The system within the Aeltic Order, Ethan had quickly learned, was a meticulously designed ecosystem that ran on two currencies: information and Order Points. The entire operation was built upon the Soulbands—sleek, wrist-worn devices that were the creations of the alchemists from the Moraves family. Using their unique Creation affinity, they crafted these bands to harness ambient elemental energy as a power source, linking every member of the Order in a vast, intangible network.
While auctions or trades that involve other temples might trade in elemental stones, the Aeltic Order internally operated on a points-based economy. Order Points could be acquired through various means: completing tasks for the Order, Winning combats, strategic betting, tutoring fellow ascendants, or exchanging precious elemental stones. The underlying principle, as Sansa had bluntly stated, was the non-negotiable rule of the temple: nothing was free.
Information on higher ranks, advanced training methods, specialized techniques—all of it was locked behind a paywall of Order Points.
A quick, sobering glance at his Soulband showed Ethan his balance: a meager 200P, a standard welcome package for new initiates. Alan had the same, making their combined fortune a precarious 400P. It was a sum that could vanish in an instant, paying for a single mid-tier scroll or a brief consultation with a knowledgeable senior. If they spent it all recklessly, they would be left stagnant.
"Alan," Ethan began, his expression serious. "I spent the past hour going through all the information I could find on the order forum, and there's one conclusion I came to."
Alan immediately nodded, his earlier playfulness gone. "Yes, I came to the same conclusion, too. We need a tutor." He leaned forward, his voice dropping.
"I've looked at the cost of getting a book or even a scroll from the order library, and I've seen the offers from ascendants selling their own notes on the elements. I have to tell you, the prices are outrageous."
A faint smile touched Ethan's lips. "I'm glad to see that you're thinking."
"What do you mean by that?" Alan scrunched up his face in mock offense. "I'm not just some goofball, you know?"
"Well, what you said was right," Ethan conceded, steering them back on track. "But let's think it through. If we pool our points to hire a tutor—a good one—we can gather a lot more practical, tailored information than any generic book in the library can give us. We can ask specific questions, get immediate feedback, and, most importantly, learn from their mistakes. I feel like until we get a stable source of income, buying books—especially when we don't even know if they contain the specific knowledge we need—would be a massive waste of our limited resources."
Alan nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. "That's right... I didn't think about it into so much detail, but it totally makes sense. A tutor can tell us what we need to know, not just what's written down." A wave of frustration crossed his face. "I just wish our master hadn't thrown us out like that. A little guidance would have been nice."
"Agreed," Ethan said. "But since he hasn't, we have to be smart about this. We need to find a tutor who is knowledgeable but not exorbitantly expensive. Someone who won't see two new initiates as easy targets to swindle."
"By the way, here," Alan said, brightening slightly. He waved his Soulband over Ethan's. A soft chime sounded, and a notification appeared in Ethan's interface: 'Alan Umbra' wishes to add you as a contact. Accept?
Ethan tapped 'Accept,' and just like that, their partnership was formally logged in the Order's system.
........
"Sansa," Alan suddenly said, distracting Ethan, who was still scrutinizing the interface on his Soulband.
"......Alan, come on, not now," Ethan said, thinking his friend was about to start teasing him again about their administrator.
"No, no, no, that's not what I mean," Alan replied, his expression earnest. "I'm saying Sansa is a good option as a tutor, don't you think? She's already helped us, she knows our secret, and she's Peak Soul-Born. She must know a lot about the foundation ranks."
"I'm sorry that I have to sound rude, but is she that capable?" Ethan asked. "I mean, she's only at the peak of Rank 2." He hadn't meant it as an insult, merely a practical assessment of her level of advancement.
"Don't look at it like that," Alan countered, leaning forward. "Advancing to the Attuned Rank is complicated. My father told me he learned from a mercenary he worked with that Attuned Rank ascendants have something called a Rune inscribed in their core. Most ascendants have to conduct deep, personal research into their element to discover a unique Rune for themselves. The other option is using an already discovered Rune to attune, but..." Alan trailed off, his brow furrowed. "I think there might be a significant downside to taking that easier path."
Ethan was momentarily stunned into silence. Just when he thought he was beginning to grasp the framework of this world's power system, another layer of profound complexity was revealed. The path to power wasn't just about accumulating energy.
At that moment, a firm knock sounded on the door, followed by a familiar female voice. "Open up, it's Sansa."
The two boys exchanged a swift, meaningful look.
"Sansa it is, then," Ethan said, his voice low and decisive. "Especially since she's already invested in helping us keep our secret."
"I just hope her price for being our tutor is something we can afford," Alan replied, a note of worry in his voice as he walked over and opened the door.
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Far from the bustling Order Hall and the quiet initiates' rooms, Kaelen sat in the profound silence of his personal research chamber, high within his tower. His expression was unreadable, a mask of scholarly detachment, but his eyes were sharp and focused as he slowly turned the pages of a heavy, leather-bound tome.
A soft, insistent chime echoed in the stillness. A notification, projected from his own Soulband, hovered in his peripheral vision. It was the official report from the Order's registration array, detailing the affinity ranks of his two new students.
His finger, which had been tracing a complex diagram, stilled.
He read the report once. Then again.
A low, slow breath escaped him, the only sign of the tempest of thoughts swirling behind his calm exterior. Alan's Low Gold Rank Lightning affinity was exceptional, a jewel that would make any master proud. But Ethan... Mystic Rank. Illusion.
He didn't even know what to feel in that moment. Pride? Dread? He had taken Ethan on for his sharp, calculating mind, seeing a reflection of his own first student. These were not just promising students; they were monsters in the making, whose raw, innate potential already outclassed his own at their age. All they needed was time—and the right guidance to ensure they didn't shatter under the weight of their own gifts.
His gaze drifted from the notification to the view beyond his window to the distant, floating islands of the Aeltic order.
"They need to grow first," he murmured to the silent room, his voice a low rumble. "If I interfere now, coddle them, solve all their problems... they'll just end up as geniuses without substance, the foundation must be theirs to build."
A resolve solidified within him. He would watch. He would observe from a distance, ensuring they weren't crushed by external threats or their own reckless potential. But he would not carry them. The struggle for resources, the search for knowledge, the first fumbling steps into true power—these were essential trials.
He dismissed the notification. The information was dangerous, but for now, it was secure within the Order's confidential records he used his authority to keep this information private.
"Keeping a lid on this information like this shouldn't be hard for now," he reasoned, a wry, almost imperceptible smile finally touching his lips.
He returned his attention to the book before him.