Emma cleared her throat, trying to hide the faint blush that had spread across her cheeks. Her eyes shifted from the power assessment machine to Aurel, then away, her demeanor quickly turning composed once again. She seemed determined to keep things moving, to distract herself, and Aurel couldn't help but notice the slight fluster in her expression.
"Alright, enough standing around," she said, her voice carrying an edge of forced enthusiasm. "Let's test speed next. It's just as important as strength, right?"
She gestured for Aurel to follow her, and he nodded, his excitement still humming beneath the surface. The two of them made their way across the training center to a section dedicated to speed testing—a straight track with two gates, one for the start and another at the finish, sensors designed to measure their speed to the decimal.
They reached the track, and Emma wasted no time in stepping up to the starting line. She shot Aurel a glance, her smile filled with determination, and he could see the competitive spark in her eyes.
"Ready to see what true speed looks like?" she teased, her voice confident, but her eyes still betraying a hint of the embarrassment from before.
Aurel crossed his arms, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Go ahead, show me what you've got."
Emma turned to face the track, her body tensing, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the finish gate ahead. Aurel took a step back, watching her closely, feeling the excitement growing again. He wanted to see what she could do, wanted to see just how far ahead she was—how much more he needed to push himself to reach her level.
The sensors beeped, signaling that they were ready, and for a moment, everything seemed to go quiet. Emma took a deep breath, and then, with a burst of energy, she was gone.
A blur of green and gold streaked down the track, her vibrant aura swirling around her as she moved, her body almost disappearing from sight. The sound that followed was like the crack of thunder, the air splitting as she accelerated, her speed so intense that Aurel could barely track her movement. The finish gate beeped, and the display above the track flickered to life, the numbers processing before flashing across the screen.
Speed: Mach 2
Tier 2, Strata 3
Aurel's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. Twice the speed of sound. It was an incredible result, one that matched her strength assessment. Emma had already actualized five genetic locks, and her speed was on a level that most cultivators could only dream of.
She slowed to a stop, turning back to face Aurel, her smile bright, her eyes alight with satisfaction. "Your turn," she called, jogging back to the starting line, her aura fading, her breathing steady despite the incredible speed she had just displayed.
Aurel nodded, stepping forward, his heart pounding, his body tense. He knew this wasn't going to be his strong suit—he didn't have any traits or abilities focused on speed or agility. Armour Penetration had helped with his strength test, but here, he was on his own.
He took a deep breath, positioning himself at the starting gate, his eyes fixed on the finish line ahead. The sensors beeped, and Aurel felt his muscles coiling, his entire body preparing to move. He focused on his breathing, on the power within him, and then, with a sharp exhale, he launched himself forward.
The wind whipped against his face, his feet pounding against the track, his body moving with as much speed as he could muster. He could feel his muscles straining, his focus sharp, the world around him blurring slightly as he pushed himself, his heart pounding in his ears.
He crossed the finish line, the gate beeping, and he slowed to a stop, his chest rising and falling with each breath. The screen above the track flickered, the numbers processing, and then it displayed his result.
Speed: 150 km/h
Tier 1, Strata 2
Aurel looked up at the screen, a small smile tugging at his lips. It wasn't as impressive as Emma's result—not even close.
Emma approached, her expression calm, her eyes appraising. She looked at the display, then back at Aurel, and he could see the understanding in her gaze. She wasn't surprised by his result—there was no shock like before, no awe. Instead, there was something else—something softer, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips.
"Not bad," she said, her voice light, teasing. "You can't be good at everything, after all."
Aurel let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Guess not," he said. "Speed's not exactly my strong suit."
Emma nodded, her gaze lingering on him, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something in her eyes—something warm, almost affectionate. Aurel blinked, unsure if he had imagined it, but before he could say anything, Emma turned away, her expression shifting back to one of casual confidence, her smile widening.
"Still," she said, "you've come a long way. I mean, I wasn't expecting another Tier 1, Strata 5 result, but this is still impressive. Especially for someone who's just actualized their second genetic lock."
Aurel felt a warmth spreading through him at her words—a sense of pride, of accomplishment. He had grown stronger, faster, more capable, and even though he still had a long way to go, he was getting there. Slowly but surely, he was closing the gap.
"Thanks, Emma," he said, his voice sincere. "It means a lot coming from you."
Emma glanced at him, her eyes softening for a moment, and she gave a small nod. "You're doing great, Aurel," she said, her voice gentle, almost affectionate. "Just keep pushing. You've got so much more potential. I can see it."
Aurel smiled, a sense of determination settling in his chest. He would keep pushing, keep growing, keep striving for more. He wasn't done yet—not by a long shot.
Emma gestured toward the simulation area, her eyes glinting with excitement. "So, ready for the next test?" she asked, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
Aurel nodded, his excitement building once again. "Absolutely," he said.