Yusuf suspected that his Will would fall somewhere within the material plane, like that of his old teacher.
Standing tall and brimming with pride, Yusuf towered over Romann. Their roles as students and teachers almost reversed. The short, white-haired Romann extended his hand confidently. "All I need is your C-stone. It has likely gathered enough of your Will's fingerprint for the machine to function,".
The others followed suit, extracting their C-stones. Handing his C-stone to Romann, Yusuf watched intently as Romann placed it in the machine's designated center. Instantly, both the stone and the armillary burst into a vibrant glow.
The rings encircling the armillary compass commenced a mesmerizing revolution, celestial bodies cycling endlessly. Gradually, the moon sphere ascended while the sun tilted toward the lower portion until the cosmic motion gradually slowed, finally halting in a fixed position.
Romann approached the machine's stone stele, where a book lay. All eyes were fixed upon him, each group member eager to hear Yusuf's Will.
Romann's gaze shifted from the book to Yusuf. Clearing his throat, he addressed the group, emphasizing the significance of a common will and dispelling any notion of inferiority. "Having a Common will does not diminish your capabilities in the slightest. The God from my Supreme Leaf, the pinnacle of power in this world, possesses a Common Will, and he's surpassed everyone around him," he emphasized.
Turning his attention back to Yusuf, Romann's voice resonated with a mix of authority and respect. "Yusuf, you possess Steel Will. Its origin lies in the material plane. You should strive to cultivate your will in the darkness or the night." The revelation hit Yusuf like a whirlwind, momentarily paralyzing him.
However, faithful to his will, he maintained a stoic outward expression, the impact only visible within. Gratefully, Yusuf accepted his C-stone from Romann and bowed in a gesture of respect.
Next in line was Louise. Determined and resolute, she approached Romann, clutching her C-stone tightly. Unbeknownst to the others, a wave of sweat coated her palms. Her heart pounded nervously, like a drum echoing in Romann's ears.
As Romann placed Louise's C-stone in the center of the machine, Romann closed his eyes, his thoughts dancing with amusement. "This new generation is burdened with contemplating the cards they have been dealt. Perhaps there is a painful advantage in their generation in believing one is born special,"
The group stood, each individual harboring their speculations regarding Romann's thoughts.
The celestial rings once again came alive with their mesmerizing motions. The sun and moon spheres started their gradual movements, aligning themselves at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock, respectively.
Romann's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he consulted the book, flipping through its pages until he found the corresponding summary.
Louise's heart leaped with excitement at the prospect of a leadership role, a lesson ingrained within her by her Great Great Great Grandfather.
Romann retrieved Louise's C-stone from the machine, revealing his surprise. "I didn't expect someone to possess an Exotic will. The chances are less than 15%. But, Louise Mitchell, you possess the Exotic Will of tension, rooted in the material plane." Romann announced.
With that, Romann swiftly moved on to the next person in line, Ellie. Al noticed Jin positioning himself behind her, wearing an unusual expression.
Ellie confidently stepped forward, her C-stone held firmly in her hand, exuding a sense of gentleness. As she passed by Louise, she offered her quick congratulations before approaching Romann with a respectful greeting and handing him her C-stone.
Placing her C-stone carefully on the machine, he stepped back, allowing the celestial rings to begin their work.
This time, the sun's spherical ring began its slow rotation, gradually bringing the sun to its highest position. Standing at the back of the room next to Cesar, Al observed this formation and quietly contemplated its significance, noting that it was the opposite of Yusuf's and Louise's moon-based formations.
Suddenly, Cesar, standing beside Al, exclaimed in awe, "Oh wow! It looks like an eclipse." Romann, frozen in place, was struck by the sight of the formation, his mind filled with disbelief. "It's not as rare as someone with an exotic Will... But I should have been able to sense someone with an Extreme Will awakening their Wil!"
Sensing Romann's reaction, Ellie felt uneasy, sensing something significant was happening with her Will's formation. The rest of the group, equally taken aback by Romann's response, could only think of one possibility.
This time, Romann closed the book after reading the page detailing the formation, turning toward Ellie excitedly. "Ellie, you possess the Extreme Will of Reflection rooted in the energy plane. This phantom seed will do very well with you in it.".
Louise and Ellie couldn't contain their smiles, feeling a sense of pride and excitement. However, Yusuf's face sank even further, realizing that the position of Captain was now entirely out of his reach. Romann, meanwhile, had a flashback to when his first phantom seed team had their Wills identified.
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However, Romann paused momentarily, contemplating something before saying, "The fact that the extreme classification is the pinnacle of power will be a double-edged sword. In the last 100 years, many individuals with an Extreme Will have been identified. Unfortunately, only a few remain alive. Undoubtedly, every God Leaf will want you to join their ranks. Your future will be filled with opportunities, and you will lack nothing. However, you must understand that your safety must become your top priority, as the risk of death is almost guaranteed."
Upon hearing this, Ellie's excitement transformed into a creeping uneasiness. Suddenly, having an Extreme Will felt more like a curse than a gift. Without allowing a moment of relief, Romann shifted his attention to the rest of the group and asked, "Alright, who's next? Jin?"
Jin approached the front with his robe adorned with beautiful embroidery and stitching that read "Takahashi." He handed him his C-stone.
Jin didn't expect to hear anything new. Coming from a family known for consistently producing the same Common Will, slight variation was expected. For that reason, his old teacher was known as a true rarity. However, he walked up with a dismissive look that was difficult to conceal.
Romann reached out, sensing Jin's demeanor, and said, "By the look in your eyes, I'd say you already know what you Will is. It's always best to double-check." Romann placed it on the machine, repeating the process.
This time, the sun was in the highest position, with the moon slightly tilted downward. As soon as Jin saw the formation, a helpless smile of defeat appeared.
Romann walked up to the book, finding the page faster than the last time. With a sigh, he thought, "The number of individuals the Takahashi bloodline has produced possessing Lightning Will is incredible. How do families like that come into existence, I wonder?"
He closed the book, retrieved the C-stone from the machine, and returned it to Jin. Romann Explained what Jinn already knew: He had the Common Will of Lightning. Jinn already knew how to cultivate his will and its source.
Four of them had now been identified with their will.
Romann noticed the different faces looking at him and addressed them: "Certain types of will are labeled 'Common' due to how many individuals are cultivating said, Will. Conversely, those born with an Exotic will are much rarer. While slight variations in strength may exist between the two, Extreme Will makes the two seem indistinguishable. The point is that each Will possesses its unique advantages and disadvantages."
Romann continued, "Alright, we're almost finished. Al, Cesar, whoever..." Before Romann could finish his sentence, Cesar decisively stepped forward, already standing in front of Al.
"I'll go next! I wholeheartedly agree with you, teacher. It's all about the effort one puts in. It's the reason I emerged victorious in the challenge. It makes no difference to me whether it's common, Exotic, or Extreme!" Cesar shouted. Romann retrieved Cesar's C-stone.
When Romann first heard that two humans—one close to awakening his will and the other utterly ignorant of Will—defeated a hybrid in the Mental Domain, he found it difficult to believe. However, upon discovering that one of them was Al, he granted the story more credence. His teacher, Immortal King Godfrey, had sent him specifically to look over Al's training. Yet, the second child, Cesar, ignited Romann's curiosity.
The concept of a baseline human being capable of surviving against anything in the Mental Domain was unheard of. Slowly, Romann was learning that Cesar was far from ordinary; he stood head and shoulders above everyone else regarding capability and adaptability.
"I wonder what kind of will Cesar possesses," Romann wondered.
Al, too, found himself diligently observing the unfolding scene. The machine whirred into motion, its rings manipulating the planets revolving around the miniature rising sun. Gradually, a formation akin but opposite to Louise's began to take shape, with the sun reaching its highest point and the moon tilting slightly.
The moon continued descending slowly from its tilt to the opposite bottom position, the reverse of Louise's formation. The planets abruptly halted.
Louise couldn't contain her astonishment, exclaiming, "No way!"
Everyone had grown accustomed to the machine's workings, but what they witnessed defied their current expectations. Yusuf, the first to recover from his awe, turned away with an uninterested expression, while Al, like everyone else, shared in the collective surprise.
Despite knowing him for less than a month, Al felt he knew Cesar reasonably well, yet now he began questioning whether he truly knew him at all.
Romann turned to face Cesar, who exuded the same excitement and determination as before. "Does this mean I also possess that rare Exotic Will?" Cesar exclaimed, his enthusiasm overflowing. "Hahaha! My father was right all along: I am a born winner. I can't wait to see how strong I can get!"
Romann offered him a wry smile before swiftly turning to the book. He flipped through the pages until he found the desired page. Upon finishing, Romann felt a tinge of perplexity. While he already had a fondness for Cesar, he initially aimed to avoid saying anything that might inflate his ego.
He turned to Cesar and glanced briefly at Al as an unexpected thought crossed his mind. Romann quickly dismissed the idea, shaking off the notion.
He approached Cesar, returning his C-stone and remarking, "You possess the Exotic Will of Wind. However, it is incomparable to Louise's or mine; some might call your Will one of the four pinnacles of the Exotic Classification. Like all Wills associated with the energy plane, you should cultivate your Will in a bright room or daylight."
With a nod and a broad smile, Cesar took his C-stone and joined the others. He was radiating the joy of a boy on Christmas Eve.
Al began walking forward as soon as Romann finished speaking.
This time, all eyes were fixed upon him, filled with anticipation. The chances of Al possessing an Exotic or Extreme were incredibly slim, yet the possibility lingered, creating a certain tension in the room.
Al remained composed. He had no intention of staying in the 15th Blood Ring. His sole purpose was to gain the strength necessary to protect his mother.
"Exotic, Extreme... it's starting to sound like they spend more time honing their Will against each other than killing those nightmarish creatures. That's alright. I gave up on all forms of competition years ago." Al's thoughts trailed off, his mind momentarily reflecting on a painful memory.
Al handed his C-stone over to Romann, who swiftly grasped it, giving Al a curious look. Romann silently pondered, "I recognize that rhythm—it's the music the heart plays when it's denied the chance to express itself. Perhaps he's still grappling with the loss of his friend. Maybe I was too harsh on him..."
With a gentle touch, Romann placed Al's C-stone into the machine, ready to unveil his Will.