As they walked up the city's streets, the teenagers were greeted by several more humans.
Some were merchants, others bar-keepers, technicals, and other roles. They all bowed at each other with kindness, happy to see more humans arriving at the Faction.
The more they climbed, the more Half-machines began appearing.
Icarus saw three Rank 1s, noticeable due to their patches. They stopped what they were doing to very rudely stare at the teenagers, even scowling a bit. But it didn't take long for them to bow—a bit uninterested.
And that seemed to be the norm with all other Rank 1s. However, the Rank 2s gave them far more leeway, some even kind enough to join their journey.
'That's a strange dynamic. Perhaps we're getting an extra, better treatment the other Rank 1s didn't get?'
As a former senior programmer in his past life, Icarus was familiar with those scowls.
One day, the company he was working at changed languages to a far more simple, AI-based framework.
All of the juniors who sacrificed their sleep in an attempt to get proficient in the previous language were deeply enraged. Some even quit the company and found another job that used said language and thrived there.
Their mumbles and expressions were perfect copies of the Rank 1's glares.
'There's some backstory going on here, for sure.'
As they stepped into the Academy, Icarus was surprised to see it was being guarded by mundane humans.
A rather odd choice in a Faction full of Half-machines, but he wasn't going to question it.
Moving deeper, Icarus began taking notice of the way the Academy was built. As expected, it had several filtration systems in the ceilings and floor to prevent any chemicals from corroding the foundations and walls.
The material it was built was closely related to what he saw in the mountains, and he didn't shy away from thinking out loud.
"Is the Academy built with materials from the mountains?"
The Rank 3 scouter, Ayzic, looked over his shoulder briefly and said.
"You have a good eye. Materials for Red Waters come from the ever-growing mountains surrounding us. If we didn't, the mountains would turn into volcanoes, and the swamp would fill with molten metal. If it grew more, it would erupt."
Some of the teenagers heard his words and quickly replied.
"Have you had issues with eruptions before?"
"We did. I, fortunately, have not experienced it, but our Master Merovea was tasked with the handling of one. Not only did he save the Faction, but also re-directed the eruption to the beast wave coming our way, saving Red Waters from that year's tide."
Icarus raised his eyebrows in surprise, not having expected a mere healer to pull off such a feat. Red Waters Nuveth felt better tasked for that job given the long-range proficiency he spoke of in his introduction.
Reaching a large room of the Academy, the teenager's academic instincts kicked in as they began sprinting for the best seat according to their beliefs.
Those that liked to learn got the front, those that were often lose in thought got the windows. Unlucky ones got those of the wall, and Icarus and most got the middle seats.
Not that he cared.
He was far too old—chronologically speaking—to care about a classroom seat.
When everyone was seated, Ayzic crossed his arms, dropped his cap and face mask—revealing a scarred face and long black beard.
Some of his skin was slightly burnt off as well, with ugly wrinkles on his left cheek. He didn't seem to care, however.
"First and foremost, welcome to Red Waters. You are a hundred students who not only have a great academic report but also have been confirmed to contain a sufficient concentration of nanobots per cell to awaken as Half-machines."
Most of the teenagers' lips began curving up in smiles as they listened.
"Hence, you have been selected to awaken under our Faction's name. Since time is currently not limited, a rare luxury in these times, I will first give a quick rundown of our Faction's story."
Icarus perked his attention.
"Red Waters was funded six hundred and forty-three years ago by former High Tide member Saib, a Rank 5 healer Implant Wielder seeking retirement and setting up a Faction.
"He is the one that invented the architecture you're standing under, as well as the safety procedure that keeps the city safe. He was also one of the first Half-machines to venture to the Core of Broken Canyon and return alive."
Some of the teenagers couldn't help but let out gasps in admiration, clearly having done their research on the planet itself.
"The name's reason is the swamp's water changing color as the year goes by. Following the Human Time Rate, a year here are two laps around the system's star. The swamp's water will rise every half-year due to pressure and temperature build-up.
"Said water was toxic due to the accumulation of chemicals. However, thanks to his self-created Rank 5 Implant, he was able to purify the chemicals in the air and restore their damage. A lesser version is was Master Merovea carries in his back, the Rank 4 Neutralizer Flower."
One of the teenagers raised his hand, to which Ayzic gave him the right of word.
"What was the Rank 5 called?"
"Rank 5 Cleansing Flower. Instead of neutralizing, it also heals. That's the reason why he was able to survive the Core of the planet as well as keep a forest alive in these conditions."
Icarus almost whistled at that.
'The limits of Half-machines… or rather nanobots are almost infinite. I would have never imagined the future to be like this. I thought it'd be more… dystopic.'
Putting both hands on the desk, Ayzic leaned forward and said.
"Now, I've been speaking of Implant Wielders all this time, so it's a perfect opportunity to start teaching you beyond the mortal information limits. Starting with Half-machines."
Now, all of the teenagers put their attention to his words, especially those at the front.
"To become a Half-machine, one must awaken their nanobots first. This means resonating their entire body with a special pulse to activate them. Upon doing so, your concentration will be scanned.
"If—on average—nanobots take between 20% and 40% of your cells, it means you have a Grade D Affinity. 41% to 60% is a Grade C Affinity. 61% to 80% is Grade B. 81% to 98% is Grade A. 99% is a Perfect Grade."
Seeing most of the students' eyes brightening up with expectations, one that Ayzic was very familiar with. One of the students punched the one in front of him.
"I'm sure they'll need another Grade just for your weak ass."
"Says the one that cries over cartoons."
"Come on, I have a fragile soul!"
The students quickly began talking their thoughts out loud, to which Ayzic spoke with a clear tone and intent.
"Perfect Grade is hypothetical, as it has never been achieved. Anything beyond 90% is almost mythical, with three recorded cases, all dead due to assassination."
Icarus widened his eyes as the Rank 3 continued—the chatter slowly dying off.
"85% to 90% is considered the best range, with 80% to 84% being the most common. So don't get your hopes up."
Another student slowly raised his hand as if unsure.
"What does a better Affinity give us? Speed? Strength?"
"Better Affinity simply means that the nanobots inside your body will regenerate faster. You will learn their usage with time, so don't fret over the matter."
The student nodded, to which Ayzic continued.
"Before you ask, we still don't know how the nanobots naturally form in our bodies or why. It simply happened, and we took advantage of it."
'Classic human behavior,' Icarus snorted.
"Now, to finish this brief introduction, I want to clear the matter on Half-machine terminology. As you've been noticing, some Half-machines have referred themselves to as Implant Wielders.
"Implants will be explained later in detail, but they're upgrades to someone's body. An Implant Wielder, as its name indicates, uses Implants externally to upgrade their body, just as I, Red Waters Nuveth, or Master Merovea does. Just like the Faction's founder."
Hearing the tone of his voice, almost a bit mysterious and, most importantly, holding something back, Icarus squinted his eyes at the thought of another path existing.
And his guess was right on the dot.
"However, there's another type of Half-machine. They are known as War Machines."
'Called it.'
"Instead of using Implants externally, War Machines use Implants internally, consuming them to upgrade their body directly. You'll see that War Machines are composed of nanobots internally, not with an exoskeleton like Implant Wielders do.
"These Half-machines are ruthless and will do anything in their power to become as strong as their own body lets them. Our Faction has few of them, but you won't encounter them any time soon."
Once again, Icarus found something odd in Ayzic.
He spoke with a tinge of hatred, and it did a great job in seeping across the room. He saw some of his future classmates expression turning ugly as they listened to this explanation.
Something clicked in his mind.
'A… demons, huh?'
Clapping his palm against the table twice, Ayzic said.
"I had to end on that high note to warn you that Half-machines' lives can sometimes be the closest thing to hell you'll experience. But don't worry. We, the Red Waters Faction, will do our best to make sure you're prepared against any external threat."
'Sure…'
Just as he thought that the students began clapping at Ayzic words. Though, some also felt his words a bit odd, and were slower in making their hands connect.
Skepticism slowly began seeping into his thoughts, not buying the whole act. But he had nothing to base said feelings on, so he took them with a grain of salt.
The best thing he could do now was go with the flow.
"Now, Red Waters Nuveth will bring you to your dormitories in the Academy. There, you will find a letter with the time for the Awakening tomorrow. Don't worry. Days in Broken Canyon are in sync with the Human Time Rate, twenty-four hours.
"Rest well, and get that space lag out of your bodies. Tomorrow, you'll become proper Rank 1s."