Vincent woke up the following day with his head pounding. 'There must be a way for me to hide my thoughts.' He got out of bed and brushed his teeth. As he was washing his face, he had an epiphany. 'I can use wrath points! There must be an item or something I can get.'
"System, bring up my wrath points menu."
[Wrath Points: 20,500]
Vincent scrolled through the options. "System, is it possible for me to choose exactly what I want?"
[Host currently can not specifically choose the object, but Host can choose the specialization. The Host can choose attack, support, trickery, torture, life-saving, mind, spiritual, defense, minions, or knowledge.]
"I choose the mind and want to spend 10,000 wrath points." 'I might as well go big since everyone I have met can read my thoughts.'
[Understood...Congratulations Host! The item has been deposited in your inventory. You triggered a first-draw bonus! The item has been upgraded by a realm.]
Vincent went to his inventory, ignored the unopened rewards boxes, and looked for the item. The item in question was a pair of earrings. 'Well, I'm glad my ears are already pierced.' The earrings were sparkling silver and blue. They had a dark purple snake curling around the middle. Its eyes were a murky green color.
[The name of the earrings is The Serpent's Maze. They are a broken ascendant artifact. They will protect the wearer's thoughts and suck in the mental powers of others who try to read the Host's mind. The more mental powers they devour, the more energy they will have to restore themselves. The Host-only needs to think about them hiding, and no one beneath the ascendant realm will be able to sense them.]
Vincent held them in his hands and thought about them disappearing. They vanished, were not for him holding them before he would not know they were there. He smiled and put them on. He looked in the mirror and checked himself out.
"Look at you, Vincent. You are standing at 6'2, with tan brown skin, a military cut, and now a sick pair of earrings. If only you were back on Earth...No, I can't let myself get stuck in thoughts." His hazel eyes looked back at him. "You have one goal, and that's finding your younger siblings. You can't afford to lose purpose."
Vincent got dressed and met Greta outside of the gates. He arrived at the school and saw all of the kids. He took a breath and got out of the car. A few kids stared at him, others made way for him as he walked, and the rest looked apprehensive. 'Just keep looking forward. You got this.'
He walked with confidence and entered the school. He remembered how to get to his instructor's hall but stopped at the cafeteria to eat breakfast. He didn't eat at home since they would immediately find out about the earrings. He didn't know how strong someone was in the ascendant realm but didn't want to take the chance.
Vincent waited in line for his turn. He reached the front of the line and presented his ID. The woman behind the counter swiped and gave his food to him. He thanked her and went to sit before his first lesson.
He was eating when a group of kids sat down around him. A boy reached for his drink, and Vincent slapped his hand away. "Could we not do the cliche bullying routine? I am eating breakfast and not causing anyone trouble." Vincent sighed as he looked around at the kids.
"I don't care. If I want to cause problems, then I will. That reporter was a nobody. I am Rebecca Stanson." Vincent sighed to himself. 'I don't have time for this crap.'
"Nice to meet you. I am Vincent Grimm."
Vincent got up and left the table. The girl and her friends were upset. He shunned them off like that. One of the boys wanted to get up but was stopped by one of his friends. "You idiot! Didn't you watch the news? Let Rebecca handle him. We can't touch him."
Vincent reached the hallway and entered the room. He saw Tyre, Simon, and Vera waiting for him. "Morning masters." They all replied in their ways. Tyre said morning back. Vera softly smiled at him, and Simon grunted.
"Vincent, we will start with a series of tests so that I can plan a good training program for you. Can you show us your stats?" Vincent complied. Tyre nodded his head and started writing them down. He passed the paper to the others.
Vera poked and rubbed her hands on Vincent. "I am not trying to cope a feel. I am making sure your body reflects your stats. There have been cases where some people have been born with a different constitution. Horton is a prime example. His body has more strength than his stats display."
Simon took out his staff and jabbed at Vincent suddenly.
Vincent's skill instinct activated. He was able to summon his staff and stabbed forward.
The two staffs made direct contact with each other. Simon put his weapon away first. "I knew it. You used the staff I gave you yesterday, so your stats went up the way they did. When you train in staff martial arts or skills, your agility and dexterity increase more than your other stats. The symbols and runes ensure your other stats don't fall too far behind."
Vera was frustrated at Simon. "You could have waited until my inspection was done before attacking and making him move." Simon shrugged his shoulders. "Once you are done, send him to me."
"I swear I want to turn that man into a sieve some days," Vera mumbled as she finished checking Vincent out. "It looks like you don't have one or need to awaken it. You can go over to that twig now."
Vincent went to Simon and got clothes tossed to him by Tyre. "Go change first. These are special training clothes." Vincent got changed and went back to Simon.
The clothes were green and black with a helm on the back surrounded by the seven concepts that made a halberd. Simon nodded his head. "Not bad kid, you remind me of myself." He smirked as he held his chin.
"Now, there are three things you need to remember. One that symbol is the symbol that represents our master, and you will NEVER do anything that will bring shame to him. Second, I did not want to take you as a disciple, but it was to a vote. Third and finally, I will train you with everything I have so I won't have to teach you anymore. Any questions?"
"No sir, thanks for being honest." Vera stopped from slapping Simon across his head when she heard Vincent's response. Tyre stepped up to Vincent and put sensors on his body. "These will send electric pulses as you train with Simon." Simon was impatient and grabbed Vincet by his collar.
They went to the center of the room, and the floor lit up. "There is an invisible barrier around us now. You will train with me daily for at least two hours, one hour with Tyre, a one-hour lunch break, and then return to finish your day with Jekel doing studies."
Vincent raised his hand to ask a question. "What is the barrier for?" Simon smiled evilly.
"It's there to make sure you don't run away." Vincent jumped in the air to doge a slow sweep from Simon. "Lesson number one: never jump in the air because you can't escape." Simon swung his staff and hit
Vincent in his chest.
'Ughh! This is going to be hell!' Vincent thought as he got up.