... Damn, He really did evolve his Un-armed.

After a while of just sitting on Appas medical table I started reflecting on what happened.

I thought about the stance that Balif, I thought about my approach to attack, and how he seamlessly countered my attack before I struck him.

I thought about my evolved skill.

The feeling of unfairness and anguish and anger just stirred inside of untill it exploded.

Like something inside of me had snapped and repaired it's self to be stronger then ever before.

Thinking about my experience, I also thought about how Balif evolved his skill.

It was normal for people to evolve skills while under extreme circumstances, like if they are in danger or if something is pushing the skill in question to its upper limit.

That's not to say everyone can evolve a skill at anytime, It's much harder to evolve the writing skill compared to evolving a resistance skill because it's harder to find a situation where you would be stressed enough to evolve a writing skill compared to a Resistance skill which is designed to help you survive.

I was still contemplating about what had happened, when Appa walked in.

He has golden amber skin but his body was covered in the wrinkles of time. He has small glasses on his well shaven face, and a short pointed hat covering his bald head.

He held a look of both pity and professionalism as he looked at my form on the table.

"... Nim, please don't scare me like that again."

He walked towards me slowly with his cane and I frowned at his words.

"Isn't this what you wanted? I finnaly evolved one of my skills! I can go to the higher tier now!"

I screamed at him despite knowing it was entirely my fault that he was even talking to me right now.

He sighed and sat down next to me on the rickety table.

"Nim, Look at your self! Do you think that this kind of thing is a little joke?"

I flinched at him raising his voice, but still looked down and tried to see what he saw.

I looked down to see dry skin over skin that was holding onto the bones of my ribcage. I was skinny, but never this skinny.

My skin was sickeningly dry and they way my skin was almost squeezing into my bones made me nauseous.

I looked over at Appa for some kind of answer, but he just signed me to look at my status.

Name: [Nimrod 'Nim' Azure]

Title: None

Stats:

Str: 1(-1)

End: 6

Con: 3(-1)

Dex: 12

Agi: 9

Per: 9

Skills:

[Rebel] Lv.1

[Acrobatics] Lv. 5

[Sand Resistance] Lv.2

[Stealth] Lv.4

[Un-armed] Lv.3

[Play fight] Lv.2

I looked over at my stats and I was horrified.

The only ways that people usually lose stat points is because they permanently injure themselves, and I stated panicking.

Did I cripple my self? What do I do if they don't let cripples into their 2? What if Balif still leaves me behind?!

Seeing me with despair in my expression, Appa held me in his arms like he did when I was still 5 cycles old.

I sobbed loudly and pushed him away even though I knew I wanted to be held and cared for, but I still wanted to let Go.

Not let go of Appa, but let go of all of these feelings.

I wanted to swim out of this pool of regret and anger but I was too stubborn to accept that I wouldn't make it out.

Creek...

The door of the room slowly opened and I saw Balif enter into the room with tears visible in his eyes.

He has heard what happed. He has been waiting outside of the door to see if I was okay and to support me even if I wasn't.

Instantly I stopped crying. The pride that refused to show it's self in fornt of Appa reappeared and didn't allow me to show vulnerability to best friend.

I wiped my tears and Shakily stood from the table and hugged my friend. I hugged him for a good 30 seconds before I grabbed his arms and threw him back.

WHAM!

He smacked into the wall of the hallway and was briefly surprised that I did that, then saw the manic smile on my face and mirrored it, as we started fighting right then and there.

----------------------------------------

...

[Play Fight] Lv.2 → [Play Fight] Lv.3

After a fight that was cut short by Appa, Balif and I got reprimanded for doing something blatantly stupid, Like fighting right in front of the person that is supposed to not let us fight.

Anyways after the whole affair I felt better. I even go a level in play fight for the first time in forever.

Whenever Balif or I got upset, we fought to blown off some steam. At this point it was a habit that was unbreakable due to how much we get upset about things that don't matter.

Like when we were debating if stream bird meat was better then sand worm, and we ended up getting beat up by some Guards because we trashed a shop in our little squabble.

Usually I was the loser, but I had never lost like I did yesterday, At the very least I landed a couple of good strikes, but the difference between us was now to large to chalk up as a difference of skill levels.

Both of us were nothing compared to those who apparently live in some 11th Teir of the tower, but we were good enough to defend our selves from the everyday theif or pickpocket.

I mean, everybody knows there are 10 Teirs, Why was the rumor even made up?

All this thinking and reflecting is starting to hurt my head...

Balif and I continued to walk to our room as instructed by Appa to start packing our things to get ready to ascend to the 2nd Teir.

I was looking around my room for any spare change that feel out of my bag, when I felt a pain in my chest and frowned in pain. Is this a side effect of losing Con?

Whoosh...

The normal warm winds rushed into the room, filling me with a sence of nostalgia even though I haven't even left yet.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

I looked out of my window and admired the view for perhaps the last time.

Bright blue Stream birds contrasted against the Deep orange color of the 2nd Teir of the tower.

I looked directly forward and saw the greenish blue sky shine a golden orange tint as the sun slowly set down for bed.

I looked down from the sun to see the cracked Red ground of the desert beneath the 1st Teir. The vast amounts of sandstorms that happen here are because of the massive sandstorms that make their way to the first layer, Painting everything an orange rust like tint.

To be honest, the 1st Teir looks like mostly rundown and is seemingly surviving off of fumes. It looked decrepit and dirty, but it's all I've ever known, so it was home.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Hearing the loud knocking, I saw out of my window to see the Guards standing out side of the gate with a couple of kids that seemed to also be going up to the 2nd Teir.

"BALIF! NIM! RUSS! Get out here!"

Appa called out loudly for us, and we both quickly double checked we had everything and walked to the front gate of the Orphanage.

I opened the gate and one of the guards walked up to me.

"Nimrod Azure?"

He quickly stated my name and I quickly nodded my head to confirm, he then walked over to Balif and Russ and did the exact same.

I didn't know Russ very well, but I know he's been trying to leave 1st layer ever since he was dropped off at the Orphanage by the Guards, I can remember he was talking about some 'They Just mad I was trying to eat' thing but that was a pretty common occurrence since shops have been driving up prices, and kids stole what they couldn't afford.

Still kind of messed up they killed his entire family over something like that... Whatever.

After a quick second we started moving to the Ascension Point in the middle of the 1st layer.

As we walked by the few remaining stalls on the streets one of the kids stole an apple while neither of the Guards were looking and stuffed it into his pouch. He smiled Big enough to hear, but he didn't even seem to need the apple. Unlike some of the other kids, he has sandles on, I could tell he was from a family.

Everybody was dead silent because we knew that Guards had short tempers, but some slightly sneered at what they saw the kid do.

The shop keeper noticed what had happened, but didn't do anything, because if he started to beat a kid who was about to Ascend in front of a guard then he could get the classic Guard punch to the gut.

We continued walking untill we were met by a large circle with a symbol that I couldn't make out with large gold and blue structures surrounding qit on all sides, like a 4 petaled sun bloom.

"All right! Everybody into the teleport matrix!"

One of the guards that were guiding us yelled out, and started pushing kids into the circles forcefully.

I looked at the kid that was thrown to the ground because of the force, and looked over at Balif who was looking at me the exact same way.

All of us didn't want to be pushed to the ground by then so we just jumped into the 'Matrix' as we were told.

"Blah Blah Blah, A bunch of stuff I'm supposed to tell you, have a good trip and don't throw up all over the Teleport pad in teir 2! I don't want another pay cut..."

Suddenly after the Guard finished saying that, the floor beneath us started heating up like metal under the sun, and after a while all of the kids who didn't have shoes started dancing around to stop their feet to burn.

"HAHAHA! STUPID! HAHAHA!"

The kid who stole the apple earlier was screaming laughing at the kids neer him that were jumping to avoid the pain, I could already tell I don't like him.

After a few more agonizin minutes of dancing around the 4 obelisk lit up and I felt extremely uncomfortable, then I all I felt was pain.

----------------------------------------

I awoke again on a something strangely cold.

The second I noticed I was laying on it, I felt my muscles start shivering to warm it's self.

My teeth chattered in my jaw and I could see little things floating through the air, and avoided breathing to hard, as to avoid getting whatever this stuff is inside of my Lungs.

After a second I refocused and realized I just made it to the 2nd Teir.

I had just done something that not just anybody can do.

Sure like a lot of people can make it up here, but some are stuck down in Teir one because they lack talent or the skills they have just don't match them.

"SNOORRR..."

I focused back into what is now and not what was then, when I hear the familiar snore of my bunk mate.

After a second of contemplation, I decided that I shoul make his have to figure this place out with me.

WHAM!

I sent a punch straight to his face and it connected with just as much force as intended.

"OWW! Dorok, I'm up!"

After landing my strike, I pointed up wards towards the sky

He complaid only a light bit more, then looked up to see what I saw.

Beautiful Greenish blue waves fell from the sky and gently exploded into little white modes of cotton.

At this point all of the kids, except for the some that were throwing up, Were looking up at the sky in amazement.

Looking done from the sky I saw large... Bushes? Like berry bushes but on long sticks, and instead of leaves they were the little dark green pins you would use to fix ripped clothes.

I continued to look around as Balif said something In his infine, weapon skill evolving knowledge

"Blue!"

...How the Tartarus did this guy even evolve any skill?

sighing while rubbing my temples In looked at what he was saying his profound words about.

Directly ahead of us, there were guards.

Not just any gaurds.

These were the blue gaurds

Although the normal gaurds wore greenish black uniforms, Blue Guards were completely different.

These were the hot shots. Wore masks to protect their identitys.

The only times that I had ever seen a Blue gaurd was when someone was escoured to the 1st Teir because of some horrible things they apparently did.

Balif and I had determined that we should never try to fight one of them, even if we had a numbers advantage.

Why? Because they had a (Excuse my Suntarian) Fucking annihilator.

Annihilators are highly powerful and expensive pieces that could only be made with a specific skill and were powerful enough that They were banned from public use after some kind of accident on a higher tier.

One time while I was just walking around, a pickpocket tried to steal one.

I didn't even have time to process it before there was nothing but a blob of meat on the floor. I still feel squimish to this day...

Refocusing in on what was in front of me, The blue gaurds voice was clearly distorted, but also a higher pitch then I expected.

"Welcome to Teir 2 wastes of space, you will now be moved to your family's compound, or your assigned schools."

After the final word, the normal gaurds behind the blue gaurd reached into their belts and pulled out multiple pairs of boots that clearly did not fit in there. What the Tartarus?

They threw them at all of our feet individually then signed for us to put them on and walk with them.

All of the kids that were going to their family's were led directly north, while the rest were led to the East as we all put on the stuffy by warm boots.

We slowly stood from the massive Metal plate on the ground and people started shooting to whichever way we were going.

Balif and I followed the way going East as we marvels at the white, slippery sand.

I tracked through the cold sand as I felt a strange feeling in my fingers and nose.

Like having little needles on your finger tips and having them poke at your nose.

It was like nothing I had ever experienced!

Of coarse Balif was being Balif, and was shoveling the Sand into his mouth and mumbling something.

I wanted to reprimand him for doing something that idiotic, but I think he might have been onto something, so I grabbed a small amount of it and took a bite.

It melted in my mouth instantly, and saw steam fly out of my mouth. Ohh! Neat.

As we continued treaking through the narrow opening between the massive bushes, we slowly got closer to a large blue and grey structure, like some kind of castle you would find in a kids bedtime story.

I walked in silence while I slowly ached due to the cold that was chilling me to the bones, making me shiver an sneeze as my body was covered in the water from the cold sand.

The cold was distracting enough that almost tripped on the side of a large rounded street, and was absolutely stunned by the sight that I saw.

The large castle that we were walking up to was in clear view now that it wasn't blocked by the large pines that rose from the ground.

It looked elaborate, intricate, and beautiful all at the same time. It was like nothing I had ever seen in person.

"Hey! Keep up with the group!"

The guard had seen that I was Trailing behind, and yelled at me to keep walking towards wherever we were headed.

SMACK!

The gaurd landed a good hit in my back and I was jolted to attention, and quickly ran up to the Balif and rubbed my back in pain.

Ow! Fucking dog...

The pain of the cold and the gual of this Gaurd was slowly starting to get on my Nerves.

"You good dude?"

Balif asked me if I was alright as I slightly dragged behind him as we continued to walk, but I just gave a quick nod as I kept going forward, hoping to get out of this cold faster if I did so.

"Bro, peep this!"

Balif breathed out a large cload of stream as he attempted to cheer me up.

I chuckled a little bit just kept walking to keep the little heat I still had.

Why is it so Durgon Cold? The coldest it ever got in the 1st Teir was when a large breeze hit the tower in a weird way!

All of us kept walking a little longer untill I started seeing some familiar structures, like Some Store signs and alleyways that led to other streets.

Strangely enough, there were basically no shops that weren't inside of some kind of room, and The shops were absolutely massive, having at least 10 items for sell at every single one!

I oggled at these vendors, but could see people trading little bronze disc for them instead of actual money.

The shopkeepers were even accepting them instead of throwing things and telling them to 'Get out of here before I get a guard!'

...

We continued walking till we were in a little area with 2 rickety buildings with signs on the top.

The left most one read 'Mr.Dells Academia for the talented'

This little shack looked barley large enough for 5 people, but it was pristine compared to the Right most one.

While the right most one read 'Mr. Killinghan's School for the troubled'

This shack was the worst of the 2.

It swayed despite the lack of wind, and I could practically smell the rust that peeled off of it.

The Blue guard standed with their arms crossed at the Left most shack and a normal gaurd was in front of the Right shack.

"Alright! When we call your name you will enter the door to our left! Do NOT try to run or we are authorized to use our batons!"

As I hear the word baton I flinched, thinking about the time I had stolen a bun from a Gaurd and got smacked with it square on my knee. Couldn't walk straight for a week..

The Gaurds wasted no time to start calling out names that I didn't recognize and we spent a while just sitting there.

.

..

...

..

.

"Russ Arclage!"

I perked up at a recognized name and I saw him walk towards the Left Shack, before he disappeared like all the other kids did.

"Balif Sun!"

Balif was surprised when his name was called by the Blue gaurd.

I was almost flabbergasted before I remembered that he somehow evolved a weapon skill, so it was pretty much guaranteed that he was going to the fancy pants school... But I was a little worried that we would be separated.

I'm sure that wouldn't happen though. I mean, I'm sure my skill was good eno-

"Nimrod Azure!"

I was shocked out of my thoughts as the normal gaurd at the rightmost shack and despair filled my soul and weighed me down.

I acted like I was despairing, but I should have guessed that I wouldn't go to the school for people who have healing or equipment creating skills.

I rubbed my eyebrows after only slightly crying, and got up from my sitting position to start slowly walk to the Little shack.

...

"Oh come on kid! Hurry it up! If you pick of the pace mabey I'll give you a little tip."

The Gaurd yelled out words that I barely even processed as I ran my way over.

Just as he opened the door that made people disappear, he whispered in my ear.

"Don't let the teacher know your from the 1st Teir."

SLAM!

The door slammed close before I could question him, and I felt my brain slosh around my head.