"You're going to be someone great when you grow up."

The words of Finn's mother echoed in his head as he tried his best to look attentive. He had been so bored that he couldn't help but let his mind wander for a bit as he tried to look the part of an attentive student.

"I know you'll be great."

"You're going to change the world!"

These kind of affirmations from his mother had become far too common over the years. It still amazed him as to how she could make such baseless claims with complete confidence. At this point he had heard it so many times that while he saw her face and heard her voice in his head, there were no other supporting memories. There was no distinct place because he had heard it everywhere. There was no time frame because she told him these things from the day he was born.

Most might find it endearing to have such a supportive parent, but Finn found it to be tiring more than anything. The fact that she had always been that way showed that her grand statements didn't really have anything to do with him. It wasn't based on his talent or his character, it was just something she dreamed about. Furthermore, she had envisioned him as a great merchant. It was the family's trade, although they weren't very good at it. They weren't poor, but at the same time, they definitely weren't wealthy. His mother sort of saw him as the chosen one, the child who would someday lead them to greener pastures.

Eventually, the day of evaluation came and Finn was deemed to have the capability to become a cultivator. It was decided that he would stop his merchant training to receive training from the Eternal Flame Sect. If it worked out great. If it didn't, he'd just go back to his former life. You'd think his mother would change his tune after such a drastic change in his life, yet it only served to change the you'll be a great merchant to you'll be a great warrior. Finn was starting to get irritated, thinking of his mothers Pollyannaism and so he let his thoughts fade away as he focused on the oppulent man that stood on stage.

Finn could see the backs of dozens of students and he knew a few dozen more stood behind him. They were all neatly lined up and stood at attention. The pristine walls of the assembly room they stood in helped to establish an air of grandeur as the headmaster gave his customary induction message. He was dressed extravagantly for the occasion and it was like his robes were alight with flames as the fabric itself changed colors, shifting between different hues of red.

Today was the opening day for this Adventurer's Academy operating for six months of every year, run by the local branch of the Eternal Flame sect. It was an oppurtunity for sure, and there would be much to gain for a select few, but Finn knew he had his work cut out for him. He just hoped that the next six months of his life wouldn't become a living hell.

Finn was largely removed from the chaotic atmosphere that enveloped Athen, his home town but it was impossible to be an adult and not have some understanding of how the world worked. Life was never easy for those without power or status and if anything, that just became more apparent when you became a cultivator. People battled for resources and survival but there wasn't much to gain from becoming the enemy of the merchants. If they blacklisted you, you were as good as dead.

Still, even the shelter of his family's walls couldn't fully protect him from the realities of the world, nor were they intended to. His father had always drilled into him the importance of working hard so as to not become like those outside the walls. They served as a model for what awaited him if he failed to do right by the family as well as a motivator to that end.

This academy was dressed up as an unrivaled chance to change your destiny, but it would definitely have its own hardships to match. Truthfully, it was more akin to koduko, but instead of poison, trash was put into the jar in hopes that a hidden gem would emerge. Things in here might even become more hectic than the world outside. Finn felt for the emotions of those around him. Excitement. Trepidation. Wariness. He was not much different from them. There was no doubt every attendee here understood the stakes, but likewise they had all decided that the potential gains were worth the risks.

Finn had been struggling to pay attention to the words of the headmaster but it was a losing battle. It was a boring speech going on and on with promises of resources and mentorship for promising students and his mind kept wandering one way or the other. Fortunately, it looked like the headmaster was finally wrapping things up.

"Let me remind you one more time students. You were all very lucky to have been brought here. It is my hope that you take full advantage of the oppurtunities ahead of you. That is all," the headmaster finished and he promptly left the room.

"My most favored option was to come here and fight amongst others for a chance to gain power and status," Finn thought, a sardonic smile forming on his face. "How lucky I am indeed."

When he had been selected, he had felt like he won the lottery. To him, it was finally a chance at being able to have a life worth lving. He never really wanted to be a merchant and while he'd never realistically considered becoming a cultivator, who didn't imagine themselves as a being with enough power to change the course of history from time to time. He had made a decision and he would try his hardest to rise to the top. If he proved himself and maybe even gained some influence in the sect, perhaps he could affect policies and improve the quality of life in the neighboring settlements. It's not something he gave much thought to but it seemed like a noble enough goal to have.

Another sect member took the point on stage, this one nowhere near as extravagantly dressed. Instead, he wore a token on his shirt. It was circular and completely white, save for the red marks that formed the image of a wisp of fire.

"Students," the man started with a droning voice, like he had also been bored by the headmaster's speech. "There are many benefits to being a member of this great academy and today is a free day. Use it to take a look around the premises to familiarize yourself with the facilities available. Not all of them are in working condition at the moment but they should all be ready for use within the week. A bell will signal when you are to the dorm building. You are dismissed."

It was a pretty lackluster introduction, all things considered. The students already had a general idea of what they could expect before even coming here but details were sparse. If they were going to have this opening ceremony, they could have at least elaborated on some of the services they provided but perhaps this was a first test of sorts. Identifying oppurtunity was a skill in and of itself after all. The students made their way out of the large hall, some clearly more in a rush than others. Some pushing and shoving occured but the halls were large enough to fit everyone comfortably. Finn held back after exiting the hall hoping to find a some kind of map. Even if he wasn't told, he knew which place he should find first.

Many things factored into your prowess as a cultivator, mainly heritage, wealth and talent. Heritage was the knowledge passed down through generations over time. Needless to say, Finn didn't possess any heritage, at least not as a cultivator. If he had, wouldn't have needed to come to this place. Wealth referred to the resources you owned and your ability to procure more when neccessay. Unfortunately, Finn was lacking in this department as well. Talent was something innate to each person, and you either had it or you didn't. Your worth was by no means dictated by your level of talent, but the truth was that without possesing talent at some level, you could only make it so far.

Finn hoped that he had some talent that would bolster his strength but was ultimately unsure. When his family had heard that he passed the admission test, his mother told him that he may have a rare bloodline that could help with his cultivation. She didn't give much details other than it had something to do with souls and that it hadn't appeared in the family in a long time.

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It wasn't much to go off but it was impossible for Finn to not hope. He knew that there would be more than a few students who possessed some advantage or other. In general he was just average. Average looks, average height, average stregnth. He felt he was a good problem solver, but good thinking alone could only get you so far. If he didn't have something to give him an edge, his dreams would die out before they even had time to manifest.

Finn also knew there was something different about him compared to others. He could get a feel for others emotions, if they were within a certain distance from him. It had always been a normal thing to him so it was only recently that he learned that kind of thing wasn't normal at all. Thanks to that he had become and expert about people without even really trying. It was undoubtably his greatest strength at the moment and he banked on it being a result of an unknown hidden bloodline, since he couldn't think of another plausible explanation.

He would have to get information first and foremost, using his special ability as a clue. After that, he could work on his skills, then rewards were pretty much guaranteed if he just applied himself in the right places. Of course this was just hopeful planning. If he couldn't find out anything about his bloodline he would have to figure out something else but it would be a miracle if he rose to the top of the academy then.

"Ah, that's where you are," a voice drifted over, lifting Finn out of his thoughts.

It was Avo, an acquaintance of Finn. Finn could feel his eyebrows starting to furrow but he schooled his features before it became apparent. The two were drawn to each other out of circumstance rather than any real bonds. As far as Finn knew, Avo was the only other person from his area who had received admission and the only one he sort of knew. They had started getting to know each other beforehand. Being thrust into new situations had a tendency to make people form groups of commonality.

What made Finn irritated was the sheer amount of advantage Avo held over him and most others in the academy. Out in the mortal towns, Avo had pretty much the best upbringing for one who was to become a cultivator and was was looking to be one of the academy's front runners. He had even gotten in through special admission while Finn had to complete a series of tests, some of which were more than a pain in the ass. Still, as much as Finn didn't like the guy, he felt more comfortable having a companion than moving alone, and he could feel that Avo didn't bear any ill intent toward him.

"We should go check this place out," Avo continued, stating the obvious.

"Sure. I don't mind travelling together. But I have somewhere specific in mind." Finn said.

"Whatever." Avo said a bit non chalantly. "We'll end up seeing them all anyway right."

Finn gave Avo a pointed look. "Well now that you've said it, I don't want to hear any complaints. First stop, the library."

Avo groaned. "The library? We step foot in an amazing place you want to go and read?"

Finn raised an eye at his friend. "We get an oppurtunity to take part in the wisdom of a great sect and you don't want to check out the library? The place that's most likely to contain manuals for training and cultivation?"

Avo only shrugged. "I'm more of a hands on learner," he replied, making a few jabs in the air. "We're just gonna check it out right? Surely you don't plan to have a study session on the first day."

For all his planning, Finn actually doubted that he would find anything worthwhile in the library, at least not right now. This academy happened every year, and while some participants died or were integrated into the sect, a decent number returned to their homes. If important information could be gotten on the first day, he would know more than he currently did. Things would have had to slip out and spread as time passed. He guessed that there were some kind of limitations, if students were even granted access to good information in the first place. Still he had to be optimistic. Perhaps they would have overlooked something and he would come across a hidden gem.

"So," Finn said trying to make conversation and get a better feel for Avo's situation, "Are you gonna aim for the top spot?"

Avo came from a family who were guardsmen by trade and Finn had a feeling he already knew some cultivation techniques based on how fast he dismissed the library. He had already recevied combat training and Finn had heard of some of his exploits in Athen, the kinds of things that shouldn't be possible for a normal human.

Avo actually paused to think before he answered. "I do want to gain some recognition. But ultimately I don't think the path of fire is for me. I'll aim for the top, but if the top is expected to become a member of the Eternal Flame, I'll have to pass on that offer."

"Does that mean you already have a path laid out?" Finn asked.

"Eh, I guess I have a vague sense of it. I'm a fighter. And I want to work with that it in a natural way. None of the traditional elements but maybe I'll take on something like nature if possible. Worse case scenario, I could see myself going the earthen route if it comes to it."

The path in question was a path of life. Your path was like a list of steps that would lead to who you wanted to end up being. Everyone's path was different but if you followed the path of someone else who had a similar goal to you, you could save a lot of time learning directly from what they did right and what they did wrong. Finn had been curious to see if Avo was already following a heritage but it looked like that wasn't the case.

Finn was training in a merchant's path before he had come here and he guessed Avo was in a similar situation although he was certain that Avo's previous studies would prove more useful than his own. The Eternal Flame should have a large number of flame paths for those who showed the right aptitude but hopefully they had some others lined out as well. If not, you would have to figure things out yourself or travel to another sect that better represented what you were looking for.

"What about you?" Avo finally asked in return after what he thought was enough time for Finn to digest his answer.

"Hmm." Finn said in thought. "Truthfully, I'm even less sure than you are. I need to figure out myself some more. I know I want to be a fighter, but I'm not sure exactly what kind of style I want to go for just yet."

"Well you know what they say, it's better to start cultivating sooner rather than later," Avo said with a sagely nod.

Finn snorted. "You're barely any better of than me, who are you to lecture? Anyway, we're here."

The two stepped through a large door and took note of their surroundings. There was a desk with a young woman a few steps away from the entrance and further along, an open space with tables and desks. Beyond that, shelves filled with books and an upper floor that seemed to have the same layout, minus the reception desk. He counted less than ten students walking in between the shelves. Finn made his way to the clerk.

"Hello," Finn greeted. " Could you explain to us how the library works?" The librarian complied, making gestures as she spoke.

"As you can see, a wide array of texts are available. We have information on cultivation manuals, combat techniques, alchemy, healing arts and many other topics. The first floor books are available to everyone but a special pass that will be available to select people during the year will be needed for second floor access. You can refer to that poster on the wall over there to see how texts are sorted. If you're looking for anything in particular, you can just ask me and if it's available I'll get for you.

"Thanks." Finn said, feeling it was simple enough that he wouldn't forget anything she said.

"Come on, let's go check it out." Finn said to his partner.

"Are we really gonna spend our first day reading?" Avo asked, disbelief showing in his voice.

Rolling his eyes Finn responded, "I'm only going to check out what exactly they have. Stay here if you want, It'll only take a few minutes." He walked off without waiting for a response although he did notice Avo had chosen to follow after him.

There were only a few students in the large room and most of them were looking at the shelves as well. Finn hurriedly checked the poster indicating the sorting method used and began searching for anything that was related to cultivation. It didn't take long before he found a text simply labeled 'Cultivation'. He turned to the first chapter and read a few sentences.

Going off of the title and its table of contents, it looked to be a general text going over different methods of cultivating and explainging terms. Going off the name, it was doubtful that this book contained anything more than the most basic of information but this was exactly what he had been looking for. He was almost completely lost at the moment, but this text would give him some direction. It confirmed that the library would be an important place to spend his time in the future.

Finn closed the book, not wanting to get carried away when he knew Avo was waiting for him to finish. He was excited, but the library wasn't going to walk away. It would be more prudent to see what else the Academy had to offer.