"The long story, kid, is that demons have been focusing their efforts on our sector for a few months now. Quite a few Exemplars were killed, and their replacements are as green as you. The worst happens on the border itself—this is why a weak team like ours was sent to Glass Fields. Exemplar Commander must've thought demons have built only a tiny encampment here, not hidden something unknown, and probably big. So. We are fighting on two fronts—assisting the regular army on the border, while dealing with the demons inside the sector. It's only a matter of time until we start losing territory…"
Zemin's eyes widened. Ignorance truly was a bliss. Yet, Zemin found himself standing straighter with more knowledge in his mind.
"Thank you, Danis. Then it's even more important that I complete the training of Master Makhos and return to the fray. And you, too—I wish you to heal quickly."
Danis cringed like he ate something sour and walked toward the door.
"Just don't keel over, kid. Now move, I'm not about to be late for breakfast."
The conversation was over.
***
2 DAYS LATER
The basement room Zemin stood in was filled with enough delicate machinery to make innards of several mechas. The centerpiece of it was a coffin-shaped steel capsule with a lid open in invitation.
Makhos gestured at the thing. He appeared pleased with himself.
"This is the Memory Injector. A marvel of science, but still in the experimental stage. Your participation in this, Zemin, will help Holy Dominion greatly with the advancement of this technology."
Zemin came up to the capsule and peered inside. It was full of wires that ended with electrodes.
'Memory Injector… Would it give me new memories? New skills? Is that why Master Makhos called it training?'
"Don't worry, Zemin, I will ensure that the Memory Injector is connected to you properly. And don't fear, either—fear is the enemy of humankind."
"I have nothing to fear. Don't I?" Zemin looked up at Makhos. "What are the chances of Memory Injector malfunctioning?"
"They are irrelevant. The risks are a part of your daily life, Zemin—accept them and move forward," Makhos said in a tone that accepted no refusals despite his warm smile.
This didn't sound quite right, but Zemin nodded anyway. It was too late to turn back, that was for sure.
"That's right, Zemin. I was shocked at first to find that Exemplar Commander was about to expel you after your very first mission, but after investigating the situation, I could hardly be more proud of you. You clashed with an opponent much stronger than you and won! Master Mordechai was a fool to even consider pushing you out of his ranks. He should be thankful instead that you are here and not in some other sector."
Zemin blinked in surprise, then grinned at the praise. He was pushing worry about Makhos's opinion of his actions away since the trial, but now a weight fell from his shoulders. Zemin stood straighter.
"Thank you, sir! I… I'm very grateful for your kind words."
Makhos nodded. "Now, no time to waste. Undress to your underwear and lie in the Memory Injector so I can connect the electrodes to your body."
"Yes, sir. Is there anything else I should do?" Zemin asked, taking off his uniform, folding it and placing carefully on the floor.
"You only need to relax, Zemin, and let the Memory Injector do its work. The rest will come on its own. When you wake up, you will know more about Psionic than before."
Zemin paused with his pants half-off. 'What do you mean, Void System?'
Zemin glanced at Makhos and wondered if he should warn him. The angel seemed to think the Void System would help him with the Memory Injector, not the other way around.
Which of them was more right?
'Well, Master Makhos knows everything there is about the Void System, while the Void System doesn't know about the Memory Injector. So it makes more sense to trust him more.'
'I wasn't talking to you, System. Be quiet for now, I am supposed to relax and meditate!'
Now definitely not listening to any more warnings, Zemin went to lie down in the capsule.
With telekinesis, Makhos quickly and efficiently attached every electrode to Zemin's skin, fixing them in place with sticky tape. The electrodes had sharp ends that threatened to pierce Zemin's skin, but stopped just above that line.
Then Makhos closed the lid. Through a glass panel in it, Zemin could see him smiling.
"Relax, Zemin. The electrodes on your body let me monitor your state—I will turn the Memory Injector on when your vital signs show that you are calm enough."
Zemin nodded, ignoring the bite of electrodes, and closed his eyes. The easiest way to relax was meditation—the same thing the Void System advised him to do.
Meditation was the most common exercise for increasing one's Psi-potential. If you focused on your soul hard enough, you could strengthen it like another muscle.
'Maybe… Maybe this is what Master Makhos wanted me to do in the first place—follow Void System's advice,' Zemin thought.
He focused on his soul. The soul that was half-way in the Void Dimension ever since the day he became an orphan.
It was very peaceful there, as always. Nothing but himself and the pulsing spiderweb of energy—the Void System itself.
Zemin felt the breathing of his body slowing down. There were sounds of muted footsteps.
And then, without warning—pain.