As Rico sat in his quarters, shirtless after a bath, Luna's words echoed in his mind, helping him piece together the mysteries of this new world.
Ascenders are those who enter a certain heaven by ascending from lower realms, like Earth.
Those born in higher realms are known as the Heavenly Born.
"Oh, so that's how it is," Rico mused, Luna's explanation sinking in.
He glanced around his room in the trainee's residence, still processing everything.
"Heaven, huh," he murmured to himself, "It's really just like Earth in so many ways…"
[Of course, it is. Earth is merely a shadow—a fraction of heaven's reflection.]
Rico blinked, a bit surprised at Luna's response.
"Wait… Earth's a fraction of heaven?" he asked.
[All earth realms are made in the image of heaven. So, as below, so above.]
[Did you think your Earth was the only realm created? It's just a drop in the ocean, Rico.]
The revelation left him both humbled and a little overwhelmed.
"Luna, where did you go earlier, when you suddenly disappeared?"
"And why haven't I received any new quests since then?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
[I was finalizing our integration.]
[The quests were designed to guide you during my absence, but now that I'm here, the tutorial phase is over. This is the real deal.]
Her words resonated with a sense of finality that Rico hadn't felt before.
As Rico processed Luna's explanation about the realms, the door to the residence opened.
His new roommate, the latecomer from the training field, entered quietly.
Rico glanced over, recognizing the same energy he'd felt earlier.
A tall figure entered, moving with an easy, relaxed gait.
With tousled dark hair, a simple, friendly smile, and a welcoming demeanor, his appearance was deceptively casual.
"I'm Lycus," he greeted, his voice smooth but reserved. "You're Tiyaga, right?"
Rico straightened, nodding.
"Yeah, butyou can call me Rico. Rico Tiyaga Santos." He extended a hand, which Lycus accepted with a firm, friendly shake.
"I look forward to sharing the space," Lycus replied.
"It's about time for the meal. Shall we go together?" He slipped on his trainee uniform jacket, gesturing for Rico to follow.
Rico nodded, grabbing his own jacket.
As he stepped forward, Luna's voice whispered a cautionary note.
[I sense a powerful divine energy radiating from him. He's not as simple as he seems.]
Rico gave a sidelong glance at Lycus, noting the easygoing aura he projected.
They made their way down the corridor, chatting lightly.
Though the conversation remained mostly surface-level, focused on training and their first day, Rico couldn't help but notice Lycus's effortless charm and relaxed demeanor.
Eventually, they arrived at the main dining hall.
It was an impressive space filled with the aromas of fresh food, fruits, and warm bread.
The setup was grand, with eleven large tables arranged in two rows of five on either side, separated by a central aisle.
Each table seated eleven trainees, with five on either side and one at the head.
Up front, on a small raised platform, Demetrius sat, along with other senior figures, overlooking the gathering.
The tables were already loaded with an array of food, fruits, and drinks, and cooks and maids moved around, placing final touches before stepping aside.
Rico and Lycus entered, and immediately the room quieted.
Heads turned to look at them, as they had arrived slightly later than the others.
Rico noticed the eyes of his fellow trainees on him and Lycus as they entered.
There was an unmistakable attention, especially from those who had seen their performances earlier.
Rico's assigned table was the third on the right, where his own team waited.
Lycus's table, meanwhile, was the first on the left.
As they parted ways, Rico made his way past the first row, where Lysander sat.
Without warning, Lysander subtly attempted to trip him, extending his foot just enough to interfere with Rico's stride.
Rico, however, caught the movement instantly.
With a quick step, he sidestepped the trap, flashing a grin in Lysander's direction, his eyes briefly gleaming with amusement.
Finally reaching his table, Rico was surprised when all ten of his subordinates rose simultaneously, placing a hand over their chests in a show of respect.
"Greetings, Commander Tiyaga," they chorused, paying their respects in the formal way reserved for those of higher standing.
For a moment, Rico was taken aback, but he returned the gesture with a nod, allowing himself a small, appreciative smile as he took his seat.
As Rico took his seat, he looked around at the ten individuals who had lined up behind him.
His heart raced with the gravity of it all—he'd never led anything in his past life, and now here he was, their Novice Commander.
One by one, they introduced themselves, pride evident in their expressions, each name carrying a sense of identity and purpose.
The first to step forward was a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark eyes that gleamed with determination.
"I am Theron, the Resolute," he said firmly.
Rico could see his pride and sense of duty etched in every movement.
Next was a young woman with curly hair and a gaze that looked like it could pierce through stone.
"I am Callista of Vyrannis." Her confident stance and her slight smirk told Rico she was as fast with her words as she was with her feet.
The third was a more solemn figure, a lanky man with an expression of calm control.
"My name is Damaris, the Stoic." His gaze held a steady resolve, making it clear he wasn't easily shaken.
After him, a muscular young woman with fiery red hair stepped forward, her voice booming with confidence.
"I am Eudoxia!" she declared proudly, her arms crossed over her chest.
Her posture spoke of strength and endurance.
Then came a wiry young man with a wiry grin, seeming almost too relaxed given the formal atmosphere.
"I'm Leonidas of Kaldara," he introduced himself, his sly grin hinting at his cunning nature.
The sixth to speak was a slim, fair-haired girl with eyes that were deep and serene.
"I am Lysandra, the Faithful." Her quiet, reverent tone carried a loyalty that was both comforting and fierce.
A large, bear-like man followed her, his face calm but his build intimidating.
"I am Phaedrus, the Boulder." His slow, deliberate words matched his massive frame, exuding a silent strength.
Next in line was a man with sharp eyes and an intense focus that seemed to dissect the world around him.
"I am Nikias," he said with a nod, a faint smirk on his face as he assessed Rico.
Then, a young woman with an easygoing smile introduced herself.
"I am Thalia, the Serene." Her aura was soothing, her voice calm and grounding.
Finally, the last subordinate, a tall man with dark, watchful eyes and a proud bearing, spoke.
"I am Evander" he said, his voice carrying a deep resonance.
As Rico nodded, feeling both humbled and inspired by each of them, he noticed that the other new commanders seemed a bit envious.
Their own subordinates hadn't shown nearly as much respect as Rico's had, and some, like Lysander, merely sat with a smirk.
Suddenly, a delicate ding of a triangle being tapped by one of the maids echoed through the hall, signaling the start of the meal.
Everyone turned their attention to the feast before them, and Rico quickly picked up on the ritual,
finding himself already integrated into the customs with the help of his Wisdom of the Worlds.
Demetrius sat at the head table, glancing over at Rico with a look of intrigued appraisal.
"So he's a commander, huh?" Demetrius thought, noting the young ascender's nervousness as he took his first bites.
He could tell this was all new to him.
Rico, on the other hand, was overwhelmed with satisfaction as he dug in, savoring each flavor.
"Wow, I've never tasted anything like this… it's so satisfying!" he thought, barely able to contain his excitement.
Just as the meal was drawing to a close, the large double doors at the entrance began to open slowly, creaking with the weight of their grandeur.
Everyone looked up in unison as a powerful figure entered.
Flanked by two guards who seemed even more imposing than Demetrius, the Overseer of Helikon, Thalor, strode into the hall.
Rico's breath caught; these guards looked far more intimidating than any he'd encountered when he had first met Thalor.
An instinctive urge compelled everyone to stand and pay their respects.
Rico, along with the rest, quickly rose, bowing his head in reverence.
[Thalor, one of the Champions of Ares,]
Luna's voice echoed in Rico's mind, tinged with awe.
As Luna's voice echoed in his mind, Rico felt a strange familiarity wash over him, as if her words unlocked something deep within, a reminder of a purpose he had almost forgotten.
Thalor stood before them, his gaze piercing each novice commander with a weight that seemed to instill both fear and awe.
The hall fell silent as he raised his hand, and, as if in silent command, every trainee took their seat.
"Congratulations to you all," he began, his voice resonating with authority, "and I celebrate your presence in the name of Ares."
His words felt like a benediction, casting a renewed sense of purpose over each of them.
"This is just the beginning, so you all must work hard from this point on," he continued, a faint smile touching his otherwise stern expression.
With a sharp snap of his fingers, the space above each novice commander shimmered,
and then, as if puncturing the very fabric of the air, ten dark voids appeared, hovering right above the commanders.
Out of each void fell thick, bound manuals, ten for each of the new commanders.
They landed heavily in front of them with a dull thud, each manual unique in appearance and decorated with symbols and titles.
Rico looked at the stack before him, awed by the weight of both knowledge and responsibility.
Each manual seemed to hum with an unspoken promise of strength and skill, the worn bindings hinting at the many warriors who had studied them before.
"These are what you need," Thalor continued.
"From today henceforth, all novice commanders are responsible for training their subordinates."
His words hung in the air, and Rico felt the eyes of his own subordinates on him.
He took a breath, feeling a mix of pride and pressure at the role he was stepping into.
"Every commander is required to study and understand, to a comprehensive level, at least three of the manuals," Thalor instructed, his gaze sweeping across the ten.
"You are to instill what you learn into your subordinates, passing on the skills necessary for survival and strength."
He gestured to the senior warriors seated around the hall.
"The seniors will assist you where you find difficulty, but the burden of understanding lies on your shoulders."
With his final words, he leaned forward, his voice carrying a solemn weight.
"With this said, every novice commander shall be responsible for the lives of their subordinates, both in and out of battle."
"In your hands lies their safety, their growth, and their survival. Do not take this duty lightly."
As his words sank in, Rico could feel the enormity of what lay ahead responsibility, honor,
and the challenge of guiding others on this journey to become true warriors of Ares.