"Another power?" Mr. Gail asked.
Daron nodded. "When I unlocked the artifact, it said it was unlocked by tears of grief."
"Tears of grief?"
"My cat, Nubby, had woken me up in the morning with terrible sounds of pain. An hour later, he was dead in my arms. I didn't realize at the time, but I was above the power artifact at the time when I let my tears go."
"I'm sorry," Mr. Gail said.
"It's alright," Daron gave a slight smile, which was quick to be swept away as a task notification came into his vision, and he continued. "As I absorbed the energy of the power artifact, something appeared in my vision that said, System Unlocked: No Deaths Allowed."
"System? No Deaths Allowed?"
"It's kind of similar to a game system, with stats, experience, and how I can see them grow. It gives me quests to accomplish and rewards me when I complete them. The system seems more to be a guide than anything else, though it does help with growth. That's why I was able to do so much the past few days. The system gave me assistance, just mostly through guiding what I should do. Such as combining my techniques and trying to move during the Life-Saving Energy Focus technique," Daron explained.
"What of the technique I gave you?"
"Well, I'm not sure... It just says it's six percent learned so far."
"Oh, so that wasn't an estimate when you said it earlier," Mr. Gail laughed.
"Ah, no, sir," Daron smiled.
"Do you think your system has helped you in comprehending the technique?"
"I mean, probably..." Daron stared into space for a moment. At least, that's what it looked like to Mr. Gail.
[The technique Aspect Combination and Supplementation is too high tier a technique for the current level of system to help the host comprehend. Anything the host comprehends of the mentioned technique is of his own comprehension outside of the system.]
"Daron?"
"Uh, sorry, the system just popped up a message... Apparently, the technique you gave me is too high tier for the current level of system to help me comprehend. Which means everything I comprehend of it, I've done, and will do, on my own," he explained.
Mr. Gail smiled. "Well, at least I can say you're still a genius."
"Oh, one more thing, Mr. Gail. The system classified Director Aaron as an ally of something called the Maken. Do you know what that is?"
Mr. Gail's eyes turned like lasers landing onto Daron.
"I see. Well..." Mr. Gail sighed, "Yes, I do know what or who, the Maken is. Though Director Aaron most certainly knows more than me, he is... tight lipped, about certain matters. This being one of them. Don't ask me why, because I don't know either."
Daron nodded along as Mr. Gail narrated.
"The Maken are the beings who created all of the power artifacts that we know of today. Every single one of them, without exception."
"So, you did know who made them."
"Yes, though I did mention I didn't much care. However, there... is more to the story. The power artifacts with special conditions, we know, definitely were made much later than the other power artifacts. This again leads to the question of why? Which, again, I don't much care for. But, once you start piecing some things together, you notice something. A lot more stronger power artifacts get created a lot later, those with special conditions. Then? The Maken completely disappear."
"What? They disappear?"
"Yes. Of course, not before scattering all of their power artifacts around. Which meant they knew that they were going to disappear."
"But... why not teach about the Maken? Wouldn't it make sense to learn about who created the power artifacts?" Daron asked.
"Yes, it would. But, Daron, let me ask you. The Maken, powerful enough to make these power artifacts that to us seemingly bend reality, what could make them disappear? If people start questioning that, it could cause chaos."
Daron stood in silence for a moment in contemplation.
"Daron, the way you described your power to me, it sounds like it can grow?"
"Yes, it should. It's at level 1, hang on," Daron said.
[System Level 1]
[42/100 Experience]
"I have forty-two out of one hundred experience until the next system level," Daron said.
"So, Daron, the way I described the Maken and power artifacts to you... what does that make your power artifact? In my opinion, it sounds like one that should be made right before the Maken disappeared."
In Daron's vision, two notifications appeared.
[You have learned a miniscule amount about power artifacts]
[You have learned a miniscule amount about the Maken]
"Huh," Daron said.
"Huh? Is that all you have to say?" Mr. Gail asked.
"No, that's not... The system said that I learned a miniscule amount about both power artifacts and the Maken."
Mr. Gail was silent for a moment. "Well. It seems there was at least some truth to what I was saying. But I can't say that's really a good thing."
"Why is that?"
"Director Aaron never wanted to talk about things related to the Maken. You said the system referred to him as an ally. He clearly knows something we don't. You are caught up in something outside of your grasp, much too soon for you to handle. The only thing you can try to do is grow stronger, and I'd recommend avoiding the topic of the Maken for as long as you can. Of what I can see from Director Aaron, it brings no good."
Daron took in Mr. Gail's words, his advice made sense, and he had a foundation to start with given by Mr. Gail as well.
"I'll try to talk to the administration about letting you just train for the last few weeks of school. It's not like most of the classes are going to be useful to you anyway. I'll mention that you've gained a new power, but not go into specifics, as the reason why. They might have questions as to if it might have affected the competition. Based on your answers, I'll say that it didn't have that much effect."
"Thank you, Mr. Gail," Daron gave a small bow.