Haruko's gaze flickered between Aurora's imposing figure and the subtle signals exchanged between Lucifero and Raiden behind her. Sensing the unspoken warning in their expressions, he quickly acquiesced, nodding in understanding. "Yes, ma'am," he replied, his voice steady despite the nervous flutter in his chest.
Aurora's menacing smile softened into a more reassuring expression as she observed Haruko's compliance. "Good," she said, her tone approving. "Now, let's begin."
With that, Aurora took her place at the desk, her demeanor shifting into that of a dedicated instructor as she prepared to impart her knowledge to Haruko. Lucifero and Raiden assumed their positions as well, each ready to fulfill their respective roles in Haruko's training journey.
As the first lesson commenced, Haruko couldn't shake the feeling of trepidation mingled with excitement. With the guidance of the Three Gods, he embarked on a journey of self-discovery and growth, knowing that his path would be challenging but ultimately rewarding.
As the class began, Lucifero and Raiden exited the room, leaving Aurora and Haruko in a state of focused anticipation. Aurora, with her commanding presence, initiated the lesson, her voice carrying an air of authority and knowledge. "We will begin with your natural abilities as a human from Astrion. The Core," she stated firmly before rising from her seat. With a graceful flick of her palm, a whiteboard materialized before her, a blank canvas awaiting the teachings she was about to impart.
Aurora began to write, her hand moving with purpose and precision, etching out the foundational knowledge of the Astrionian abilities. After a meticulous demonstration of the various concepts, she gently placed the marker down and turned her attention to Haruko, his gaze piercing yet encouraging. "I'm sure you know, but I'll repeat it. The people of Astrion use different types of abilities. All originating from the Core, each and everyone's Core is different. What are the types of Cores that exist, Haruko?" Aurora's question hung in the air, inviting Haruko to showcase his understanding of the intricate system that governed their abilities.
With a surge of excitement evident in his demeanor, Haruko rose from his seat, eager to delve into the depths of knowledge he possessed. "There are 3 different types of Cores," he began, his voice brimming with enthusiasm as he embarked on his explanation.
"Firstly, the Common Core," Haruko continued, his words flowing effortlessly as he elucidated the fundamental aspects of this widely prevalent Core. "It's a Core that nearly 60% of the world has. It includes basic skills like cooking, investing, and building," he explained, his gestures emphasizing the broad spectrum of abilities encapsulated within this category.
"Each Core has a skill that fits it," Haruko elaborated, his eyes alight with passion for the subject matter. "For example, Cooking—makes the food cooked by the user look and taste better depending on the level of the Core," he elucidated, painting a vivid picture of the practical applications of these innate talents.
"Next, we have the Rare Core," Haruko proclaimed, his voice tinged with reverence as he delved into the realm of Elemental Skills and Psychic abilities. "It's a Core that only 30% of the world has. It includes Elemental Skills and Psychic abilities like Fire and Water or Telepathy and Telekinesis," he expounded, his words carrying the weight of the rare and coveted nature of these powers.
"Each Elemental Core or Psychic ability Core has different abilities," Haruko continued, his excitement palpable as he enumerated the diverse range of capabilities encompassed within this exclusive category. "For instance, Fire—can ignite flames to cover the fist and exert additional damage or can ignite flames all over the body to increase power, speed, and stamina," he elaborated, showcasing the versatility and potency of these extraordinary gifts.
"And finally, we come to the pinnacle of Astrionian abilities—the Unique Core," Haruko declared, his voice reverberating with awe and reverence as he broached the subject of these rare and formidable talents. "It's a Core that only 9% of the world has. It includes abilities called the Calamity Elements like Weather Manipulation, Magma Manipulation, Snow Manipulation, Gravity Manipulation, and Storm Manipulation," he elucidated, his words resonating with a sense of wonder at the sheer magnitude of power wielded by those in possession of these unparalleled abilities.
"But," Haruko added, his tone growing somber as he approached the culmination of his discourse, "there exists a Core that surpasses even the most extraordinary of abilities—the Supreme Core." The gravity of his words hung heavy in the air, a testament to the rarity and significance of this legendary Core.
"It's a Core that only 5 people are known to have acquired," Haruko revealed, his voice hushed with reverence as he spoke of these legendary individuals. "The known Supreme Cores are Dark and Shadow Manipulation, Light and Star Manipulation, Time Manipulation, Space Manipulation, and Chaos Manipulation," he articulated, each word imbued with a profound sense of respect for those who had ascended to such heights of power.
"You are knowledgeable. That's good," she began, her words carrying a weight of significance that seemed to hang in the air. Aurora turned to the chalkboard, her fingers gripping the white chalk as she wrote with deliberate strokes.
"For the rest of the year in my class, we will focus on this: The Supreme Core," Aurora declared, her voice steady and unwavering. She turned to face Haruko, her expression unreadable as she pointed to the bold letters written on the board. "Supreme Core? Why would we focus on the Supreme Core? When I don't have a Core," Haruko questioned, his voice tinged with confusion and disbelief.
Aurora's gaze softened as she turned to him, her eyes locking with his. "You lived your whole 15 years in the slums. How would you know you have no Core?" she asked gently, her words carrying a sense of understanding that resonated with Haruko.
"Remember how I brought you here? I took you by force and brought you here because you said that we chose the wrong person. The reason for that was to prove you wrong," Aurora explained, her tone tinged with a hint of sadness. She walked slowly towards Haruko, her steps deliberate as she closed the distance between them.
"Haruko, you are the wielder of the 6th Supreme Core," Aurora declared, her voice filled with conviction as she spoke the words that would forever change Haruko's life. The room fell silent, the weight of her revelation hanging in the air like a tangible presence.
Haruko's eyes filled with tears, his emotions overwhelming as he processed the enormity of Aurora's words. He had spent his whole life believing he had no talent or anything to offer the world, his existence defined by the shadow of his sister who had been tragically taken from him. But now, in this moment, everything had changed.
"S-sixth Supreme Core? Me?" Haruko stammered, his voice barely a whisper as he struggled to comprehend the magnitude of what Aurora had revealed. His knees weakened beneath him, the weight of his emotions causing him to collapse to the ground in a mixture of disbelief and overwhelming gratitude. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he sobbed.
After calming down, Haruko got up and focused on the class. Asking no farther questions, impressing Aurora. After a few hours the door of the training room opens and Raiden walks in, his azure hair flowing behind him. "I assume you are done?" Raiden looked at Aurora. She nodded and said goodbye to Haruko.
Raiden looks at Haruko "I take it you are aware that you possess the 6th Supreme Core?" Haruko looked at the man who brought him to this place and then answered "Yes, sir." Raiden gestured to the ground, "Take off your shirt and lay down." Haruko asked no questions and taked off his shirt then layed on the ground. "Since you did not do the awakening ritual at age 10. Your Core is filled with impure energies, so I will remove them. Just try not to lose your consciousness." Raiden explained.
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That's it for chapter 18