‘Hmm… who could they be? Each has a distinct and majestic appearance as well as a terrifying aura. It’s as if they’re alive.’
The puzzled Zeke spotted exactly four statues, but only one was made of the Crown’s black and crystalline material. The first, entirely jet black, was that of a domineering middle-aged man with greasy long hair, blurred eyes, and a commanding jawline. He was standing straight and holding onto an equally large greatsword embedded into the ground. Under his feet, golden letters were engraved on the ground, but the language used wasn’t so easily read.
‘It’s Hanish? I recognize the characters but I can’t read them. They only teach it in History classes of Public Schools.’
Hanish wasn’t a language derived from Earth, it was directly related to the shrouded and forgotten history of the Aether Planet. Although most of its characters were undeciphered, learning it was still an arduous and long process. Only the most dedicated of Scholars and Historians would spend so much effort in doing that.
After musing with himself and eventually giving up on trying to read the characters, Zeke turned his gaze to the second statue.
It was a couple of paces to the right, closer to the back-end of the majestic hall of the mausoleum.
It was that of an elderly man with a scholarly and serene aura. He was wearing a pointy hat with red lines around its top, had his head lowered, staring at a big scroll that was half of his size.
Unlike the first statue, this one had distinct colors and seemed to be made from wholly different materials.
There were also golden Hanish characters under the elderly’s feet, but their arrangements made it clear that they held a different meaning than the first statue.
The third statue was that of a lady, a beautiful woman wearing a gothic regal black dress with a thin veil covering the upper part of her face. Even when Zeke tried to peek and get a good look, all he saw was a dark gloom that purposely masked her facial features, specifically her eyes.
The golden words engraved right next to her high black boots were not Hanish but something entirely unfamiliar to Zeke.
‘Ancient rulers of the Aether Planet, perhaps? But it doesn’t make sense. No ruler or monarch would want to share a mausoleum with others. Logically, as I was likely brought here by the System, it is reasonable to surmise that they were the previous ‘users’? Then again, they could be deities or Gods. However, amongst the so-called Gods in official history records, their characteristics match none of the ones I know.’
Last but not least, the fourth statue; An innocent-looking youth with curly short brown hair, seemingly shiny emerald eyes, and a round face. He wore a classical grey robe and had his hands clasped in a praying motion. He was also the only statue not standing but half-kneeling on the ground.
The golden characters or words next to the youth were strikingly similar to the ones near the lady in a regal dress.
After examining the statues for a bit, Zeke toured the grand hall but found little of import. He couldn’t feel the passing of time and didn’t for how long he was in this ethereal dream-like state.
Just when he was getting bored and was thinking of a way to wake up, he saw a half-illusory System Box appear in front of him.
[Authentification procedure successfully completed.]
[User ‘Zeke Orland’ has been imprinted into the Extinction Order]
The mausoleum violently shook and the ground close to the first statue split open. Another statue slowly surfaced, but the shocking thing was that it was actually that of Zeke’s.
Speechless, the youth saw his big statue, colored blood-red and pure white stabilize itself; However, his face was wrapped by a dense and intangible mist that swirled like a tornado.
[5th member of the Extinction Order: Voltage Sync, Zeke.]
A burst of blue-colored lightning was unleashed from Zeke’s statue, letting out deafening noises, which progressively subsided until the eerie silence returned.
‘So they were indeed previous users of the Paths of Extinction System.’
Curious, he approached his own statue and felt greatly dissatisfied. It lacked the majesty of the rest and his pose was a bit comical. He was, quite literally, in a T pose, looking a bit dumb, not even the mist covering his face was enough to add a bit of mysticism or authority.
‘I look like a newborn compared to ‘them’.’
[5:00, 5th of each month, user ‘Zeke Orland’ will be summoned to the Extinction Order for the regular examination and evaluation.]
[PE shop is now available]
The System got larger and an explicit list of items was presented in front Zeke. It wasn’t hard to understand its functions, but his fleeting intrigue was extinguished by the exorbitant prices.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
The least expensive available item was ‘Aether Potion’ at a whopping cost of 85PE. There seemed to be weapons and artifacts too, but Zeke couldn’t dream of ‘buying’ any one of them now.
He sighed and turned off the so-called ‘PE Shop’, sighing as he lamented about his need for real money and PE.
In addition to the PE Shop, something was ingrained into his mind, allowing him to leave the Extinction Order whenever he wanted.
…
Although Zeke was instructed to visit the professional Counselor, he scheduled the imminent meeting for the next day due to feeling tired.
The first batch of exams was beginning next week, but Zeke wasn’t worried about them. The theoretical exams, specifically, were easy as long as one memorized the necessary stuff and had a basic understanding of the relevant subject.
The issue laid with the practical exams, which were usually in the form of thorough examination tests about Aether Manipulation, its practices, and sometimes battles between two students of close Ranking or similar ability or overall prowess.
Fortunately, the successful acquisition of the Crown and the subsequent reaped rewards had considerably strengthened Zeke and even provided him with enough PE to unlock one or two main paths.
After being pulled into the Extinction Order, Zeke wasn’t able to focus on Teacher Christopher’s lessons and spent almost all day pondering about what was all of that about.
As Jonathan Stellar Link fled, Principal Solas lifted the notice, thus allowing the students to regain their freedom. Zeke, though reluctant, headed to the Counselor’s office, which was situated in the Administrative Bureau Building.
The office itself was inconspicuous and located in a rarely frequented corridor of the building, making it slightly difficult to notice.
The moment Zeke stepped inside, he was welcomed by the calming fragrance and the strong scent of incense.
The decoration and furniture were odd, seemingly belonging to a Shaman or a fortune-teller rather than a professional Counselor.
A woman wearing a bright orange robe and a lot of weird jewelry sat amidst the dense fog dominating the back of the room.
“Welcome. Zeke, right? I was notified of your visit by Principal Soals.’ A sweet and melodious voice rang in his ears.
Zeke eyed Mary, the Counselor, feeling goosebumps from this unusual atmosphere. He politely nodded his head and, when she beckoned him, he walked closer and sat on a wooden rocking chair across her.
Counselor Mary slowly lifted her head and scrutinized him for a prolonged period of time. Zeke did the same too, feeling entranced by her face. She seemed to be in her mid-twenties, had snow-white skin, thin and short eyebrows, and a pair of mesmerizing light blue eyes. Her hair was covered by a dark yellow silk cloth embedded with several colorful gems.
Unlike the soul-piercing and unfathomable stare of Solas, Mary’s was calm and gentle, probing him harmlessly.
“I see anger, confusion, and resolve. How about we begin with your tale?”
“...”
She faintly smiled as she retrieved a small cup from the small cupboard next to her and poured a fragrant tea.
“Please drink this, it will help.”
After a momentary hesitation, Zeke followed her instructions and drank the tea, which was both cold and hot at the same time.
[Sensing Interference… proceeding to automated Defense Mode.]
Much to his surprise, a System Notification popped, which made him frown. The weird sensation of the tea disappeared on the spot, replacing his calmness with wariness as he looked at Mary.
‘Is this her ability? It’s the first time the System directly interfered like this. She’s definitely not a normal person. Still, I should’ve expected this after hearing Principal Solas empathize how ‘professional’ the school’s counselor was. It doesn’t like she noticed that her Tea’s effect didn’t work. Is this a form of hypnosis?’
After she waited for a bit, Mary sat up straight, her eyes glued on the student, “The standard procedure for my patient is a thorough investigation of their past. Principal Solas helped me through it, I don’t you don’t mind.”
She gauged his reaction but he kept an expressionless face and listened to her.
“Younger brother of Edward Orland and Maxine Orland. 17 years old of age, youngest son of Anthony Orland and Olivia Vyrsan. Is that correct?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You were a Defect until recently, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Very good.” With the basic questions done, Mary sized up for the third or fourth time before switching to the main topic.
“This first session is meant for introductions and a bit of trivial talk. As ordered by Principal Solas, I will refrain from asking or talking about Jonathan Stellar Link and your accidental involvement in the case.”
After saying that, she paused for half a beat then said, “Erys still suffers from the bullying of Defects, right?”
She let out a self-depracating laugh, which made Zeke wonder whether her question was rhetorical or not.
“It always suffered from that.” He perfunctorily responded, his face stoic.
“What is your opinion about that? Do you have a solution, or do you simply don’t care?”
“Does my opinion really matter, ma’am? It’s not like I change anything.”
“Yes, maybe causing a change just by yourself is difficult. However, this conversation is mainly about you and your thoughts. For example, do your bear a grudge against the bullies? Or the teachers? Or the Principal himself. Please take time to think and don’t shy away from honestly, even if it means insulting the Principal, I won’t mind. The content of this session is and will always remain strictly confidential.”
The youth pondered for a bit then thoughtfully answered, “Frankly, it’s a mix, but it mainly stems from the naturally-born arrogance of the gifted students. From a young age, they are told that they are superior to normal humans. And as each person is unique, there happen to be some that like oppressing those deprived of talent. Even in society, such cases are not that rare. However, Erys is a prestigious educational institute, so I find it unreasonable that it fails to maintain a basic form of order. After all, it’s not like it doesn’t have the means.”
Seeing that she didn’t remark and only listened, Zeke continued,
“Do not misunderstand, ma’am, I’m not only blaming them. Nay, I know one’s view differs depending on their personal and individual experiences. I was bullied and I experienced extreme feelings of inferiority, whether it was due to my successful siblings or my lack of talent in wielding Aether. You could say I harbored, or still harbor, loath and hate toward those that take everything for granted.”
Zeke let out a helpless sigh and lowered his head, “Even now, after no longer being a Defect, my thoughts didn’t change.”
As she sensed that he got nothing else to say, Counselor Mary nodded and switched the topic,
“I heard, at the age of 6, you were kidnapped by the Ascetic Blasphemers. Do you mind talking about that?”
Zeke suddenly got very defensive and solemnly shook his head,
“There’s nothing to talk about, ma’am. The kidnapping barely lasted a day and my memory of that is all fuzzy.”
Hearing this, Mary frowned for the first time and fell into deep thought. She seemed to be suspecting something but, eventually, she did not insist and asked about something else.