be approved in the RDPE, means that you will be Weak and will not succeed in combat, even if you are a Paladin. — Seraphim outlined a slightly angry face. — I will not allow weak cavaliers under my command. I rather have a strong bronze cavalier with mastery over his abilities than a weakling complete Paladin by my side. Did you understand?\\

—Yes… — 41 mumbled.\\

—Good… Here is your report.\\

41 picked the paper a little sad and started to read. He opened his eyes wide and turned to Seraphim, speechless. The Archduke exhaled smiling.\\

—You can go now, please call the next one on your way out.\\

He got up and walked to the door in silence, when he opened the door, 11, 21, 13, and both 12 were waiting. The girl 11 entered Seraphim's office and closed the door, the moment the door closes, Seraphim hears a big scream outside the door.\\

—FIVE!\\

In that moment, he said slightly serious:\\

—He already forgot all the other things I said…\\

11 sat in the chair and Seraphim started to look at the reports he had about her. \\

—Well here it says that you are going to the Energy Control, Body enhancement, Melee and Long-range classes, is that correct?\\

—Yes, I'm still having some problems in the body enhancement classes, but I will not give up yet… — She gently smiled at him. He sorrowful smiles back and says.\\

—Look, there is no way of saying this gently so I will go straight to the point. I don't think you will become a Cavalier.\\

—What? — She said in a slightly confused tone.\\

—What happens is that you are in a very particular case… You almost don't have mana in you, you have it but in a very small quantity. Usually that is not a problem, most of the cavaliers don't have a big amount of energy inside them, they are in the category classified as SPEP 1. But you have so little that I can't even put you in this caste.\\

—But Haamiah… Did the test in me and…\\

—Yes, as I said before, you Have energy in you. The saint test detects if that person has any energy inside her, but it cannot detect the quantity with precision. When Haamiah did the test in you, she knew that you didn't had much energy but you had an amount, I guess she was expecting that after the awakening you would ended up with more than she was able to detect in the test. She couldn't even classify your SPEP in her report. You can look if you want — He took Haamiah's report and placed in front of her. \\

With her watering eyes, she slowly grabbed the report and started to read.\\

—There is still a chance that I will become a cavalier?\\

—In all of the previous cases, no one has succeeded. Usually they are not even picked by an armor. Without an armor, you cannot take the RDPE.\\

She lower her head and Seraphim continued.\\

—If tomorrow you don't get an armor, I will have to dismiss you.\\

—What? — She lifted her head and looked right into his eyes.\\

—I can't allow someone in your situation to participate in the combat training without adequate protection. Without an armor you can't continue the training here.\\

—Is there something I can do?\\

—Just wait… For now. I am sorry.\\

She lowered her head once more.\\

—I am here just by mistake?\\

Seraphim did not knew how to respond to that, he stood in silence for some seconds and then talked again.\\

—It is not Haamiah's fault, cases like yours already happened before but they are not very common, when one comes up no one knows how to deal with it… besides there it was a chance that in awakening you would reveal to have more than before.\\

She still staring down. Seraphim can hear small sobs.\\

—I am sorry…\\

She did not answer, got up and walked to the door. Before opening it she stopped and dried her eyes, Seraphim quietly waited she finishes. 11 opened the door smiling and went talk to the other saints, when she opened the door 41 took a fast look inside and saw Seraphim with an unusual countenance, he turns to 11 notices the little glow of light that reflected in the tear in her eye.\\

During lunch, they were all sitting on the same table as usual, 13 was screaming at Adam and the boy 12, the girl 12 was talking to 21 and 41 was sitting in front of 11 at the end of the table. He often would stare at her; she noticed and slowly was getting uncomfortable.\\

—Do you want something?\\

—Are you okay?\\

—What...?\\

—I'm asking if you are okay…\\

—Yes… — She answered with a slight confusion.\\

—Are you sure?\\

—What do you mean? I Am sure…\\

—That is not what it looks…\\

—What are you talking about?\\

—What happened in Seraphim's office? You left there crying…\\

She hesitated for a moment.\\

—Nothing… I don't know what are you talking about.\\

—Are you Sure?\\

She hesitated a moment longer and then said with a soft voice.\\

—Yes, I am sure…\\

She went back eating; the meal that day was the grey mass. 13 was arguing with 12 and Adam, according to her, Adam and 12 needed to treat them with more respect now that she was "officially" superior to them. 31 turned to 41 and said:\\

—Wow, SPEP five, that's amazing.\\

—Yeah... Thank you. — 41 said smiling to him.\\

When he turned his head forward saw 11 with her head lowered, she was clearly dejected, he was going to talk to her again but decided to let it go.\\

After the lunch, some of the saints were going to their classes while others were going to train and others were going to rest, 41 noticed that 11 was fast walking to some place and followed her. She walked to the entrance hall and stopped by the door, she could not hold it in anymore, started to cry supporting all of her weight in the doorframe. He saw her and slowly got closer.\\

—Are you going to tell me what happened now?\\

She turned her head to the other side so he could not see her face.\\

—I remember telling you that I was fine.\\

—And I remember almost believing it.\\

—You are incredibly annoying… \\

She once more dried her tears. \\

—I… probably… won't become a Cavalier.\\

—What?\\

—I… will be dismissed tomorrow if I don't get an armor.\\

—We all are going to get armor tomorrow… right? — He was confused.\\

—Maybe I won't… Seraphim said that I don't have enough mana to become a Cavalier. \\

—But you passed in the saint test…\\

—I do have mana in me, but it's so little that it almost like I don't have any. Because of that, I probably will not get an armor tomorrow, and, if that happens, he will dismiss me.\\

41 was silent.\\

—Now I know why you and 13 were felling so different after the awakening and I wasn't… — The tears went down her face again.\\

—What happens if you get an armor?\\

—I continue to train normally I think.\\

—Then is everything all right. — He said smiling. — You shouldn't be focusing in the bad possibilities just because they exist.\\

—Do you have Any idea of what am I going through right now? — She says in anger — Do you know what is like? Have a dream your whole life, seeing it turn into reality and then… someone gets right in front of you and says that it was an error? Says that it is not going to happen… — He can notice a clear sadness in her voice — That… you shouldn't be there in the first place… that now… the chances of realize that dream are… lower than ever… \\

—But he didn't said that the chances are zero — He said staring deep at her eyes — Even if the chances are in their lowest, they still exist… — He smiled once more — You are right. I don't know how it is to be in such a situation, being honest I can't even imagine what is like. However… I am in a situation that is not exactly similar to yours, but I think that it is going to end in the same way.\\

She calmed down a little and started to listen carefully.\\

—Seraphim said to me that I should stop going to the mage division classes and focus only in those in the warrior major division. I have no talent in magic control so he told me that instead of training how to control my mana and risk falling in the other subjects, I should train to be even better in those that I am already good.\\

—You are right… It is not similar to my situation.\\

—The thing is… If I do that… I will not be able to become the mage I long ago promised to be… And if I do not… there's no point in me being here.\\

—What promi…\\

—Seraphim said to 21 almost the same thing he said to me. When I left his office, I asked 21 what he was going to do and he said to me that nothing has changed. He still was going to all of the classes in the same way as before, he said that even if he was going to fail in some of the classes, even if the chances of him passing all of them are low, he would not stop trying because if he stops, the chances are already zero. \\

He smiled to her once more and started to walk to inside the castle.\\

—I guess I will not stop trying… And perhaps, you shouldn't too.\\

She looked at him as he was leaving, and when he went away, she turned to the pink trumpet tree. It was full of flowers.