"One month until the Summer Equinox." Bitting her thumb, Nama took a moment to think as they both strolled through the halls of Compound Thirty-Four. Her voice held a sense of quiet concern. "Barely anytime at all."
Squinting, Lauri turned to her.
"You're not filling me with much in the way of, oh I don't know, confidence! I thought you were going to help me figure out what classes I should be taking."
Nama let go of her thumb, smiling she nodded.
"Of course, I promised that I'd help you figure out what classes you should be looking into."
The two reached the end of the hall proceeding up a flight of stairs. Holding the handrail as she walked, Nama tilted her head to look up the gap between the stairs.
"First let me ask you something. Do you even know what Compound Thirty-Four is?"
Lauri simply shook his head.
Nama tongued her cheek as she looked back to the stairs.
"Course not… Right, so. Compound Thirty-Four is one of many compounds which all serve one purpose, and that is preparing those who have recently become Risen. I'm sure you've heard of yourself being referred to as Sickly right?"
Lauri nodded, "Yes I've heard that a couple of times now. Rel mentioned something to do with a sickness that happens close to the Summer Equinox. So I figured calling people Sickly had to do with that… Not that I'm completely sure why."
"This sickness is something that happens to Risen, we're pretty sure we understand the reason why. Something to do with the body's new soul core not being able to function without being in the Aether. The natural energy of the Aether stabilises your soul."
Lauri's expression grew grim as he heard this information.
"So you're saying if I don't go to the Aether, I'll die?"
Nama shook her head, "I never said you'd die. At first, you'd feel slightly lethargic, then you'd feel incredibly lethargic and if you were still unable to travel to the Aether, your body would begin to slowly break down unable to withstand the effects of your your empowered soul. You'd experience unimaginable pain unlike anything else as your soul forcibly created a connection with the Aether…"
Letting out a deep sigh, Nama rubbed her jaw.
"And only then would you die as a Fiend stuck inside the Aether would use uses that connection to enter this world."
Lauri's grim expression grew even darker as his own face grew pale.
"Yeah, encouraging…"
Nama remained silent for a moment lost in her own thoughts until she spoke a minute later.
"It's not all bad, that was a problem when the first Risen appeared. Nobody knew how to access the Aether and so, many died allowing Fiend's to bridge the gap between our worlds. But then some found how to access the Aether."
Lauri remained silent, he waited to Nama to continue.
"They managed to slay some Fiends that crossed through, and by using the soul cores of those Fiends they slew, the genius minds of the first generation constructed a device – the Transference device – that allowed the souls of those that were slain to cross the gap themselves."
"They, made a device using soul cores?"
Lauri's expression changed from grim to surprised.
"Indeed, it seems that the souls of Risen are too weak to reach the Aether on their own, so they need a little boost." Smiling, she gave Lauri a small nudge. "So don't worry, you don't have to worry about a Fiend bursting out of your chest like in that old sci-fi film."
'Old sci-fi film? What's that?'
Shaking his head, Lauri rubbed his arm where Nama nudged him.
"So you're telling me, I'll have to bounce back and forth from this world to the Aether for what, the rest of my life to stop my body from breaking down and also to stop some overly energetic Fiend from using my body as a doorway?"
"Well, not the rest of your life."
Reaching the top of the stairs, sunlight now streamed through the large windows as the sun's natural light illuminated the hallway overpowering the electronic lightbulbs. As Nama continued down the new hallway, Lauri stopped as he felt the boost to his strength he received from [Brightest Night] vanish. The vanishing strength was replaced by a feeling of rejuvenation that filled Lauri's body.
Turning his head, he stepped toward the window, looking into the sun.
'What is this sensation? It reminds me of getting a good night's sleep, but I'm not sleeping?'
Nama waited a few seconds before clearing her throat.
"Um, Lauri. I wouldn't look into the sun if I was you, you know. It's kind of bad for your eyes."
Blinking, Lauri looked away from the sun, an embarrassed laugh escaping his lips.
"Oh, right right. Sorry."
As Lauri looked at what else he could see out of the window, his attention paused on the large walls that seemed to surround the Compound. Made of white metal, for a moment Lauri almost couldn't believe how large the walls were, easily twenty feet in height, the bright-coloured metal of the walls stretched from left to right moving in a wide arc blocking the view of the outside. Lauri's eyes moved to the top of the walls. Large machines stood atop the walls stationary, their large barrels pointed into the air. Lowering his gaze slightly, a scowl appeared on Lauri's face.
Seemingly normal people were atop the walls, men and women in mundane body armour patrolled the walls, each holding a rifle of some description, but Lauri's scowl wasn't aimed at these regular people.
Unmoving atop the wall, suits of armour stood with their backs to the compound as they gazed out at the land beyond the Compound's walls.
The suits of armour were something Lauri could never forget.
'Yang's Indebted.'
They were the same people who had slaughtered Lauri's home. The dull grey metal of their armour stood out against the bright blue sky. As Lauri's anger bubbled inside his chest, a thought crossed his mind that caused him to falter.
'That could have been me… If Yang managed to take control of my soul, I would be no different from those people… My anger is wasted on them, only that bastard deserves my hatred.'
Holding the side of his face, Lauri turned away from the window. Nama watched Lauri with a concerned expression. Seeing this Lauri tried to smile.
"Sorry about that, the sun just looked so pretty today…" Clearing his throat Lauri continued. "What were we talking about again?"
Nama shook her head. "I was just about to explain your future should you survive the Aether. Let's walk and talk young man."
Quickly following after her, Lauri cast one last glance to the unmoving figures atop the walls before giving Nama his full attention. The building above ground was more populated than the underground space which housed the Risen's sleeping area, the cafeteria and the auditorium. Lauri followed closely behind Nama as they weaved between people running about obviously with places to be
"As I was about to say. Should you return from the Aether alive, you will rise from the rank of Risen to an Awakened. When you are an Awakened your soul will increase in power, meaning you will be able to access the Aether without the need for the Transference device. I won't bore you with how you'll become a member of an elite class in society," Nama dismissively waved her hand around. "Options for prime real estate in any of the cities you choose to live in, a lot of money to be made, yadda yadda. What I'm sure you'll want to know about is how to make it so you no longer need to travel between worlds."
Nama smiled as looked at Lauri seeing his own expression lighten as he heard her.
About to say something, Nama frowned.
"I cannot promise you it is easy. Like what happened the night you manifested your soul core, you would have to undergo another Trial. One far worse than the first. But by the end, you would grow not just stronger spiritually, but also physically. Your body would be able to handle the strength of your soul so you wouldn't need to travel to the Aether Stream once a day."
Coming to a stop, Nama turned to the left and without saying a word she kicked a door open. Holding the door open for Lauri, she shrugged.
"The door gets stuck. Now please, step into my office."
Lauri did as he was told and followed her inside, looking around her office, Lauri raised an eyebrow. To put it simply, the room was a mess.
Books filled up the floor and desk space, a board stood on the other side of the room filled with stick notes. Nama began moving books around to clear a way for Lauri to reach her desk, she also had to move books from her desk and the chairs which surrounded it so the two of them would have a place to sit.
Following Nama through the line she cut into the books, Lauri bit his lip.
'What have I gotten myself into...'
Chapter 39: Ferocious Fiends and Where to Find Them Chapter 1
As Nama continued to try and tidy up her office, Lauri had taken his place, sitting down on the one empty chair. Flipping through a rather large book, Lauri had been attracted to it due to the cover. Keeping his finger in the book so he wouldn't lose his place, he closed the book slightly to look at its cover.
'Ferocious Fiends and Where to Find Them. I can't imagine why anyone would want to actually find Fiends. Sick bastards.'
Opening the book again, Lauri skimmed through the names of a few Fiends.
'Grove Tender, inhabitant of the Endless Sanctuary. Lepper Eel, inhabitant of the Upturned Sea. Knight of Sickness, inhabitant of the Sickening Swamps… What is that.'
Lauri's eyes narrowed as he came across a familiar name.
'Lucent Protector, inhabitant of the Ever Dawn… Lucent… Could this be tied to the Lucent bugs, and the Ever Dawn?'
"So Lauri," Having finished with sorting out her office, Nama finally took a seat behind her desk. She had spoken wanting to begin helping Lauri with his classes, but Lauri interrupted her.
Putting the book he was holding onto the desk. Lauri pointed at the Lucent Protector's paragraph.
Trying to keep his voice calm, Lauri failed as a sense of urgency crept into his words. "Is there anything you can tell me about this?"
Looking at where his finger was pointing, Lauri sat back as Nama picked the book up, to have a closer look at the passage. As she read it, she glanced over the top of the book at Lauri with a questioning gaze.
"Why do you ask?"
Lauri shuffled in his seat.
"It just caught my eye, since the Talents my Title provides are light-related."
Keeping her focus on Lauri for a few more moments, Nama shrugged, placing the book back down.
"The Fiend you're asking about is a Lucent Protector. A very dangerous Fiend, not just because of its power. But because of the Lucent Swarm." Casting a glance at the text on the book one more time, Nama closed the book. "The Lucent Swarm operates under a caste system, there's the Lucent Drones, Workers, Protectors, Stalkers. Really the list goes on, there are theories about there being a Lucent Queen or King. But those are just theories, the region of the Aether that those bugs reside in is officially declared a Danger Category One Regional Sector."
Nama watched Lauri tilt his head in confusion.
"Danger Category One Regional Sector? Big words, explains very little. So I understand it is dangerous?"
Nama chuckled, "Dangerous is an understatement. The Regional Index has ten ratings, any region that falls under the third, second or first classification are registered as Dead Zones, meaning it is not fit for human life. Be it the environment, the flora, or the fauna. You just had to pick one of the most dangerous. To put it simply, the Ever Dawn is a Dead Zone, because humanity is unable to make a dent in the defences of those Lucent bugs. That's mostly what's stopping humanity's advance in the Aether Stream, we've mapped out all the easy places but now we have only the hard places."
As Nama dryly chuckled to herself, Lauri sighed.
'Well, it seems I won't be able to find out any secrets that the Lucent Swarm may have… Pity.'
Picking up Ferocious Fiends and Where to Find Them, Nama chucked it onto a stack of books at the edge of the room. Turning back to Lauri, Nama interlaced her fingers as she leaned her elbows on the table.
"Now, enough shenanigans, Lauri. Let's discuss, do you have anything in mind for your lessons?"
Rubbing the back of his head, Lauri leant back in his chair for a moment, leaning forward again, a small smile on his lips.
"I do not."
Nama blinked.
"Huh. Ok fine," Grabbing a pen and paper, she prepared to write something.
"Do you have any skills with a weapon?"
Lauri nodded, "I was trained how to use a knife in self-defence."
Nama scribbled something onto the paper.
"Do you have any knowledge on how to survive in the wilderness?"
Lauri nodded, "I was once trained by a master of wilderness survival."
Nama scribbled something else, "How well can you use your Talent?"
Lauri thought for a second, "It's not very complicated, so I think I'll be able to master it before long."
Looking at the piece of paper, Nama chewed on the cap of her pen for a moment before asking a series of questions.
"Do you have any experience with a sword or any other kind of weapon? Does your knowledge of wilderness survival extend to building a fire, starting a fire, keeping the fire going, cooking food over a fire and gathering water and lastly, is your Talent strong in offence or defence?"
Rubbing his chin Lauri thought of how to respond.
"My few experiences with a sword are all rather negative, yes, yes, yes, somewhat yes and yes, my Talent is somewhat offensive focused, but I can think of ways it could be used in a defensive manner."
Lauri was of course referring to how his Talent [Light's Edge] could be used in an offensive way to make things like a replica of his dagger, swords and no doubt other bladed weaponry. Lauri had an idea that it could also be used in a defensive way, like being used to create a shield.
Writing what Lauri had said down onto her piece of paper, Nama paused, rereading a section of the paper, she scribbled it out writing something next to it. Placing the paper down, she looked at Lauri.
"I think… Yes, I think you shouldn't worry about taking any classes that have to do with combat. As you don't even know the basics of swordplay starting now would only take away from the time you could put into other classes, you know the basics and maybe more to wilderness survival with only a month left until the Summer Equinox, as Rel said. You should use your time, wisely."
Staring back at Nama, Lauri frowned slightly, resting his hands on his knees.
"But, um, surely I should learn something about how to wield a sword, right? If I can't even defend myself, what's the point in knowing how to survive the wilderness? I might as well serve myself up on a silver platter to the very first Fiend I see."
"I wouldn't be so sure," Reclining in her chair, Nama held her hands up. "You should have faith in your instincts. You survived your Penumbra right, of course you did, you wouldn't be sitting in front of me if you didn't. So have more faith, Lauri."
Lauri's eyes narrowed.
'Penumbra, there's that word again. First Rel mentioned it, and now Nama. Is there a way I can learn about these concepts, like a book or something?'
Although Nama had been only kind and courteous to Lauri, he still couldn't bring himself to trust this woman. Her bright green eyes filled him with a certain uncomfortable feeling he couldn't quite describe. No matter how kind she was, she was still one of Yang's underlings.
'Sorry, Nama, you don't seem to be an Indebted, but I still can't trust you.'
Unaware of Lauri's dark thoughts, Nama brightly smiled as he reached for another blank sheet of lined paper.
"Now, let's discuss how I think you should be spending your time. Over the next month."