How does...someone know that I am the one who harbours the most wanted skill in the entire universe?
Aefia panicked, she wondered if she had a stalker or if someone from the office had secretly discovered her skill. She made careful measures when absorbing power from the beast and the system, and ensured she left no clues. Is it possible that she received revealation to protect herself from an upcoming danger?
Aefia opened her 'Infographics' skill to ask a question. 'Is it safe to learn more about this matter?'
No.
She flipped the note over and read, ' From an unknown source, tear the note up and let no one see it.' Without further hesitation, she tore the note into pieces and kept it inside her notebook. If it really is unsafe, I don't want to risk it. I am not certain of the punishment and I don't want to suffer another decade of my life like on Earth.
She looked at her stack of books. Her eyes went to the lighter green book, a green the colour of emerald mixed with the colour of leaves. The elemental magic book.
If I can't investigate the matter, I can investigate myself and my element. That way, I get to know more about who can possibly know about my element and its most wanted skill. The main thing is, I need to search for the skill in particular. That is also dependent on whether it is really written in this book.
She sat down and flipped to the element of 'Wolf'. The element's symbol was drawn at the corner of the first page of the element. Right next to the symbol was written 'Wolf' in cursive handwriting.
Before starting to read, she set out her pocket watch and placed it in front of the book to make sure she didn't forget to meet her teammates at twelve thirty.
***
Although there is not much information or most information is restricted about the Wolf element, it is said that it symbolizes the enhanced instincts of a predator.
A wolf, in short, is an animal capable of being a mass murderer and is aware of its surroundings all the time, even in its sleep. They are one of the most feared animals in the forest and can adapt to any environment they are given.
The Wolf element allows its owner to use psychic abilities like predicting the enemy's next move. They are also quick learners and are dedicated to victory. Each skill is either learnt by themselves or quickly grasped from any source of knowledge.
Some disadvantages of this element include side-effects of the most gruesome types (it has the most gruesome side-effect compared to other elements. Using too many skills as a beginner results in permanent damage to health, and if there isn't regular training, the skills degenerate in level and power.
***
Elemental Ability: Cursed Fate
Cursed Fate is a powerful, automatically activated protective barrier designed to defend against all kinds of spells. Once active, it creates an impenetrable shield around the user.
Elemental Ability: Clever Persuader
The Clever Persuader allows the user to subtly manipulate a target, compelling that person to answer the truth to any questions asked. However, this ability is not effective when used against individuals who are protected by defensive barriers.
Elemental Ability: Wolf Instinct
Wolf Instinct functions as an advanced radar for enemies, allowing the user to detect immediate danger and the location of hostile forces. A key limitation of this skill is that it can occasionally cause a false alarm, momentarily misleading the user.
Ability: Future Stimulation
Future Stimulation grants the user the power to simulate and make temporary changes to the present in order to interpret what would happen in the future. Using this skill is highly exhausting and takes a significant toll on the user.
Ability: Time Pause
Time Pause is an incredibly potent ability that permits the user to stop the flow of time itself. Because of the sheer magnitude of this power, using the ability is highly exhausting, placing a major physical or mental strain on the user.
Elemental Ability: Restrictive Strings
The Strings of Imprisonment ability is designed to restrict the movements of an enemy. The main drawback is that the use of this ability will require injury to the user.
Elemental Ability: Wolf's Strength
Wolf's Strength provides its user with the capacity to gain extra strength and speed for a momentary duration. The disadvantage is that overusage results in a penalty, which can include damage to the user's health in any number of ways.
Ability: Infographics
Infographics continuously supplies its user with information about the enemy and other relevant data about the current battle. However, a critical disadvantage is that asking or even thinking about confidential information may cause the entire system to malfunction.
Ability: Multi-weapon Wielder
The Multi-weapon Wielder skill simply allows the user to proficiently use any type of weapon on the battlefield. This versatile ability has no known disadvantages.
Ability: Enemy Weakpoint
Enemy Weakpoint is a visual ability that functions as a screen, displaying the enemy's vulnerable spot to the user. Like some other essential combat abilities, it has no known disadvantages.
Ability: Future Prediction
Future Prediction allows the user to see and be provided with a possible outcome of an event. A downside to relying on this skill is the possibility of the prediction being a false alarm.
Elemental Ability: Mind Control
The Mind Control ability grants the user the power to control and manipulate the mind of others. The sole disadvantage is that this powerful ability can only be used within a certain range of the target.
***
After writing down the last skill she could take note of, Aefia put down her pen and read through the details again to ensure she wasn't missing anything. It was challenging to summarize the entire section in just an hour, but her 'Knowledge Absorption' skill enabled it nonetheless.
She closed the notebook after she was done and cleaned up the table before leaving her room with her cloak and her pocket watch in her hands. She thought about the next thing she needed to know.
Ms. Avry will explain the calendar tomorrow, so I don't have to worry about that. For now, I need to focus more on my element. It seems to me that this Wolf element contains some very unusual things that need investigating. I would really like to know its history.
She took off the cape and the metal plates she had forgotten about earlier and left her empty envelope on the table before taking her room key and locking the door. She walked in the direction of Nada's room and decided to knock.
"Aefia, it's only twelve twenty. Why are you so early?" Nada answered from behind the door.
"I have some things that need to be done, mind if I come in?" Aefia asked from outside.
Nada opened the door. She was organizing her table, which was full of shiny objects. Mostly hair clips and brooches.
"I just read about my element, it has a disadvantage that needs a little noticing."
"What is it? I don't expect you to go out and hunt prey, do you?" Nada asked while leaning on her chair.
"No, instead, I need to practice my skills and train every day to keep my skills from degenerating," Aefia explained.
Nada looked shocked at Aefia. Don't look at me like that, I didn't invent that element I have with me right now. I don't even know its history.
"I will talk with the other team members to see if there are volunteers if you want?" Nada finally asked.
"What if they get hurt or something? I am not willing to pay for any harm caused. I might as well ask Ms. Avry if she is free."
"Do you know her room?"
"Oh...forgot about that part." Aefia smacked her forehead with her palm.
"Aefia, it's interesting how you are so forgetful lately," Nada asked with a slightly worried face.
"I don't know, maybe the amount I have read up until now is messing up my memories?" Aefia replied not knowing what to say. And yesterday you and Anasiy were smacking my brain out of me. Aren't you going to ask me that?!
"No, you are just not you. You used to be more attentive back on Earth and now you only care about the knowledge you want to seek. The Aefia I know always wants to go out and escape reality."
"This is a fantasy place. Or how do you expect me to be this happy to move away from a world full of boredom and loneliness?"
"Hmmm..you are right." Nada turned away from facing Aefia.
Aefia clicked open the cover of the pocket watch and saw the time. "We should be leaving now," Aefia told Nada while wearing the cloak around her shoulder.
"Alright... And why are you always wearing that cloak?" Nada showed Aefia a fake annoyed face.
"Because it nullifies my side-effects which are said to be the most gruesome of its kind compared to other elements," Aefia replied while fixing Nada's face for her.
Nada locked her room door and walked with Aefia back to the elevator. "I feel like today is the last day on Earth again. Doesn't it? That morning we were walking like this to the elevator."
Aefia's face darkened. She remembers that day as one of the most traumatizing one and one of the most sorrowful one. The day she couldn't say her goodbyes to her only loving younger brother, who was the reason for almost everything Aefia had done well in her life.
She worried every night about her brother and tried to think of a way to bring him here with her, but the situation says that wasn't possible due to his safety. He was only nine years old and he couldn't possibly fight a beast and research dark history with her.
Her brother couldn't suffer the reality she suffered on Earth. If only she had written down the ways to survive those days on a piece of paper and handed it to him before she left, she could have saved him from the trauma he would have to face.
She thought about how to write a letter back to Earth but that should be considered silly to this world's people. She tried to drag her attention away from those memories.
"Nada..." Aefia stood still at her place. "Don't..ever..speak..of it..." Aefia's eyes were a bright red.
The startled Nada took a step back and tried not to run. She wasn't sure about what triggered Aefia to get so mad that she accidentally becomes a treat to her surroundings.
Just then, she remembered about the sibling bonding Aefia and her brother had. They were an inseparable company. Aefia would only want to keep her brother safe from her evil family members everytime there was a problem. Most of the problems that were caused by Aefia's brother, were a burden carried by Aefia through abuse. At the end of the end, Aefia would take it as a work of responsibility.
Before she left, she couldn't form a security barrier to protect her brother from the things she had suffered while her days back on Earth. Her regret was the source of the anger arising inside her.
"I promise..I won't." The afraid Nada replied in an attempt to calm her down.
***
They both reached the court they were supposed to meet the other team members. No one had arrived yet.
"You have learned a few skills, why not you help me train my skills?" Aefia asked calmly.
Nada, who was still frightened of Aefia's anger, decided to keep things calm by saying yes.
Aefia used everyone of her skills lightly on Nada, who was already tired from dodging most of the attacks. Although more than fourty percent of the attacks were placed successfully by Aefia.
Aefia's power was said to be growing faster than the other teammates. Her skills were equivalent to a mentor's and she had already taken down a beast with no help.
Aefia overall, from her skills to stats, was a powerful beast residing in her best friend's body. Even seeing her face sent shivers down Nada's spine.
After some time, the other team members came and Anasiy volunteered to train Aefia. Nada took the opportunity to alert Helio and Diego who in return were to alert Anasiy.
***
Aefia wondered why Nada was acting a bit weird ever since Aefia told her to not speak about the last day on Earth. She was uncertain if she was scared or was trying her best to avoid her due to her temper.
"Hey, Anasiy, can I try an elemental ability on you? I haven't tried it on anyone yet so I need to experiment it a bit. I will be very careful not to harm you." Aefia asked Anasiy politely.
"Yeah, I won't mind." Anasiy stood still at her place.
Aefia activated her 'Mind Control' skill on Anasiy. For some reason, the skill bounced off as if it were blocked by a wall. She tried again.
This time, it went straight through without any interaction. She quickly activated her 'Infographics' skill.
This skill can't be used due to the target having the same skill as the user.