"Teacher, I have made my decision. I wish to link the aspect of time."

Nestor's deep, green eyes focused straight into Lenard's, his serious expression transmitting that he wasn't fooling around.

"B-But why? I have yet to tell you anything about the aspects of reality, I just only mentioned to you three of their names. You must evaluate the pros and cons of each of them, carefully before you can start making a decision.

Nobody is going to pressure you on your decision, you might as well have a few weeks to think about it more clearly!"

However, Nestor's face wasn't that of someone having any doubts about what to do, he was certain, somehow he knew that this was the best decision.

"I know, but I'm not sure how to better explain this, I am feeling it in my bones. It is also true that this is the aspect I have the most affinity for."

A bright smile appeared on his face, as his tutor's face started to twist in annoyance.

"Fine! You little scoundrel, have it your way, but you'll regret this, a lot of trouble will be coming your way, and it won't be pretty."

Not caring about the scolding he just received, Nestor quickly added.

"I won't be able to keep running away from troubles every time, when they'll come to find me I'll have to face them. I don't wish my past to repeat itself, this time I will be living my life and making my own decisions.

I appreciate your concern though."

Nestor may as well be much younger than the old scholar in front of him, however, he still lived past his forties before dying. He wasn't a hot-tempered character at all.

"I see, then your decision must be also a product of the soul power you had previously manifested.

Then I can't say yours is such a wrong decision, but still, you'd choose a really hard path.

You see, time-related affinities have disappeared from Ceres since past times. Not only you would need to be very careful about disclosing it to the wrong person, but you will find it very hard to obtain the recipes to increase your title to the next one.

On the other hand, the aspect of time is believed to be one of the strongest combat-wise.

I, myself, am not very knowledgeable about the curse your soul will have to bear either. In the end, it depends on you, as I have already told you, but it seems you have already made up your mind.

As your teacher, I will accept such a choice, and help you to the best of my capabilities."

The duo then proceeded back towards the end of the bridge, making their way back through the long queue of trainees and their teachers. As Lenard was about to activate another teleportation scroll, Nestor noticed something quite peculiar.

"Teacher, over there! Hanging on the ceiling what is there... Could they be actual buildings?"

It was hard to see, as they were quite far, thankfully no shadows were blocking his view upward. Only the same green hue filled the air, no other light or shadow was impeding his sight.

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Thus Nestor noticed the vague silhouettes of what seemed to be upsidedown buildings.

"Indeed, you have a keen eye, my disciple. That is the underside of the city, you haven't been there yet, but I wouldn't recommend you to, for now. That is the more infamous part of Ceres, the poor and homeless as well as all kinds of criminals and degenerates inhabit it.

There, you won't find anything pretty. Still, they have some useful districts even down there, like the black market or the slave house.

For it being upside down, I don't know the specifics, I can only state the obvious. It's like gravity itself pulled a joke over the city."

Hear about the dark side of Ceres, Nestor thought about all the other people that got out of the portal together with him. They didn't own a key and were cast aside.

'Is that where they throw you into? However, as he kept thinking about it, a lot more other variables came to mind.'

Maybe he was being pessimistic and they were being assigned to another instructor. Or they were being integrated directly into the army, who knows.

Meanwhile, on a backstreet alley in Ceres. The stench of piss and feces inundated Linneo's nostrils. The knight was silently approaching the shadow looming over the dead end of the alley.

A small arcade stood there, dirty black columns preceded an old wooden door, an unusually small one at that.

Linneo stood in place, his silver metallic boots touching the paving of mud and stones, he finally announced his presence.

"I, Linneo, have come here in my mentor's stead, Sir Eric. I am here to find the rats hiding under the bridge, I have something I wish to convey."

Then a strange object appeared on his right, gloved, hand.

It was a rectangular-shaped envelope, it was black and emitted an aura of darkness all around it. In the middle of it was presented a symbol, a blue pupilless eye surrounded by a multitude of black tendrils, which continuously undulated toward the outside.

"I heard you, there is no need to flap 'that' under our roof, however, before throwing yourself into the mouth of the wolf you should have thought of a better plan."

A raspy yet joyful voice resounded through the alley, as three figures emerged from behind the columns.

The one that had just spoken was the leading member, he was short, about 1.2 meters in height, and he could be considered a dwarf. A long black cape covered his figure, a long pointed hood covered his visage only leaving a dirty, crusted black beard in sight.

Only his hands remained in plain sight, left hanging in a curved position, emphasizing his long black nails as an animal would do with their claws.

He slowly lifted his hood, leaving his hideous appearance for Linneo to see. A crooked nose, blackened teeth, a blind eye, a missed ear, and many other scars littered his face, as well as many purulent growths.

'Are they keeping such an ugly image of themselves on purpose? There is no way that this isn't intentional. Although, they do blend very well in this dirty environment.'

The rat sneered and quickly spit a clamp of saliva on the ground.

"Eric sent you here you say, but we all know what that symbol means. I won't believe the old fox even thought of starting any kind of business with 'them'.

And you must be totally out of your mind. This emblem, you cannot imagine how deep of a rabbit hole this truly is.

You must have had your reasons to contact 'them'. That is not our problem though, you tried to deceive us yet to try to fool your informant while you're a complete greenhorn.

At least it seems you have enough bravery. I will overlook this and let this letter reach my boss if you do me a favor won't you?"

Back at the academy, Nestor was sitting over an ebony wooden desk, opposite to him was his teacher Lenard.

Nestor had been asked to rest for about half an hour, as Lenard had to attend a quick commission before they could actually start their session. This time he was allowed to take a few bites off his precious bread.

"As I have told you before, for a soul practitioner like yourself, to increase your power you have two ways. To either meet the requirements and rank up your title or to cultivate your soul arts.

However nothing is simple and direct as we wish it to be, and these two aspects are, in truth, two faces of the same coin. One couldn't be without the other.

For the first weeks, until you obtain your first title, you'll have to listen to me. Then I'll give you what manuals I can find about the aspect of time. Also, I think it would be wise to think about a momentary cover, like posing as an unlucky spirit caller or something."

Soon after a small metallic box appeared over Lenard's hand. It was pure white in color, remembering Nestor of a finely polished alabaster statue. Golden flowery embellishments filled the edges of the diamond-shaped container.

Then he slowly opened the lid of the box, as a soft click echoed in the study room, Nestor intensively gazed through the small opening.