> The next day.

 Hugo clapped at Altara who presented the still burning knife to him. As they were stood in the dojo Hugo spoke.

"Well done Altara! Now I know that your body can withstand maintaining weak magik!" He patted his back, taking the knife away. He waved his hand in front of it and the fire went out. Hugo then pocketed the dagger.

"Phew..does that means I don't have to go through the training to do with that?" Altara asked, itching his cheek.

"That's right!" Hugo grinned and folded his arms. "Now then...the man that called me outside yesterday at the end of our lesson. His name is Kry Kenlok. He wants a word with you. I told him you have a diploma in astrology and Kry is rather interested in you because of that. He is an astrologist himself, you see." Hugo nodded at the door. "15th floor. He is the only guy who has an office there. It is the top floor of the tower."

Altara nodded. "Got it. Thanks Hugo."

Altara soon left, running down to the elevator. Once he was there he saw Jolene inside, she saluted at him casually and grinned. "Hey kiddo. Which floor you need?"

"Uhm..fifteenth." He said, almost shyly. 

Jolene pressed the button to the fifteenth floor, the doors closing and the elevator started to move up. "Visiting Kry?" She simply asked, tapping her chin with her other arm crossed under the one tapping.

"Yeah..Hugo said he wanted to see me. Me and Kry both have an interest in astrology." Altara cleared his throat. "Yeah.."

"Oh, that's cool." The elevator stopped and opened. Jolene tapped Altara's shoulder as he walked out, Altara turned partially and looked at her. "Kry is a nice guy. If you get on his nice side I'm sure he could teach you a few things, yeah?"

Altara nodded. "Sure thing. Thanks, Jolene."

Altara stepped into Kry's office, which was, in fact, a large library with a desk in the middle. The room also had a skylight which covered the whole ceiling. The bookshelves lined the outside of the circular room.

There was a man standing on the right side of the room, looking at a book which he had just picked up from the bookshelf. 

"That's Kry alright..the same guy from yesterday." Altara mumbled to himself, timidly walking up to him and clearing his throat. "Uhm, sir? I'm Altara. The guy you wanted to see."

Kry quickly looked up from his book at Altara, before closing it and adjusting his glasses, putting the book back on the shelf. He extended his hand at Altara for a handshake, which Altara accepted.

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"Good to meet you, Altara. Hugo told me about you." Kry said. His voice was very calm and soft. 

"You too, sir." Altara smiled slightly, his voice slightly nervous. 

"No need to be so formal, Altara. I may be Adepta's number one astronomer but I am still simply a teacher here." Kry chuckled after speaking, adjusting his glasses on his nose.

"N-Number one astronomer! No way!" Altara cleared his throat, realizing how loud he was. "That's..wow." 

"According to many, yes. But I shall not boast." He motioned Altara to follow him as he walked to his desk. Kry sat down in his seat and Altara sat down in the seat opposite. The sun was setting, causing the room to have a sudden tint of orange thanks to the open skylight. Kry leaned back in his seat and looked up at the sky, Altara looking at Kry before doing the same.

"You came here because you wanted somewhere to belong, yes? Hugo told me so. The Oligarchy of Magik is one such place which is good for people like you. We create futures...but at the same time, we also destroy them. Some people are killed in many ways here. It happens all the time. 34 people died last year you see, mostly due to their own motivations. Some from magik strain and some from simply fighting magik users from outside the Oligarchy, that is the most deaths we've ever had in a year since the Supreme War. The Inhuman Empire sure did batter us for being allied with the Titus Confederation, that's what I was told anyway."

Kry then looked at Altara, who looked at him as well. "You are you, Altara. Do what you need with what you learn here. The Oligarchy is a private place. We are not tied to any outside laws. As long as you don't involve us with your endeavors we shall leave you alone, but that is the organization in general. Your friends you make here? That is a different story."

Kry leaned forward, intertwining his fingers in front of his face.

"In three weeks you and Hugo will go to Sapianus City and start investigating a criminal organization which murdered 2 teachers in a club there two months ago. This will do you good and is a good way to train your magik."

Altara looked down at his feet, sweat appearing on the side of his head.

"I have never fought anyone before. How could I be of help?"

Kry's eyes widened for a second before quickly shrinking. "Hm. Then it is a good time to practice your fighting skills, yes? Like I said you have three weeks. There are training dummies and advisors on the tenth floor. You could ask Hugo too. The material they're made out of depends on what you are using on them. From fighting to weaponry. Oh, and speaking of weaponry.."

Kry stood up and turned, picking up a weapon case from behind him and putting it on the desk. Altara stood up and looked as Kry opened the case.

There was a broadsword inside, it was made of pure steel. The pommel was a circle, the middle of which was hollow. Almost like a halo. Kry picked it up alongside the scabbard next to it, gently giving them to Altara.

"Take it, spellsword."

Altara looked down at the sword, slowly and carefully taking it and the scabbard. He could see his reflection in the blade, he slowly sheathed it in the scabbard and attached it to the left side of his waist. "Hm. Fits well...thank you, Kry." He looked up at Kry and smiled, who smiled back. "You are welcome, fellow Oligarchist, and astronomer." He adjusted his glasses, sitting down and looking up at Altara. "It would be nice for you to share some of your studies on astrology but for now you must train. I will see you soon, Altara." He nodded at him.

Altara bowed. "Thank you, Kry." He smiled at him, quickly walking to the elevator and pressing the button to the tenth floor. He glanced down at his broadsword, before closing his eyes and exhaling.

"Maybe this place will build my future."