Faron followed Marzan into the SPH facility which was usually off-limits to the general public. The area was about a mile in radius and had a small park and lake in the middle, looking up you could still not make out the top of the tower as it pushed past the clouds. Everyone made small gestures to Marzan as he was walking through the central promenade. Some look fanatic, and respectful, and some with fighting spirit. FAron felt as if he was being watched by everyone. He was so young, also unrecognizable why was the Ascendant going around with this kid? It could only mean one thing. They knew that this recruit was special in some way. They continued to walk for about 15 min when Marzan finally stopped at a bench near the edge of the lake.
"So kid, what do you think, do you like it here?" Marzan pulled out his wooden pipe and started puffing on it again without a flame source.
"It's very beautiful. it's not a place I belong. Fighting, Wealth, activities, and training people with all different kinds of abilities are very interesting as well. But I feel like I don't belong. I am just a kid who lost his parents and was left in an orphanage, now that I got lucky to enter the protocol why should I be treated any differently? Somehow I think this is a dream and I will wake up with my life, unable to find a place to live in two weeks and being threatened not to be allowed to attend my graduation under threat of a beating" Without looking up Faron couldn't help but answer instinctively
Marzan sat silent for a moment, not realizing all this information would come from this kid. "Look Faron, No one can alter your life course but you. You were dealt a bad hand but so were many people. You were fortunate to receive a chance to climb out of your situation. It would be disrespectful to those who don't receive the opportunity if you were not to give it your all simply because you feel undeserving. Tell me what are your ambitions"
"Well, I want to go to college to learn more about the world. The golden figure, the blue claw, why this is all hidden behind an age restriction? I also want to get stronger. I want to have a place to call my own, and I want to help those that made sure I lived long enough to make it here." Faron looked at Marzan with determination despite his hesitation just moments ago.
"Good seems like you have some spirit, I look forward to seeing your performance in the future after you finish the Tutorial, since you are on C difficulty you should be elevated to C upon completion. normally the ranks don't correspond like that but it, fortunately, does for the C rank people to help them further their training in the real world as well. Their abilities are meant to help them not just in the Protocol, but to prepare all of us for a future that we couldn't predict 100 years ago."
The duo sat in silence for about 10 minutes before Marzan spoke again.
"Alright boyo, let's go look at your accommodations since you were deemed as someone we should help grow."
Walking to a large building near the other side of the promenade they entered what appeared to be a training hall. Men and Women were fighting, tossing each other on the ground, in another room that seemed to be covered by some kind of barrier he could see the same scene on the inside but people were using abilities, and a third room just like the other two but using weapons. He saw one girl who looked like an angel with large white wings flying around using a Bow, this wasn't the first time Faron had seen someone that seemed to have somebody modification but it seemed a bit too exaggerated. Then with a loud explosion, Faron saw a man similar in age to himself eject what appeared to be poisonous barbs from his body when he was grappling just now. it was mystical. Faron had not seen many of these fights before other than official arrests made against people that were misusing their powers.
"This is the grade E-C+ training facility. I'm sure you can already spot the differences in each room. When you are capable you will most likely enter the ability training room, but for now, I have already established a training regimen for you. Before you say no, let me finish. I see that you have spear proficiency, Elemental proficiency, and Anima magic, While we don't have an expert on the latter, we have many who use the spear, as well as people that have trained in all types of elemental skills, it's best to train this. Additionally, should you sign up with us you will receive a $50,000 sign-up bonus. This holds you to no restrictions as you are recently transported. There are also incentives to increase your rank with better training, living arrangements, and food which let me tell you from personal experience will get very expensive later, Finally, for your special circumstances we can offer you a scholarship to the local College for two years, then when you grow more, you can transfer your credits to any college that is within the jurisdiction of the SPH."
Faron was shocked when he read over the contract and saw how generous it was, Complete freedom, his only obligation was when it was time later in his career he would need to teach for a couple of months. As well as if there was any conflict he could be conscripted as long as he was at least past the tutorial. This solved all of his immediate problems. It was no long-term fix, but it was more than he could have wished for. However, Faron could not forget about the Orphanage.
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"Ascendant Marzan, before I sign this, is there a place we could talk without the possibility of being overheard?"
Marzan looked a bit bewildered he thought this kid was going to jump at the chance, it was a no strings attached contract to help ingratiate the SPH with people they believe had talent. Giving someone coal in the winter would leave a positive feeling.
"Sure, we can go to one of the meditation rooms nearby"
Faron looked around and entered the meditation room with Marzan. it seemed to be some kind of Virtual reality or illusion that was making a pure white room look however it needed to, allowing it to calm down the people that were meditating. As Faron entered A small robotic assistant went and scanned his eyes. Quickly the area turned into a small cabin with rain falling around them. Simple yet effective at calming Faron down. somehow this machine was able to create a space without any of his input to make an ideal place to meditate. while it wasn't the feeling it gave was sublime.
"Alright, we are here. What is it that you wanted to discuss in private" Marzan seemed to take a moment to look around and see what the inner mind of the boy was most attuned to. Some people would be in the middle of a battlefield, some on the bottom of the ocean, and some in a black void. This kid seemed very simple to Marzan. just a quiet place, that was a little dark with rain. it was always interesting to Marzan to see what was going on inside people's heads. one of the reasons he chose this location as a meeting place. It lets you see what the other's most comfortable situation is.
"So Sir. it seems that this preferential treatment is because of my assessment that lead me to be placed in the C-ranked tutorial. It's not that I'm not grateful I am more than you can imagine...but, If I could increase the level of difficulty of my Tutorial could I perhaps get better rewards?"
Marzaan looked at Faron shocked. Not many people knew you could increase the difficulty of the tutorial if the system deemed you worthy enough. Some kids spent All their time getting to the maximum status inside of the tutorial, getting to A rank difficulty before they completed it to have a more solid foundation for the future.
"To be honest Faron, I'm surprised you know that some crazy people will stall in the tutorial until they are deemed better by the system and it increases the difficulty. On average the tutorial is meant to test your speed. Some people have completed the tutorial in a single week. Growing to become an Ascendant, while some believe they should not step out of the tutorial until their foundation is perfect. No one knows what is better. As everyone thinks their way is better. Speed or difficulty, They mostly even out in the end. But I will say, psychopaths that build the tutorial up until Stage A, will more often than not at a minimum become B-ranked Legends. Assuming that they pass the test, it's grueling. But that's not to say that is mandatory to become strong. of the eight strongest people on earth, six of them rushed through the tutorial. The others spent months refining themselves in hell, but I guess both sides would tell you theirs is better" Marzan took a long puff from his pipe before continuing with his thoughts.
"You seem to be a good kid that needs money, I can personally help you out with a loan with no interest. You can pay me back within 5 years. Don't think this is a special consideration. I do this for anyone that catches my eye. Can't have you spend months to get to B rank or a couple of years to get to A."
Faron looked down and was lost in his thoughts for a while before speaking to the Ascendant one more time.
"I appreciate the offer sir, and normally I would take you up on your generous offer, but let me ask you a question. How long does it take to go up a minor grade within the tutorial? Say from C- to C."
Marzan let out a little chuckle, this kid was interesting. "I believe the Record was set by a man known as "Sage Draven". He was able to increase a small realm in a week's time. He was a legend that went from E- rank to A rank and completed the tutorial in just half a year. The next closest was two years. remember 7 hours in the real world is 7 days in the protocol. so it was the equivalent of almost 4 years of work by the fastest in earth's history."
Faron was a little startled hearing that. wasn't his minor grade increase done in only 5 days? was he perhaps a genius or did his heart assist him with this? There were too many questions that he didn't feel comfortable asking at the moment. He looked at Marzan thinking long and hard before finally speaking up.
"Ascendant Marzan. When I entered the tutorial I was given the assessment grade of C-, within 5 days in the protocol I brought it to C. Do you think I should stay in?"
Marzan looked at this kid thinking it was a joke before taking a serious moment to look at him. The kid was humble and frail. He wasn't boisterous he lead more on the side of self deprecation. for some reason, Marzan believed him despite knowing him for only a couple of hours.
"Kid, If you're not lying. Common sense tells me you are, but my gut says you aren't. If you can pull this off and have proof when you next come and ask for another evaluation. Then I can talk to Sage about almost any request you may have. Just so I can prepare if and I mean if, this occurs. What are you trying to gain?"
Faron looked Marzan right in the eyes and with the most simple explanation said. "I just want a place to feel safe for myself. Which with the money seems to be already achievable. But what I couldn't do is Sustain the orphanage I am about to leave. The kids and the main caregiver Mrs. Mable deserve full bellies every meal, easy sho,wers and the like."
For the first time that he could remember, Marzan was shaking. This kid was laying out the groundwork to make a big deal and wanted something so...simple.
"Alright, Faron. ill see it done if you can do what you said. Now to increase your odds, Go to the physical training room. Ask for Jessie. She's my daughter. She will help you get started on that twig body." With a genuine smile, Marzan patted Faron on his back and went out of the meditation room. still a bit in disbelief. muttering to himself so that only he could hear it *Food for the other orphans*