Chapter XVI

Further Instructions

The latte warmed Zanda's hands within seconds, its aroma invigorating her. Refius seek around for a place to sit. His eyes were drawn to a wall of aspens, wondering if they could find a secluded spot nearby. Led by intuition, they walked through the trees and discovered four levitating seats made of gellin, a material known for its comfort.

"Perfect," Refius exclaimed, a triumphant look on his face. "Good call, Effenzi!"

Her mentor was the only one who referred to Zanda by her last name. He propelled himself towards a yellow gelliseat using his merkabah.

“Gia, bring one down, please.”

The kabbalah linked with the nearest seat and commanded it to reach her. Once seated in the orange piece of ingravitas furniture, she leveled with her mentor. They admired the aspens in front of them; the orange leaves at the treetops filtered the sunlight, and the wind created a gentle rocking motion with the gelliseats.

Zanda leaned back and took a sip of her lavender latte. "What can you tell me about Dictaduria? I haven't revisited Sectum class material in almost three years, and Gia's insights are limited." She was seeking information from Refius, accepting her limited understanding.

He also took a sip. "I've only covered the basics with you. Let's enjoy our coffee for now. Later, we'll head back to Naydir's studio, take your merkabah, and set off for Sectum. A porter here can connect us to Dicterium, the command center used by the Sephirot to oversee and study the dictadurians. You'll meet with Samelia there, a senior member of our branch who oversees operations. She'll brief you on your mission."

Zanda was relieved to stop guessing. "Will you accompany me?"

"To Dicterium, yes. I'll be there for the briefing with Samelia; afterward, you'll head into the city alone. We'll monitor the situation and provide backup if necessary."

She nodded, a predictable setup. Sipping her coffee, she mulled over the news, then addressed a deeper concern. "Why did Solandre and Aimiko choose me?"

Refius's laughter irked her. "I don't see what's funny," she interjected.

"You're amusing sometimes. I believe you feign ignorance."

"I feign nothing," she retorted, irritated by his repeated assertion.

"I know, it's just part of who you are. But Zanda, you're not seeing your true potential due to modesty, which is acceptable for now. It's normal to feel unequal to other Sephirot members. But understand, every one of us, including your parents, Superior Noam, Senior Giltra, Solandre, Aimiko, and myself, we all started where you are. Your first mission has come earlier, but it will enable you to recognize your potential faster," he explained.

His words resonated with her. Yet, she remained puzzled. "But why me? I'm not the best student, nor the most disciplined. I learn slowly. I might be lucky, but that doesn't seem enough to make me the best candidate..."

"You're missing the point; shift your perspective," Refius advised as if she were still his student. "Did you pay attention to what Solandre and Aimiko said when they combined their Naadis with yours at the Gevurium? Or were you too captivated by the ceremony? Have you pondered the significance of their words? The answers lie there."

Their eye contact was intense, hovering above the aspens. "Zanda, you are integral to our evolution."

The voices of Aimiko and Solandre echoed in her mind.

Reflecting on these words, Zanda realized her previous perspective was flawed. "It's not just about me. It's about all of us," she acknowledged, echoing Naydir's wisdom. "I need to pave the way for future generations, just as you have for us."

"Eureka!" Refius exclaimed, his excitement evident. "It took some time, but you got there!"

She warned him, not appreciating the mockery, "You're walking a fine line. How do the Sephirot know this? I never saw myself as highly evolved," she pondered aloud.

"Stop belittling yourself. You said it just now; you're lucky. But it's not mere luck—it's your intuition," Refius clarified, allowing a thoughtful silence to settle before he continued.

"I know it sounds straightforward, but that's the crux of it. Your intuition distinguished you. Throughout the years I've trained you, it became evident. Shortly after you arrived at Asporto, the seniors, superiors, and eventually, the Sephirot took notice of you..." He paused, searching for the right words. "At first, I too thought your stats were merely good fortune, but that notion was short-lived. You discovered a door that was meant to remain hidden. Your mind outpaced others in problem-solving and strategy, to the point of orchestrating clandestine gatherings and robberies without our immediate response. You even managed to vanish from Asporto undetected, an unprecedented feat. The usual rules seemed inapplicable to you."

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"We were caught, though," Zanda interjected, albeit half-heartedly.

"But you were the first to succeed. Following that, we initiated unannounced evaluations. You surpassed expectations in every domain; your intuitive decisions across varied situations confirmed an unmatched instinct."

Her mentor's revelations troubled her more than anticipated. "You were testing me without my knowing? For how long?" The sense of betrayal stung.

"It was necessary; we couldn't allow our theories to bias your natural responses."

"How long?" Her frustration was palpable, mirroring what she might have done in their position.

"Almost four years, starting your third semester at Asporto," Refius admitted without remorse, stirring a turmoil within her. After the synthesis, we humans jumped a few steps on the ladder of evolution; once merged with technology, even if it was by accident, we became the best version of our species our world has ever seen. It took a generation for the global effects to manifest. The synthesis, now four centuries past, remains unparalleled in its impact," he paused, collecting his thoughts. "You represent the inception of our natural progression into the future, embodying the next phase of our evolution. Your generation’s very existence suggests a future guided by an advanced form of intuition."

Zanda found her cup empty as she sought comfort in another sip.

"So, following my instincts is the key?"

"Exactly. Embrace your inner voice without reserves, trust your gut. Our studies indicate that your mission outcomes correlate directly with your self-assurance during critical decisions," Refius then imparted a crucial insight. "You possess an inherent skill to discern the best path forward in any scenario."

This revelation resonated deeply, aligning with her newfound understanding.

"Why keep this from me?"

"The Superior Gevurah believed it best to wait until after your Ceremonia, fearing premature disclosure might skew your development," he explained, moving up to leave. "As part of the Fifth, it's time you knew. There’s an eager expectation to your next steps.”

He exited his gelliseat; with her mind, Zanda activated the mechanism to descend.

"What am I supposed to do with this knowledge?" she asked, her emotions simmering.

"Embrace it and use it. Why else would you be dispatched to Dictaduria so suddenly?" he retorted, moving away from the aspens.

"I'm not merely a subject, Refius. This feels orchestrated," she said, her voice tinged with accusation.

He maintained his composure, confronting her discomfort. "To an extent, yes. But it's not just me—it involves the Superior Gevurah. We assess everyone," he paused, realizing she hadn't followed him.

Refius turned around, cautious enough to notice the fury in his former trainee as her naadi, glowing with colors matching the orange of their surroundings, emerged from her pores.

"I realize this is unfair to you, and I apologize. But please, try not to view it negatively. We're navigating unknown waters with your abilities. Our ignorance drove our Sephirah to try and understand them as thoroughly as possible before imposing on you the heavy awareness that accompanies them."

His sincerity reached her. She knew he cared and would never intentionally harm her, yet his years of omission stung. The young gevurah could have lashed out, but she recognized the importance of understanding her situation, calming her racing heart, she processed many thoughts.

A new sense of empowerment replaced her initial anger. Understanding her true nature, everything seemed clearer.

"Don’t hide anything from me again, no matter what," she said, unable to harbor resentment towards the one who guided her on the path to join the Fifth Sephirot.

"I promise to do my best," he replied, his tone imbued with genuine honor.

As they walked back to the garnet stairs leading to Naydir's studio, Zanda reflected on past instances when her so-called evolved intuition had guided her, realizing it had always been present. The failures and mistakes of her past, she now understood, were the result of ignoring her inner voice.

Upon reaching Naydir’s studio, with the peridot entrance in sight, one question lingered.

"Refius, how do I utilize Solandre's and Aimiko's knowledge?"

"You'll know when the time comes," he replied, smiling broadly.

Zanda rolled her eyes, seeking less ambiguity. "Can't you be more straightforward?"

"Some things you must decipher on your own, even without Gia. Your experience with Solandre and Aimiko is unparalleled so, you got homework," he explained.

"Fine. I'll figure it out myself, thanks. This conversation gets a rate of four out of ten, boosted by the latte," she remarked, eyeing her kabbalah floating nearby next to Nenu.

"What, boosted?" Refius exclaimed, taken aback.

Approaching the peridot door, she touched it, watching it dissolve around her hand, creating an entrance around her body. "I received incomplete information about my mission in Dictaduria; you've just confessed to hiding crucial facts about me for years. Not your finest moment," she stated before entering, leaving him dumbfounded.

****

That's it for Chapter XVI

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