The Stuffed Toys had little to do with the status checks. Usually, something like this, outside of the Freedom Alliance, wouldn’t be allowed in this last decade. It would have been initially difficult to get our hands on the Terrible Teal Tablet—the request was almost rejected, but the Crown Prince overturned it.
It was simple.
He wanted to see which of these kids were useful and which he could bring to his side. Though the Empire had sent Prince Ier, everyone else here was the scion of their country, the future leader. Anyone worth anything would flock to his side.
I looked at the students flocking around the boxes filled with the Teal Tablet. At their front, Elara Danube stood with a soft smile and narrowed eyes.
Like the Crown Prince, she too, had similar intentions. The reason she advocated for this was to find who she could bring to her side. Of course, she couldn’t say it was to develop their abilities to the Empire, but her excuse was seriously bad. Was she actually a klutz?
“Alright! Gather around!” Elara clapped her hands and gathered all the students. “We’ll take the Terrible Teal Tablets and conduct the status checks together.”
The students all circled around the box. Yuliana helped Elara take the teal tablets out and hand them to the students. All of them were riddled with excitement and nervousness.
Status Checks were the backbone of the military at a point. Not because it showed where to place someone, but how to train someone.
That made the biggest difference with Status Checks.
The Crown Prince wanted to see who he could bring to his side, Elara wanted to see who she could use for her goals, and these two were not the only ones with an ulterior motive when it came to Status.
I, too, was using this as an opportunity to scout the students. The next generation leaders… For my purpose, there was nothing more important.
I came to this academy at all for this very reason. To make a connection with the next generation of this side of the world.
Only, my approach was different.
They wanted to feed fish and hope the best fishes follow them. That would never work. You had to dangle bait in front of the fish and pull it out.
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Elara and the Crown Prince were both still narrow-minded. Talent wasn’t something you found, it was something you cultivated. The hint to that fact was in the Terrible Teal Tablet itself.
The students had all grabbed a tablet each and were ready to start using it.
I stood up then and waved my hands. I couldn’t let them dive into the status check this easily. Especially without addressing an important thing.
“Before you all start, I have to ask something. What do you all think the Teal Tablet tells you?”
“Is it not our current abilities?” One of the students, a green-haired boy raised his hand and answered.
“Incorrect, student Argent.” I clicked my tongue and took a step ahead. Some of them seemed to know the right answer, but more were confused. “That is a common misconception which has spread from the low-ranking soldiers. The status check is not a revelation of your ability, but your current limits.”
“Limits?” asked Student Ken.
I nodded. It had turned into an impromptu lecture, but as the advisor for this club, this was part of my duties.
“You see, the Terrible Teal Tablet was made a miraculous blend of Divine Power and Magic. One ability from nature, and one from faith. It goes beyond just a test of your strength and shows you the abilities of your soul. Your potential, or limits.”
“So,” Seren said. “If the Tablet says my strength is at intermediate, does that mean intermediate is my limit and not my actual strength?”
“Yes, that is usually the case.” I took Elara’s tablet and spun it in my hands. “You can have intermediate strength and be unable to pack a good punch, not unless you put in the effort to reach that intermediate level.”
“By training and practice, right?”
I nodded at Elara’s words. In the end, if one did not put in the effort, their ability would never increase.
“Wait, so,” Iaso was the one who spoke next. Her eyes widened in shock. “Does that mean the teal tablet’s verdict is final? You can’t grow stronger?”
“Of course you can. Nature gives what it takes, it takes what it gives. Your training itself is a sacrifice of comfort, that allows you ability. The more you immerse yourself into growth, the more you will grow. And…” I crossed my arms. “There is always a way to sacrifice something to up the limits immediately.”
The students nodded in understanding.
“Remember, at the end of the day, the Status Check and the Teal Tablet is a tool made for us to use. We don’t work based on the status, but the status works for us.”
People grew stronger before the status check was formed, and will continue to grow in the same way. The status check only provided them with a guideline to follow.
“Should we start now?” Elara asked me. I nodded, handed her the tablet, and she took over again.
I had done this thing many times.
It was a sad truth, but for thousands of people, status checks were utterly useless.
After all, it stopped displaying stats post-level 10. Until someone made major improvements in the Teal Tablet, they would all be stuck.
That said, reaching level 10 alone was enough to make you a powerhouse. There were thousands of level 10s, but each of them was enough to flatten mountains. Which made them extremely valuable despite their abundance. It was like having an ICBM.
“You want one?” Elara asked.
“Nah. I find this thing useless.”
“Suit yourself.”
Elara smirked and turned away. With those words, the students used their mana on the tablet, and the skies gleamed with a bright teal light.