Cesar was holding the Ever-life stone Romann had awarded him. Unsure how Al was going to take it. Cesar approached Al as he finished running. Cesar explained how everyone had dispersed after Romann awarded him the Ever-life stone and how he wanted them to meet in the Alchemical Institute in 12 hours.
Al shrugged at hearing Romann had given Cesar the stone. Al began sharing what had been bothering him, unveiling his belief that his room was haunted. Despite Cesar's skepticism toward ghosts, he agreed to switch rooms with Al as they made their way to the housing units.
It had been around two weeks since Al and Cesar arrived at the 15th Blood Ring, and they hadn't fully settled into their housing units yet, so switching rooms wasn't an issue.
Al found himself in Cesar's previous unit, lying on the stone floor that came with each unit. The radiant crystals embedded in the central ceiling illuminated the room, which provided a constant, warm glow.
As Al started to unwind, still wearing his armor, he pondered, "Alchemical institute, huh?" After a few minutes, sleep enveloped him.
Six hours into his slumber, a dripping sound echoed through the room. The room's water trough had overflowed, and now water spilled onto the floor. Al's helmet and armor were gradually soaked as the water seeped inside.
Confused, he jolted awake, his heart pounding. To his astonishment, he discovered water seeping through his helmet and armor, soaking his robe. "I'm far too drenched for this to be a dream," Al thought, struggling to comprehend the situation. The water quickly rose to his knees.
With urgency, Al began walking away from the water trough, struggling against the weight of his waterlogged armor. As he reached the room's midpoint, the water had completely submerged him. Undeterred, Al pushed through the water, his lungs burning with the need for air.
A growing sense of unease gnawed at him. "Something isn't right," Al thought, trepidation flicking through his veins.
Painstakingly, he navigated the bottom of the unit's stairs, his movements slow and laborious. Al's lungs felt like they were about to burst as he mustered every ounce of strength. Just as he looked up, a shiver ran down his spine, compelling him to glance toward the darkness of the adjacent room to his left.
His lungs screamed for oxygen, threatening to betray him at any moment. Darkness enveloped his vision, overtaking him completely.
Al awoke, his body drenched in sweat, realizing it had all been a vivid dream. The room's temperature had surged dramatically. He was soaked in his own sweat.
As he sat up, contemplating the events of his dream, he glanced toward the dark room and let out a small, ironic laugh. For the first time, he removed his armor without feeling the vulnerability that had plagued him before. He now understood that his problem could not be warded off by mere armor.
A sense of freedom washed over him as he shed the protective layers, feeling an incredible wave of coolness enveloping his body. Soon, exhaustion overcame him, and he swiftly succumbed to sleep again.
Another four hours drifted by until Al stirred awake. He had slept for nearly ten hours, the last four being the most rest he had experienced in months. The room had reverted to its average temperature during his sleep.
Al promptly donned his armor, and its familiar weight settled upon him. He refilled his canteen with standard Housing Unit water, which, though superior to regular water, was of no significant difference to Al. Before ascending the stairs, he fixated on the darkness of the adjacent room.
Outside, he met up with Cesar. A hint of mockery tinged Cesar's voice. "You ready? I've heard that the real training begins at the Alchemical Institute." Cesar said, full of excitement. Al's helmet concealed his sardonic expression, but the tone of his reply was unmistakable. "Really? Where did you supposedly hear this from, and how much did it cost?"
Cesar chuckled and responded, "Haha, believe it or not, I didn't pay a dime. It seems the group has taken a liking to me. If you plan on earning their favor, you might want to share your knowledge about Matthew. Everyone, except Louise, has been curious and asked me if I know anything." Al absorbed Cesar's words as they approached the Alchemical Institute.
Al abruptly halted and removed his helmet. His voice filled with frustration and bitterness. "You want to know what happened? I'll tell you. I spoke the truth to Matthew. I told him he was too young, inexperienced, and weak to be here. I told him he should leave and go back home."
Cesar was taken aback by Al's callousness towards someone so young. He was about to voice his thoughts when Al cut him off. "I didn't say those words because they were true. I said them because I wanted to slap him with his inadequacy. Fortunately, Romann overheard me and decided to punish me. That's why I ran longer than anyone else. That's all there is to it." With those words, Al donned his helmet once more and resumed walking.
Still reeling from Al's casual admission, Cesar hurried to catch up with him. Thirty minutes later, both stood outside a two-story building with a domed structure at the end.
The entire group had gathered there. Louise spotted them first and exclaimed, "They're here! We can finally enter and meet Romann." All eyes turned towards the approaching duo. Everyone's excitement was palpable except Yusuf, who seemed visibly bothered by the duo.
At the entrance of the Alchemical Institute, a youthful man and woman stood guard, guarding the wide double doors. The man, positioned on the left, was responsible for granting individual entry, while the woman, placed on the right, oversaw groups.
Al and Cesar joined the rest of the group and approached the woman. "This must be Romann's group," she acknowledged. "Romann is currently inside with Rubber Boy Rosy. Once I scan your C-stones, you may proceed."
As they entered, a collective gasp escaped everyone's lips as their eyes roamed the extraordinary sight before them. A small indoor waterfall, spanning two stories, cascaded over a colossal ruby, standing five feet tall. The waterfall created a serene lake within the lobby, with a narrow stream dividing the room in half. The stream culminated in a one-foot square hole, swallowing its gentle flow.
Yet, the marvel that captivated them was a towering cylindrical vase, each measuring ten feet tall. These vases brimmed with a strange clear liquid, within which an immense figure, standing eight to nine feet tall, remained suspended. It was a sight that defied comprehension.
Al, driven by curiosity, took the first step forward. Approaching one of the colossal vases, he appeared tiny in comparison. His eyes fixated on a plaque affixed to a pole about a foot away.
Al began to read aloud the inscription: "Origin: Aia. Name: Dawn Keeper. Summary: A being of limited intellect, born from the essence of light, residing at the pinnacle of the mortal chasm. Its purpose is to aid the growth of Light-acolytes, often under the guidance of a powerful already developed Light-acolyte."
The words hung in the air, leaving Cesar beside him bewildered. In a calm tone, Cesar whispered, "What the fuck does that even mean?" Al, grappling with the same question himself, had no immediate response.
They both turned their gaze toward the indescribable creature standing before them. Its hairless head wrapped in cloth, devoid of a discernible nose or ears. Its long, slender body extended, with the left arm resembling more of a whip than a human limb. Yet, the creature's most awe-inspiring feature was its immense wings, angelic in nature, which enshrouded and encased its form.
Interrupting their contemplation, Romann's voice resonated in the room. "I don't want any distractions. In time, much of what you witness here will become clear." Romann's sudden appearance startled them as he stood behind Al and Cesar, casting an authoritative presence in the room.
Romann strode ahead, ascending the stairs beside a wall adorned with rolls of intricately etched rune stones. The group hurriedly followed suit, Yusuf and Louise taking the lead behind Romann. They formed a row of six, proceeding through a narrow hallway adorned with numbered rooms—2a, 3a—until Romann stopped at room 4a. He accessed the room using his C-stone, and the others eagerly stepped inside.
As they entered, their attention was immediately drawn to a colossal armillary compass occupying the center of the room. The spherical contraption featured an outer ring adorned with a radiant sun and an inner ring depicting a serene moon, surrounded by numerous smaller rings representing celestial bodies.
The group awaited Romann's words impatiently. Their progress in training had been nothing short of remarkable in just a few days. They had already surpassed what most could even imagine a human being capable of.
"You six will be a Phantom Seed until the end of our training, and you will be free to remain as such." Romann finally spoke, his words raising more questions than providing answers.
Yusuf and Louise exchanged glances, seemingly in sync, before simultaneously voicing their query, "Who will be the Captain of our Phantom Seed?" Roman, however, turned away, evading their question and continuing to speak.
"Some of you may have encountered or heard of the Recognized Disciple in charge of these labs. Garrette Rosy Anderson, commonly known as 'Rubber-Boy Rosy.' The current Captain of the 15th Blood Ring is Raul Del Santos. Del Santos has a remaining life span of 34 years, during which he will have to ascend to the Immortal Chasm or die. Regardless of the outcome, one thing is certain: Rubber-Boy Rosy will be the next Captain of the 15th Blood Ring, jumping over the Second in Command."
The group remained captivated by Romann's words. Seizing the moment, he pressed on, his speech gaining speed. "The reason for Rubber-Boy Rosy's designation as the future Captain aligns with why we are all gathered here. In the world of Will, one of the crucial factors is the potential harbored within your own Will. We categorize these potentials into three distinct types, from weakest to strongest."
He gestured emphatically, illustrating the hierarchy. "The first category is Common Will, the most prevalent and average type of Will individuals possess. Above Common Will is Exotic Will, the rarest and second strongest. Both Rubber Boy Rosy and I possess an Exotic Will. Keep in mind I myself am the Captain of the 23rd Supreme Seed, so this should give you an idea of the value of Exotic Will. And finally, there is Extreme Will. While not as rare as Exotic Will, it is the pinnacle of strength and the most challenging to cultivate."
Romann pointed towards the metal armillary in front of the room device, "That remarkable machine over there is designed to discern an individual's awakened Will accurately."
Concluding his explanation, Romann's gaze fell upon Yusuf and Louise, singling them out. "Now, the time has come to determine your Phantom Seed's Captain and second in Command. Yusuf and Louise, you two will be going first." The duo promptly stepped forward, with the rest of the group closely trailing behind, eager to witness what their Will would classify as.