Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With another day of classes drawing to a close, Vahn returned to his room while Phae and Gandr continued going about their own business at his behest. He was actually starting to enjoy seeing the world through them, as, despite controlling their each and every thought, emotion, and output, they almost felt like completely different people.As was often the case, Gandr was making his way through Evankhell's Resort with Shibsu, Hatsu, and, though she was basically just accompanying them for a 'free pass', Nare. The latter currently had a big smile on her face as she held up her pocket, drooling slightly as she saw the number on the display.For reasons she wouldn't divulge, Nare had an 'extreme' fondness for money. Though she had only gotten 750 points for being the second person to place her Pocket on the pylon, it was still a huge boon for a Regular who had just started out. Because of this, she had chosen to forgive Gandr for his lack of 'delicacy', beaming radiantly when Hatsu and Shibisu only received 500 and 250 points, respectively.Though he had received the fewest points within the group, Shibisu, surprisingly, didn't even try to complain. The swim had cooled his head quite a bit, and, after seeing more than a hundred corpses of Six-Petaled Flower Mantids, any indignation he felt had vanished in an instant. After all, they had struggled to defeat a version of the Mantid that was just over three meters in length, half the size of the smallest Mantid defeated by Gandr.Shibisu knew he was basically getting a 'free ride' just by being Gandr's friend, so, while he liked to mess with the boy every now and again, he also feared and respected him. Because of this, he and Hatsu were usually the ones to follow after the boy, effectively becoming his 'posse' and constantly receiving benefits just by association. Of course, this wasn't their actual intention, the boy practically forced the benefits onto them, smiling all the while doing so...Just as Shibisu was thinking about using his reward to treat the rest of the group, the four of them arrived in the bustling commissary. The Scout candidates had been the last to return today so most of the other Regulars were already present. Despite this, there were still a few empty spaces left at the two largest tables, spots clearly reserved for the four of them.Noticing one particular seat, a smile spread across Shibisu's face as any desire he had to treat the rest of the group dried up. Then, after lightly nudging the boy at his side, he motioned towards the empty seat and teasingly remarked, "Your crystal palace awaits, my Leige~."Understanding the meaning of Shibisu's words, Gandr just rolled his eyes before making his way over to the counter to order his food. The kitchen staff there were 'very' familiar with him at this point, and, so long as he paid them an additional fee, they would bring his mountain-sized portion of food directly to the table.After paying for his meal, parting with 480 points in one go, Gandr made his way back to the group table, occupying the only remaining seat. This brought an end to the awkward tension around that particular section of the table, as, with Gandr to separate them, Anak and Endorsi no longer had to put up with being seated next to each other.Since Anak rarely talked to others unless it was to pick a fight, Endorsi was the first to speak, smiling as she asked, "So, how did your classes go today, Gandr? Still lugging around a bunch of additional baggage~?"As someone who believed in individual strength and effort, Endorsi wasn't too fond of the growing number of people that seemed to rely on Gandr. The boy in question, however, enjoyed his position as the 'heart' of the group, frowning slightly as gazed up at the woman and said, "My Master taught me that friends help each other. They aren't extra baggage, Princess. Stop saying rude things all the time..."Endorsi didn't actually care about the company Gandr kept; he had more than enough strength to take care of himself. She had just wanted to tease him a bit, so, hearing his instantaneous retort, her face became slightly red as she issued a loud 'hmph' before remarking, "Whatever..." in an annoyed tone.Never missing the opportunity to pick a fight with the people she didn't like, Anak didn't hesitate to laugh at Endorsi's expense before promptly exacerbating matters by smiling at Gandr and warning, "If this ghost-eyed hag ever tries to bait you into her room with candy, make sure you immediately inform an adult, okay?"If she was annoyed before, Endorsi was completely incensed upon hearing Anak's little remark. Her cheeks immediately turned a vibrant shade of red, completely ignoring the fact Gandr was seated right next to her as she exclaimed, "Who are you calling a ghost-eyed hag!? You're even older than me you rock-headed lizard!"With his enhanced hearing, Gandr's ears flattened in response to the shrill noise just centimeters away from his fuzzy ears. This hadn't escaped Endorsi's notice, but, before she could apologize, the words got caught in her throat as she noticed Gandr's eyes change from gold to scarlet as he, quite literally, snarled at her. Though this actually made him look rather adorable to others, Endorsi felt a cold sweat envelop her body under the diminutive Vanargandr's gaze...Fortunately, just as the atmosphere seemed to reach a critical level, the kitchen staff emerged from the double-doors leading to the food-prep area with large service carts. This immediately eased the tensions at the table, Gandr's eyes shifting back to a glimmering gold the moment food was placed in front of him.Feeling as though she had just escaped a disaster, Endorsi issued a sigh of relief before rising from the table and saying, "I've lost my appetite..." in an uncharacteristically demure tone. Just as she was about to leave, however, Gandr stopped her by saying, "Phae gave me a ton of cookies to pass out to all my friends. You should stay and eat with us. Your body is super thin so I'm a little worried you aren't eating properly."Even if it wasn't meant as a compliment, Endorsi's mood immediately improved the moment Gandr called her thin. She was constantly concerned about her figure, putting great effort into maintaining her 'national treasure' level beauty, so it always made her happy whenever someone complimented her, even if they weren't trying to.With a beautiful smile spreading across her face, Endorsi plopped back into her seat as emulated Phae's action of combing through her hair. This was evidence that Endorsi actually looked up to, or, at the very least, envied the former. People had an instinctual tendency to emulate the behaviors of the people they saw as 'above' themselves, even if they weren't consciously aware of it.Since it was a good opportunity, Gandr returned a smile of his own, producing a veritable mountain of cookies for the entire table as he asked, "Is that an actual horn on your head? I thought it might have been a part of your hair accessory..."Happy for the attention, Endorsi raised her bangs to allow a better view of the tiny horn poking out above her right temple, explaining, "Though it's only a cutaneous horn, it is one-hundred percent real. How about it? I'll let you touch it if you let me touch the fluff inside your ears~."Though it had only been a day since he lambasted Endorsi for always trying to touch his ears, Gandr didn't get too annoyed since she actually asked this time. He was, however, still a little annoyed, so, in response to her proposition, he deadpanned and asked, "You think touching your horn compares to touching my ears? That's like me saying you can poke my cheek in exchange for letting me touch your bottom. Are you an idiot?"With her eye twitching slightly, Endorsi removed her hand from her head and opted to momentarily ignore the brash boy seated to her left. She had just calmed down moments prior so she refused to make a scene after failing to storm off the first time. Instead, she comforted herself with the cookies piled up at the center of the table, genuinely surprised by how delicious they were...---With dinner still ongoing, the last group of Regulars, the Light Bearer candidates, began to file into the commissary. The core of this particular girl was comprised of Phae and Khun, the former being the literal center of attention since nearly every other Light Bearer candidate, excluding Rachel and Chung-Chung, were male.Though she had gotten used to being the center of attention, Phae didn't like to be congregated around, so, as soon as the group reached the commissary, she offered a polite smile to the group and said, "I'm afraid this is where we part ways. I'll see everyone in class tomorrow. Make sure you don't stay up too late trying to master your Lighthouses. Proper rest is often even more important than effort."Realizing they were effectively being dismissed, the majority of the Light Bearer candidates replied with parting words before quickly moving to their respective groups. The only person to stay back was Khun, who, immediately after the rest of the group had dispersed, adopted a troubled look as he asked, "What did you give that woman to change her appearance so drastically? You must have been able to sense what kind of person that woman is...why did you help her become even more dangerous?"Combing back her bangs, Phae smiled in response to Khun's question before answering, "As I have said time and again, my Lord believes that everyone deserves a chance at happiness. I understand your concerns, but that woman has yet to do anything that merits severe treatment. Judge people based on their actions, not your assumption of their character. All you truly know about Rachel, at least for the time being, is that she helped your best friend become the person he is today. Even if her true nature is that of a snake, there are some poisons that are as equally effective as medicine..."As if he had gleaned some insight into Phae's intentions, Khun's eyes widened a bit as he said, "So that's how it is...I understand now..."Resisting the urge to give the young man across from her an incredulous look, Phae just giggled in response to his words before honestly admitting, "I'm not sure what Mr. Khun is trying to imply~?"Surprised by Phae's convincing performance, Khun made a mental note never to underestimate her as he fixed his tie and said, "I must have misunderstood then...well, I suppose I should be going. It was a pleasure speaking with you, Ms. Phae..."Offering a polite nod in response, Phae watched as Khun made his way over to where Baam was seated among the other Regulars. He was seated at the very end of the table containing most of the group, but, despite this, it was almost like he had become a secondary center of attention.Though there was no one around to observe her act, Phae giggled lightly before turning away from the commissary and heading to Vahn's room. Since she was his vassal, she had to check in on him a few times a day just to keep up appearances. It was also an opportunity for them to bounce ideas off of each other, as, despite being one and the same, it was surprisingly effective to have an actual person to talk with. Thus, while doing her best to understand what Khun had misunderstood, Phae leisurely walked through the halls while pretending to ignore the invisible presence that constantly monitored nearly everything that took place on the 2nd Floor...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Shibisu is jealous of our goodest boi...','Gandr about to slap a ho...','Khun has a propensity to overthink things (O w O)...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Having received a notification on his pocket the prior evening, Vahn was the last to arrive at the lecture hall dedicated to the Wave Controller class. There, he found the rest of his classmates had spread throughout the classroom, while, at the very front of the hall, an inordinately short person wearing a strange outfit that was similar to a fusion between a ball of rice and a sheep.Though Vahn found the figure somewhat cute, somewhat like a mascot character, the feeling he got from the short-statured figure was anything but pleasant. He could sense dozens of Shinheuh-like creatures 'swimming' around inside the rather disarming costume with a friendly smile and six tiny freckles plastered onto the front of its costume. This wouldn't have been that bad, but, unlike the rather adorable Shinheuh Nare kept hidden within the large jar on her back, the variants swimming around inside the wooly costume all had dark and twisted auras.Despite feeling as though he had just encountered the first real enemy, Vahn offered a polite smile upon entering the classroom, remarking, "You must be our Instructor, Test Administrator Yuga. My name is Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Dragon Emperor. I'm looking forward to your instruction and guidance."Turning his entire body to face Vahn, the petite mascot's sewn-on smile appeared to stretch into an even larger grin as it answered, "Ohhh? So this is the famous Sage Dragon Emperor I have heard so much about! I heard that you and Mr. Laure had taken the initiative to help your fellow classmates during my absence. It is rare to find someone so generous within the Tower! I'm looking forward to seeing your progress over the next month!"Offering a polite nod in response to the peculiar man's words, Vahn then made his way to the back of the class, smiling in response to his fellow classmates' greetings. The only exception to this was Baam, but, considering the drama that had occurred earlier in the morning, this wasn't too much of a surprise.Though Rachel tended to avoid every other Regular, choosing to spend most of her time cooped up inside her room, that didn't stop Baam from directly seeking her out. Unfortunately, even after he spent the entire evening sitting outside her door, Rachel insisted she had no idea who he was. This led to Baam questioning why she was pretending to be someone else, and, after a series of back and forth questions and accusations, Rachel eventually 'snapped', shouting at Baam to leave her alone before storming off.With the person he cared about most pretending to be someone else, it wasn't surprising that Baam would be in low spirits. Staying up all night didn't help, so, with visible bags under his eyes, he sat silently at the front of the classroom, a melancholic aura radiating from his body. This was obviously noticed by Administrator Yuga, but, rather than pay it any mind, he performed a small bow and said, "Well, now that everyone has arrived, allow me to quickly apologize for my delayed arrival. As an apology, I have requested that the Director give everyone an additional two hundred points as compensation. Now, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Yuga, the Ranker assigned to teach you all about the Position of Wave Controller..."Following his introduction, Yuga raised his 'head', and, after looking around at everyone in the class, his smile became even more prominent as he remarked, "It seems most of you have already formed a contract. Still, it would reflect negatively on my status as an Instructor if I didn't cover the basics at least once. After all, while Shinsu has no limits, strengthening your foundation is the most important aspect when it comes to determining your future success!"Though the only person who could 'see' it was Vahn, Yuga punctuated his statement by pressing a button on the remote hidden within his costume. This caused the display behind him to light up, a picturesque scenery coming into view as he explained, "Shinsu is the world itself. It makes up even the smallest organisms, and, without it, we would not even be able to breathe, much less overcome our limits. Without Shinsu, life, as we know it, simply wouldn't exist. It is responsible for every single phenomenon we observe, be it water, fire, or even light. There are infinite ways in which Shinsu can manifest, it's only limits being our imagination and understanding..."With another press of the remote, the image behind Yugo changed to show the same landscape, now devastated to the point of being borderline unrecognizable. Then, in a deep tone that didn't really suit his stature or appearance, he added, "There are no proper words to describe the miracle that is Shinsu. As a result, we simply refer to it as the Blessing of God, thus the name 'God's Water'. Controlling Shinsu is tantamount to interrupting the role of God, borrowing his power to shape the world around you in accordance with your will. Because of this, Shinsu is an exceptionally powerful tool that can be used to save countless people...or destroy countless lives. Though it might be hard to believe, I could kill every Regular here within five seconds. That is the awesome power of Shinsu, the power that dominates everything within the Tower..."---Following Yuga's basic explanation of Shinsu, the costumed man went on to explain the importance of contracting a Guardian. They were the god-like entities that regulated the flow of Shinsu on each Floor, and, without their permission, manipulating Shinsu was practically impossible. Even items that were specifically created to manipulate Shinsu required contracts with the Guardians, irrespective of their level and rank. In fact, the higher the rank of an item, the more strict the guidelines for its use. There were even some items, specifically those ranked A or higher, that could only be used a single time on any given Floor, regardless of the amount of time that had passed.Vahn found the idea of such restrictions rather novel, but, considering he was an Irregular, none of what Yuga was saying really applied to him. In fact, when Quant had tasked everyone with forming a contract with the Guardian, a massive serpentine creature that was more than three kilometers in length, the monstrous entity informed Gandr that forming a contract would be the same as placing a restriction on himself. Despite this, Gandr actually accepted the contract, as, due to his nature as The Path, breaking free from such contracts wouldn't require any effort at all.For the sake of appearances, Vahn and Phae had also contracted with the Guardian, confusing the colossal creature quite a bit. From its perspective, they were all the same entity, but, an existence it had already contracted but couldn't sense. As a result, it ended up forging three contracts with the same person, albeit binding each of Vahn's vessels individually. This would help strengthen the idea that they were each different people, even if Vahn didn't mind telling those close to them that Phae and Gandr were effectively extensions of himself.In the end, Vahn intended to cause as much confusion as possible to those who were actually in control of the Tower as it would make his future plans a lot easier. He was currently formulating a plan to effectively link all of the Floors within the Tower, as, even with his power, it would apparently take upwards of fifty years just to reach the 134th Floor. This was a record that had been set by the 'strongest' person within the Tower, an Irregular by the name of Ureko Mazino who apparently had enough raw power to level a mountain range with a single punch and fire countless Baangs at light speeds.Vahn wasn't quite sure how powerful the strongest entities within the Tower were, but, based on the impression he got from Headon and Yuri, they couldn't be underestimated. Thus, while he intended to climb the 'normal' way, the main purpose of this was to effectively create spatial anchors on each of the Floors. This would effectively allow him to move freely within the Tower, a terrifying capability that was bound to become the Jahad Empire's worst nightmare...---While the Wave Controller candidates were having the basics of their Position explained to them, the other Position classes were just learning of the Special Test that guaranteed free passage to the next Floor. Those who completed the Special Test would even be allowed to skip the Final Exam, and, fortunately for the other candidates, their passing was not included in the final count that determined how many people were allowed to ascend to the 3rd Floor.Since they were Tests scaled to the average D-Rank Regular, meaning those who had been able to pass the 20th Floor, even Best Seeds generally had a very difficult time passing the Special Test. This was especially true for the Light Bearer and Wave Controller Positions, as, prior to entering the Floor of Tests, there was no way to form a contract with the Guardians. As a result, there was no practical way to gain experience using a Lighthouse or manipulating Shinsu, irrespective of whether or not you were an average Regular, a Princess of Jahad, or a descendent of the Ten Great Families...Fortunately, Phae and Gandr were exceptions to this rule, so, immediately following the explanation of the Special Tests, they became two of the fastest within the Tower to pass the Position Exam. This was especially true of Phae, as, after witnessing her prowess on the first day, Lero-Ro had promptly approved of her qualifications as a Light Bearer. As for Gandr, he just needed to complete a trapped obstacle course within a single hour, all while blindfolded.In the end, Gandr bettered the old record by thirty-seven seconds, effectively becoming the fastest person to ever pass the Scout Position Test. Despite this, both he and Phae elected to continue their lessons, effectively serving as Assistant Instructors and examples for the other Regulars. Quant even allowed Gandr to teach the remaining lessons that day. He had become rather fond of the latter, as, despite all his talents, Gandr never shied away from helping others. This was a very rare trait within the Tower, one that often decided whether or not a person would become an average Scout or rise far above their peers...---Unaware of the Special Tests occurring elsewhere, all of the Fisherman candidates had gathered in an area simply referred to as Special Test Spot No. 1. It was a man-made field comprised entirely of massive cylindrical pillars that were approximately 20m in diameter and 100m in height. They were each spread out at random intervals across an expanse of white stone, some nearly touching while others were more than 30m apart.With each of the Fisherman candidates spread out across the field, the Instructor for the class, a buxom female Ranker with flowing black pigtails protruding from a silver mask could be seen floating in the sky atop a jellyfish-like Shinheuh. She was a rather mysterious woman named Hex, and, though she wore somewhat cutesy clothing consisting of a pale-blue blouse and striped pink dress, those who knew her well knew how terrifying she was as a Fisherman.With her inordinately large pigtails flowing unnaturally away from her masked face, Hex playfully dangled her slippered feet as she explained in a voice that resonated across the vast testing field, "Welcome to the first Special Testing area for the Fisherman Position. Today, we'll be keeping things simple by conducting a free-for-all of sorts. The aim of this Test is to be one of the eight candidates left standing. Though you are allowed to fight using your bodies, the only weapon you may use is the needle you have been given. Though this is only the first of three Special Tests, it will still have a substantial impact on your final grade so make sure to try your hardest! That being said, are there any questions before we begin?"Having learned to fear their instructor during the previous two days, the only person bold enough to speak out was Endorsi. She even went out of her way to stand ramrod straight as she held up her hand like an eager schoolchild, beaming as she shouted, "I've got a question! These pillars a pretty tall for the average Regular. Are there any protections in place to prevent people from dying~?"Smiling beneath her mask, Hex adopted a playful tone of her own as she explained, "There is, but it isn't perfect. If you land badly, there is a real chance you could die or sustain severe enough injuries that you simply cannot continue. Simply put, if you fail this test, there is a very real chance you will fail the entire class."Satisfied with the answer, Endorsi beamed even more radiantly as she happily chimed, "That sounds simple enough! Thanks for answering my question~!"Hearing the glee contained within Endorsi's voice, most of the other Fishermen candidates felt a chill run through their bodies. Many of them couldn't even cover the distance between pillars, so, depending on their luck, they could be eliminated by the seemingly unstoppable Princess without ever having a chance to eliminate another opponent. Unfortunately, the only person that could be blamed for their weakness was themselves, a truth that had already poisoned the minds of several weaker Regulars...With Endorsi being the only one bold enough to speak out, Hex only waited a few seconds before smiling beneath her mask and saying, "Well then, let's begin the Test. Remember, only eight of you can move on to the second Special Test. With that in mind, do your best so that, even if you fail, you won't have any regrets, okay? Now then...Ready, set, go~!"Following Hex'a commencement of the Special Test, a loud gong sound echoed through the entire field. Despite this, the majority of the Regulars made no effort to leave the relative safety of their personal pillars. Though they were supposed to be the Position that threw themselves head-first into the battlefield, none of them wanted to draw attention to themselves due to the presence of two Princess of Jahad. For them, it was basically pure luck whether or not they succeeded, as, even if they teamed up, Endorsi and Anak could effectively solo the entire group of Regulars...Seeing the stillness below, a dark aura began to emanate from Hex's body as she internally cursed at the cowards turtling atop their pillars. She understood their reasons, but, regardless of whether or not the enemy was stronger, it was the duty of a Fisherman to fight on the frontlines. Refusing to leave your pillar all but guaranteed you would fail the class, as, without invading other territories, it was impossible to earn points. The class didn't reward cowards, so, even if they managed to defend against all their aggressors, those foolish enough to remain on their original pillar were doomed to fail...While thinking of methods to punish those who managed to 'survive' the current test, Hex's brows raised slightly as she noticed movement on one part of the battlefield. Just as she was wondering who was bold enough to charge towards the center, the location of Endorsi Jahad, an exasperated sigh escaped Hex's lips when she noticed it was none other than Anak. This all but ensured one of the Princesses was going to be eliminated, effectively rewarding the cowards who had chosen to remain in place. Because of this, she found it hard to get excited for the battle, at least until Endorsi began baiting Anak to invade other pillars; systematically eliminating everyone they came across...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'A wolf in sheep's clothing...','That's a nice record you have there...','The Tower does not reward cowardice~!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

With the corpses of several Six-Petaled Flower Mantids littering his surroundings, Gandr casually leaped to the largest of more than a hundred giant lilypads. Though it had the same structure as a normal lilypad, it was more than thirty meters across, more than big enough to support the weight of a person.Of the optional objectives listed by Quant, Gandr had, as could be expected, chosen to complete the most difficult among them. This included going to the very center of the Forest of Death, the location of a lake spanning more than three kilometers across. There, a small black pylon could be seen at the very center of the largest of several lilypads, each representing the territory of six-meter long insectoid Shinheuh called Six-Petaled Flower Mantids.Though they had rather beautiful and ornate bodies, appearing similar to blooming lotus flowers while stationary, the average Six-Petaled Flower Mantid could easily cut kill most budding Regulars in a single blow. This was largely due to their two large forelimbs, each appearing like exceptionally durable pink scythes. If that wasn't enough, they were also exceptionally quick, capable of blitzing inexperienced Regulars before many could even react.Unfortunately for the mantid colony, Gandr wasn't the average Regular, nor did he lack experience in dealing with large, fast-moving, monsters. As a result, it only took him eight minutes to kill all of the Six-Petaled Flower Mantids, his sword tracing graceful arcs through their steel-like carapaces without any discernible difficulty.Placing his Pocket in the center of the pylon, a smile spread across Gandr's face as his point value increased from 1,948 to 2,948 in an instant. A thousand points was an incredible boon, and, though he didn't really need them, it was less suspicious to buy a mountain on food from the commissary than it was to continually pull out large quantities from his Inventory.With his objective completed, Gandr did an about-face before skipping across the surface of the Shinsu-infused water as if it were flat ground. In the end, it only took him a few seconds to move from the very center of the lake to the distant shore, a cheeky smile on his face as he saw the trio who were taking a rest after barely killing a single Six-Petaled Flower Mantid Scout, the smaller variant that patrolled the Forest of Death.Seeing Gandr return so quickly, Shibisu had an incredulous expression on his face as he asked, "Did you already finish? Seriously, man, you're a monster...I'm glad we're on the same side."Though she was largely just tagging along with the group, firmly believing it was smarter to stay at the side of the strong, Nare nodded in agreement, adding, "It's a shame you're not really my type. I would have liked to climb the Tower with someone as strong as you protecting me. My Knight isn't weak, but I can't even imagine him catching up to you, Gan-chan."(A/N: I have decided to use a few honorifics since it feels more natural in the dialogue.)Hearing Nare's pet name for him, Gandr scrunched up his nose a bit before smiling mischievously and stating, "No worries. I don't really have a thing for chibis anyways."Reinforcing her childish image even further, Nare puffed her cheeks in response to Gandr's words. She knew he was just teasing her, but that didn't stop her from retorting, "Hmph! What does a brat like you know? I bet you've never even kissed a girl before, right? I'm warning you, Gan-chan, if you don't learn to treat women more delicately, you won't be popular once you grow up!"Rolling his eyes in response to the girl's outburst, Gandr resisted the urge to tell her he had done a lot more than simply kiss a girl. Unfortunately, those were the escapades of a much older version of himself. The most he had done in his current form was bathe with Fenrir and act as the body pillow for various women in the Inner Sanctum.Thinking Gandr was annoyed by Nare's words, Shibisu decided to give his youthful companion a hand. More specifically, he made a thumbs-up gesture, smiling as he said, "Just ignore her words, Gandr. Most guys can't even approach a Princess of Jahad, much less get close to two. Even if the Tower prohibits it, you have my support if you want to elope with Endorsi. If you use your ears and tail as collateral, I think she could be convinced to run away with you~."Though he knew Shibisu was joking, Gandr deadpanned directly at the man before saying, "If you want to reach the center lilypad, you'll have to swim..."Originally, Gandr had agreed to help everyone across, as, even with his speed, Shibisu was unable to run across water. The most he could make it was a hundred meters before he plopped into the crystal-clear, ice-cold, water below. Because of this, Shibisu's expression immediately turned into a stressed smile as he awkwardly laughed and said, "Come on...you know I was just messing with you. Please don't make me swim across..."Rather than respond directly to the man's plea, Gandr just snorted before walking over and picking up the incredibly light Nare. This caused the young woman in question to blush slightly, but, having been carried during the journey over, she managed to avoid flustering. Instead, she adopted a small smile as she appended, "Well, you have some redeeming qualities..."Ignoring the little girl's remark, Gandr immediately changed her impression of him as he tucked in her head, not to display affection, but to prevent her neck from straining due to his spontaneous acceleration...With the sound of Nare's scream echoing in the distance, Shibisu released an exasperated sigh as he stared at the crystal clear water below. As for Hatsu, he removed his top, wrapping it around his katana before placing it near the base of a rock. Then, without any hesitation at all, he jumped from the small cliff, diving into the water so he could swim across using his own power...---With the rest of his morning passing uneventfully, Vahn released a long yawn as he pulled himself from the bed and prepared to make his way to the commissary. He wasn't quite sure of the reason, but he had been feeling a peculiar form of exhaustion ever since first arriving in the Tower. His first hypothesis was that this had something to do with the Shinsu exerting a constant form of pressure on, not just his body, but his mind and spirit as well. Now, however, he was beginning to feel like it was something different, almost like he was on the verge of some kind of breakthrough...Rather than mull over the strange feeling, Vahn decided it was best to simply ignore it. There were times when your pursuit of something either led you astray or prevented you from obtaining. Thus, with other thoughts occupying his mind, Vahn decided not to let an inexplicable sensation interfere with his short-term plans. Instead, he made his way over to the commissary, finding his fellow Wave Controller classmates, Baam included, waiting for him to arrive.Though it was completely unnecessary, Hwa Ryun, and, as a result, Hoh, Rozeal, Grey, and Baam all rose to greet him. The only one who stayed in his seat was Laure, but, perhaps due to an instinctual desire to conform, he respectfully nodded before saying, "You're right on time. We were just giving Baam a breakdown of everything we discussed yesterday. Since the Instructor is bound to cover the basics on the first day of class, I'm sure everyone here would be grateful if you explained the things you hinted at yesterday."Resisting the urge to chuckle in response to Laure's leading statement, Vahn took his place at the circular table before explaining, "The Laws aren't something that can be understood from a simple discussion. All you really need to know about them is that they are the rules that dictate everything from the structure of fundamental particles to the complexities of energy systems like Shinsu. With adequate comprehension of the Laws, you can even bend or outright break these rules, snubbing the restrictions that act upon everything, and everyone, else."Seeing that everyone was listening attentively to his words, Vahn offered an approving nod as he went on to explain, "Some of the basic yet most important Laws are those governing the Elemental Forces. These are the easiest to glean insight into, as, with very few exceptions, everything has some kind of Elemental Affinity. In Shinsu terms, this is what many refer to as a Quality. There is a general misunderstanding that only a select few people are able to manifest a Shinsu Quality, but, the truth of the matter is that a person's Elemental Affinity ultimately determines how easily that can emulate specific forms of phenomena..."Though words could help people understand a concept, visuals were tantamount to 'proving' what you said was true. Thus, out of consideration for the people who couldn't understand what he was trying to say, Vahn created a Baang at the very center of the table, rapidly changing its Quality from the basic water to things like Lightning, Darkness, Fire, Light, and even Earth. This caused everyone at the table to stare in awe, but, as the person most experienced with Shinsu, Laure's couldn't help but pale at the masterful demonstration...Amused by the man's expression, Vahn's smile became slightly more prominent as he explained, "I will now inform each of you what your Elemental Affinities are. Keep in mind that, while it is rare for a person to have more than one affinity, possessing multiple isn't an indicator of talent. Rather, due to the limitations of a person's lifespan, it is often better to master a singular affinity than it is to try and unilaterally increase your proficiency in every element."This time around, Vahn punctuated his statement by performing a simple hand gesture, producing several small squares of paper in front of each candidate. These were actually the test strips used in the Record of Naruto to determine a person's Chakra Nature, but, as most energy systems used a person's Elemental Affinity as a basis, they worked just as well when determining a person's Shinsu Quality.Since everyone present was a Wave Controller candidate, they had at least some talent regarding the manipulation of Shinsu so Vahn didn't waste too much time explaining. Instead, he held up his own piece of paper and said, "Rather than manipulate the Shinsu in the surroundings, imagine a similar flow present within your body. Guide that flow into this piece of paper. Depending on how it reacts, you can accurately determine what kind of Elemental Affinity you possess."Serving as a demonstration, Vahn inserted a thread of Source Energy from his body into the piece of paper, converting it into Shinsu in the process. He had a much easier time managing this kind of conversion than emulating mana, so, even if he was currently weakened by the Record's Laws, Vahn was quickly increasing his proficiency in the foreign energy system. As a result, the paper began to glow with a resplendent golden hue, the type of glow that inspired awe in everyone who laid eyes upon it.Understanding the question in everyone's mind, Vahn preempted any interruptions by saying, "My Shinsu Quality is Divine. It is a Quality that specializes in dominating other Qualities; enhancing my power with simultaneously decreasing my opponent's. It is the Quality of an Emperor, and, if used properly, it can completely inhibit or seal another person's ability to use Shinsu."Hearing Vahn's explanation, everyone at the table, sans Baam, showed a slightly terrified expression. They got the impression that the Divine Quality was probably the most powerful, a notion that even Laure couldn't refute. Fortunately, their eagerness to discover their own Quality helped to ease the tensions in the room, albeit only after the golden light had faded.Following Vahn's directions, everyone at the table began trying to infuse their internalized Shinsu into the piece of paper. This was very difficult for most of them, as they were still struggling with the concept of manipulating the natural Shinsu in the surroundings, but Baam and Laure were able to succeed almost instantly. This broke the concentration of everyone else, as, though not as bright as Vahn's, Baam's piece of paper had started to release a bluish-white glow. As for Laure's, his piece of paper became exceptionally rigid, similar to metal, before splitting smoothly down the center.Having purchased a book regarding Shinsu Qualities after discovering his own, an approving look appeared in Vahn's eyes as he habitually stroked his beard and explained, "It seems our little friend has a natural affinity with Shinsu itself. You will have a much easier time than most learning how to use Shinsu, and, though it will require considerable effort to master, you will be capable of using all variations of Shinsu. As for you, Mr. Phonsekal, you have an affinity with barriers, reinforcement, and a Shinsu Quality related to Wind. You have great potential for both offense and defense. Better yet, you will have a much easier time mastering flight compared to normal people..."Though everyone was initially envious of Baam's Shinsu Quality, Vahn's explanation of Laure's made it seem far more useful. After all, Baam's seemed to require an extreme amount of effort to master while Laure's seemed to be useful both immediately and in the far future. With Vahn's guidance, he was even able to create a swirling green Baang in the amount of time it took for the next person to discover their Shinsu Quality...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'You don't even know how fast I am...!','RIP Nare...','Laure is well on his way to becoming a Metapod...)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1715: Deliberate