Grace knew all about the hardships these character's face. The doubt and fear that have been etched into their hearts. And most importantly, the regret that they could not shed so easily.
That is why he wanted to ease their burdens a bit. Just a bit. The arduous journey is not one without the emergence of wisdom.
Grace walked alone towards the training hall, imagining the faces of the characters all at once.
Even if it's for a limited time--
I'd like for them to keep their smile. Grace thought to himself as he entered the training building. At a nearby arena was a column of fire entrancing the nearby spectators with the fabulous wonder.
Grace ignored it, opting to go straight into the training pod instead of looking at the extravagance that Alice was showing. Her affairs were not his, and he knew she'd progress through the Grades just fine.
Much like himself.
Closing his eyes, he was situated back into the endless white expanse that had subjected him into some torturous training yesterday evening.
Yesterday was merely a test-run for what this pod can do. I've only read what it did, after all. I wanted to experience it myself. Sitting down, Grace remained silent.
Closing his eyes, he began to initiate the technique that was demonstrated during the end of the first year.
Most people figured out that they could manipulate the environment of the white expanse into anything that they could imagine. However, this was not just for decoration--there was a purpose for everything in this academy.
In a hypothetical situation, a person who is devoted to a God that utilizes the storms and sea--they should change it into that kind of terrain and train within that environment. This is because if a person is to change the terrain into something that shared traits and origins of the God they devote themselves too--
It temporarily increases the synchronization between the human and God.
They were bathing in the essence of their God. Grace thought.
However, that brought the question in what kind of environment would best foster growth for Grace and the Creator?
Grace ignored the memory fragments of the old user of the body and pushed deeper into his consciousness--the times where he read the book and all the memories and events he shared with it.
There! Grace finally found what he was looking for.
"Before there was a universe, there was an endless void of nothing. It was in the void did an egg appear. But it was the moment in which its heart first pulsed..."
Grace felt his body heat up.
"Did the universe appear!"
The space - the world around Grace - began to contort in the utter madness of his supposed imagination. Despite it being a mere replica of what truly occurred, there was this surreal feeling that rush through his body.
The synchronization of him and the Creator.
Around him was the deep caverns of the cosmos. Before the universe expanded infinitely, time was frozen. And within that frozen time, was a definable center of the universe.
The Creator was what defined it.
Grace stood up, standing amongst the stars and galaxies that shined brighter than the most brilliant of diamonds. His gaze turned away, planting on the large golden egg that was frozen in place.
He tried to touch it but his hand merely phased through it.
Grace sighed.
"It's just a holographic image that is just mirroring what I'm picturing, after all. I shouldn't have tried doing that."
Grace looked around once more, then at the egg, seeing a faint reflection of his own face at the transparent egg.
"It almost feels like home."
Shaking his head, Grace laughed quietly.
This was merely a step.
And he knew he'll take many more steps.
Sitting down, Grace began to focus.
What I need to do is be able to create an environment in this pod to cultivate growth to the most optimal level. Luckily, this pod has everything I need, for now. I'll knock out two birds with one stone. Grace mused as he looked at the settings.
"First... enhance this body with mana." There was faint surge of mana coursing through his bones and blood, reinforcing everything. Body enhancement was a simple technique that all combatants used regardless of the Grade they are in.
However, this was something that would not be taught until a week or so later in their first-year. Even then, many people would have trouble stabilizing their output.
Looking at the settings, Grace ordered the pod to do as he wanted.
"Gravity 1-2x. Incremental: yes, and intervals of 1 second."
This would make it so the gravity that he was "experiencing" would change between normal gravity and 2 times gravity; this also included the decimal increments, as well. Furthermore, the gravity would change every 1 second to a random gravity.
In order to negate the pressure of the increase in gravity, I'll have to be able to control my mana to the point where I can precisely protect my body using the least amount of mana possible. At some point, or even now--the ability to efficiently control and distribute mana will be the most important skill.
An endurance battle between equal individuals, it is the one who uses the least amount of mana that will gain the upper hand in the critical junctures of combat.
Yes, before the first true story event, Grace had a motive.
Normal Grade 9 will be more than enough. He thought as he enabled the necessary settings that he needed.
~~~
Since she was young, Alice was taught how to fight. Constantly, her fists met with her instructor's hands. And those same fists were redirected away with ease.
However, when she first picked up a sword, it was then did she feel a burst of meaning be thrust into her heart. Each swing that tore through the air was tranquilizing, even entrancing.
Though, even with all that talent in swordsmanship--her older brother was even more exceptional.
Joseph White, The Mirage.
A man with swordsmanship so delicate and elusive that it could split space-time.
She always wondered: is that something she can compare to in the future?
Is having two Gods enough to bridge that otherworldly gap between him and I in the future? Alice thought, reeling away from her opponent. The flames that riddled her blade flickered and swayed gently, lighting her face with a orange tinge.
Due to her incredibly large mana reserves, she was able to consistently imbue flames into her blade. However, it drained the mana fast due to her lackluster control, which demanded her to be quick on her feet and finish her opponent before.
Swoosh!
Like thunder, she was relentless. Jumping towards her opponent, her eyes were fearless in front of such a lackluster person. The boy jumped away, anxiety striking his heart.
"Hot!"
He yelped as Alice struck the ground with her flames. Alice did not stop, however, instead swinging the blade upwards and sending a short wave of fire towards the boy. When the boy saw this, he gritted his teeth as he jumped to the side.
"Huaaahhh!"
A Normal Grade 10 of this boy's caliber could not compare to the skills of a Normal Grade 8 of Alice's caliber.
Predictable. Alice mused. It was either the boy go to the left or right--shielding himself was not an option for him. So when he dodged to the side, Alice had already begun moving.
Her arm reeled back, thrusting the blade forward.
"Yield," she told him. Like yesterday, her blade pointed to the boy's forehead. He gulped and nodded his head.
"...I yield..."
The flames were subsided.
She felt the improvement--she took down this person quicker than the person she took down yesterday. But she could not help but be dissatisfied.
This is not enough. Alice thought.
It was the second day... yet she could tell that she made a tiny error in her ways.
Simply fighting people was not enough.
She needed someone to stimulate her growth.