Chapter 51: Ronald's Determination
Ronald stood with Tina and Edmund in the common area of the third floor, the familiar sound of their voices echoing softly against the high ceilings. The room was spacious, with tall arched windows casting long streaks of sunlight across the stone floor. Rich tapestries adorned the walls, displaying ancient scenes of magic and conquest, and plush chairs were scattered around, offering a comfortable space for the gifted recruits to lounge in between their studies.
Today, they were all more relaxed than usual, the air around them filled with a mix of anticipation and excitement. They had been talking about the gates—how in just a few days, they would finally open, allowing recruits to explore the inner perimeter freely. This was a significant moment; up until now, the only times they had been outside the Tower’s walls were for assigned tasks, and gifted recruits rarely took part in those.
“For us,” Edmund said with a grin, tapping the side of the strange glass bottle he always carried, “this is our first real chance to explore the inner perimeter. We’ve been cooped up in here, while the non-gifted have been running all over the place, doing their little tasks. But now? Now we get to see what’s out there for ourselves, and we’re not limited by some boring assignment.”
Tina nodded enthusiastically, her fingers tracing small patterns in the air as she spoke. “Exactly! We didn’t need to go out for tasks like the non-gifted do. Contribution points and chores aren’t required for us, so we never really bothered. But now, with the gates opening, we can explore without restrictions—and we get to see what the Tower has been hiding from us all this time.”
Ronald felt a flicker of excitement, though it was tempered by a bit of hesitation. He had spent more time in the library than most of the other gifted recruits, but he knew this was an opportunity he couldn’t ignore. Like Tina and Edmund, he hadn’t explored much of the outside yet, and this was their chance to see what the world beyond the Tower’s walls had to offer. A world they would eventually be navigating as Apostles.
Tina was clearly proud of her recent progress. “I’ve been able to gather enough mana lately to form a soft layer of earth over my skin,” she said, her tone brimming with satisfaction. “It’s not perfect yet, but it strengthens me. With my earth affinity, I feel more grounded—more secure. It’s like I can feel the weight of the ground beneath me, giving me stability.”
She raised her arm slightly, and Ronald could see the faint shimmer of mana as a soft brown hue flickered over her forearm. It was a tangible sign of the control she had gained over her earth affinity.
Edmund, never one to be outdone, leaned forward, his face animated as he spoke. “That’s great, Tina. I’ve been working on something myself,” he said, his voice brimming with pride. “I’ve managed to pull in a decent portion of fire mana, though creating a full mana pool is still a ways off. But check this out—I’ve been learning a technique that lets me concentrate that fire mana into a whip.”
He raised his hand, and for a brief moment, concentrated mana gathered around his fingers, forming a fiery whip that cracked through the air before flickering out. “It doesn’t last long, but it’s a start. It’s meant for taming beasts with a fire affinity, but I figure it can be useful in combat too.”
“That’s impressive,” Ronald said, nodding in approval. He had to admit, Edmund’s progress was remarkable, even if the technique took a toll on his mana reserves.
Tina leaned back in her chair, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “We’ve all made progress,” she said, her voice thoughtful. “But it’s only going to get better once we can roam the inner perimeter. Who knows what we’ll discover out there? We might find new techniques, artifacts, maybe even creatures that can help us grow even stronger.”
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Ronald remained quiet, his thoughts drifting. He had indeed made progress, but his approach had been different from that of his friends. He had spent more time in the library, quietly studying and avoiding the days when Abel, was working. Unknown to anyone, the glasses Ronald wore weren’t for vision. They were a magical artifact, allowing him to "see" those touched by magic and certain magical properties—people or objects with anomalies, artifacts, or relics of power. This ability had helped him align himself with Tina and Edmund, both of whom also carried strange magical anomalies, though they didn’t know it.
His glasses had also led him to a book that intrigued him—a story about a gifted recruit named River Spirit, who had used the essence of a river to infuse himself, creating a unique and powerful mana pool. This idea had fascinated Ronald, and he had been quietly researching ever since, though he kept his findings to himself.
When it came time to show off techniques, Ronald preferred to keep things simple. He raised his hand, letting a soft blue hue envelop his fingers as he demonstrated a basic water affinity spell. “This is a technique called Water Hand,” he said, allowing the faint glow to pulse from his palm. “It’s mainly used for healing minor injuries. It’s not flashy, but it’s useful.”
Tina and Edmund nodded approvingly, each recognizing that Ronald had his own path, even if it seemed less dramatic than theirs.
As they continued discussing their progress, Edmund’s tone shifted, a hint of amusement in his voice. “You know, I’ve heard we might run into some of the weirdos below us—the non-gifted—while we’re exploring. They’ll be out there too, probably scrambling to keep up with us.”
Tina chuckled, rolling her eyes. “Let’s just hope we don’t have to deal with them. The inner perimeter is big enough for everyone to explore, but honestly, I’d rather not waste my time crossing paths with them. We’ve got more important things to focus on.”
Ronald felt a pang of guilt as they spoke. He had aligned himself with Tina and Edmund out of necessity, drawn to the power and potential he sensed in them. But hearing them talk this way about the non-gifted—people he had once been close to—made him feel uneasy. Still, he remained silent, knowing that as a gifted recruit, it was best not to meddle with the non-gifted unless absolutely necessary in addition his path different.
Tina’s voice cut through his thoughts. “Have you heard about that recruit they call Stargazer?” she asked, her tone laced with curiosity. “Apparently, he’s cursed. People say every night, he gets trapped in some kind of hallucination, staring at the stars like he’s lost his mind.”
Ronald felt his stomach twist. He knew exactly who Stargazer was—Abel. The rumors had spread quickly, painting a picture of a recruit cursed by the stars, forever trapped in a state of madness. It was unsettling, but it also validated Ronald’s decision to distance himself from the non-gifted. Hearing about curses and strange occurrences only strengthened his resolve.
“It’s only a matter of time before something bad happens to them,” Edmund added dismissively. “A lot of the non-gifted were cursed during one of their tasks. It’s just a waiting game until they start dropping off.”
Ronald shook his head, feeling a sense of detachment from the fate of the non-gifted. He had chosen his path, and they had chosen theirs. The more he heard about curses and death, the more comfortable he felt with his decision to distance himself.
“So, where do you guys want to explore first once the gates open?” Tina asked, shifting the conversation back to their plans.
“I’m thinking about heading east,” Ronald replied. “There’s a body of water there I’d like to check out. It might help with my research into mana pools.”
Tina smiled. “That sounds interesting. I might explore the forested area to the north. I’ve heard rumors about some unique creatures there.”
Edmund leaned back, folding his arms behind his head. “Wherever we go, it’ll be good to finally get out there. Just remember, if we see any of the non-gifted, we keep walking.”
The three of them chuckled, their conversation drifting to lighter topics as they discussed their upcoming exploration. For Ronald, the path ahead felt clear. He had chosen his allies wisely, and soon, the inner perimeter would open up a new world of possibilities.