Chapter 72 Cat in a Box [1]
The day was still young, and with nothing left to do, I decided to quit procrastinating and finally visited one of the Academy's training facilities.
Aegis was large beyond measure. And as a leading organisation in the World of Awakened, it had robust access to some of the most finest and technological training facilities and resources.
Gaining access to those resources were the main, and perhaps only reason I even decided to go to school. Why else would I want to relive that part of my life again?!
Ah, in any case, the facilities were wide and varying. Some with certain restrictions and access. Whole others required certain privileges.
It didn't take me much time to find one of the training facilities.
The institution had three years, from First Year to Third Year. Each of these years were separated across different designations throughout the academy.
They were kind of like districts, but I wasn't sure if the term was too grand or too little to describe it like such.
Well in any case, since there were buildings fir first years, second years, and third years accordingly, it wasn't always common to find a senior or junior roaming around one of the halls.
It wasn't common, but it wasn't a strange sight either.
With the first year buildings, came certain First year facilities located in the designation.
A large and wide building structure akin to a massive dome that blot the sun and sky loomed before me. A truly humongous shadow was cast over my head in a shade.
"First Year training hall."
Surrounding the area were a different numbers of freshmen who were just so happening to be passing by for one reason or the other.
I've heard about it from Adrianne before, but this was the first time I was seeing it for myself.
I was only hoping with this I would be able the finally breakthrough to Eta Rank. But that was almost a pipe dream for me to be that lucky.
"Phew..." I lowered my head and sighed lightly.
As every other aspect of Aegis, there was a system in place even for the Training halls and facilities.
The Training hall was talked about a little during the Orientation and during classes, but it hasn't been properly introduced. So I wasn't really familiar with the whole process.
I knew there were different levels to the hall, and that it was open from as early as sunrise to just after curfew.
Since I have absolutely no other plans for the day, I planned to stay the entire time at the Training hall until curfew.
***
Just as many other things to life, there was a common order for the training halls.
In the end, despite their whole talk about equality before all and all that bullshit, there were a number of staggering restrictions if you know where to look.
Hours later into the night by 10 pm, I grumbled my way back to my dorm room after working up quite a sweat.
In the end, I really did remain at the hall till I was forcefully chased out by the one in charge.
-Click.
"What a disappointment!" I whined and threw my sweaty body over my bed after getting passed the door.
I miscalculated greatly.
No, it was an oversight from my side.
[The facilities in the first training hall were commendable] my head buzzed light, as Meta inputted.
"...Yeah but it's all for naught if I can't fully utilize it to their maximum potential."
The context of this small back and forth was about my time spent at the training hall.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
I left feeling slightly dejected, but it wasn't because the facilities were mediocre or average or lower than anything I expected them to be.
No.
It was because I was better.
No, not quite.
"I'm too better." I cried with an exaggerated sigh.
At this point, I wasn't sure wether to laugh or cry at myself.
In the end, I did laugh. It was hollow and self-depreciating however.
"Hehe...to think that I'd be too strong for the First level training facilities. "
The facility didn't exceed my expectations, I exceeded the facilities. My stats and abilities were more powerful than what the 'meager first level' could withstand.
The longer I spent in there, rather than growing stronger, it was kind of the same way people could lose braincells from watching some dumb YouTube videos!
I could almost feel my skills regressing slightly.
[And because of your 'status' you can't request for higher permissions to the higher level facilities.]
"Crucify me." At Meta's unnecessary input, I rolled my eye.
It was as Meta said however.
Staring at the bright ceiling light casting it's radiance over my room, I sorted through my troubled heart and thoughts.
It had to be noted there were different 'levels' to the training hall, and each level provided a different range of tools and facilities to help growth.
For example, the First Level of the First Year training hall was specifically designed to accommodate Beta, Mortal, and Eta ranks, from what I've seen.
Anything probably higher than that, and the facilities would be absolutely useless to the student like it was to me.
Now, hear me out.
I said, Eta Rank didn't I?
I was at the peak of Meta rank, only a few more instances from breaking through, in reality.
But Aegis didn't know that.
For all they knew, I was just an untalented Mortal Ranked Awakened who had no future in this line of job.
After a quick scan and analysis with Meta, I discovered the halls were under surveillance, for obvious reasons.
Wouldn't it be suspicious if, I, an alleged Mortal rank casually walked up to use an Eta rank equipment?
Even then, I could easily play it off as just that. If they thought it was suspicious, then they thought it was. They weren't able to procure anything else from me, and though it is odd for a Mortal to use Eta facilities, then that's just it.
They'd just ping me as an 'odd one' who didn't know his place.
But why do I say the word 'suspicious' in particular?
Feeling the heat of my sweat, I rose up from my bed.
"Usually, that wouldn't really affect me much if they just thought I was odd and didn't know my strength and weakness. But I already have something that puts me in a really unusual place with the academy."
My talent assessment result meant there was an undeniable attention on my back.
If something was definitely odd in all the meaning and sense, it was an Awakened hero at the Mortal rank, but was supposed to have absolutely no talent or possibility as a Hero in the first place.
Just then, Meta inputted.
[The Evaluation is known to be wrong or change overtime. It is also impossible to entirely correctly gauge a prospect talent either, and the academy should know this. They might be keeping it under wraps for now to study you further, but you are not just a Null talent assessment in their eyes, actually.]
Listening to Meta's words, I lingered and lowered my head. Slowly, my eyes narrowed in agreement and understanding, although I already suspected such an outcome.
The Meta continued.
[Rather than a nonexistent talent which is very obviously wrong concerning your rank and Awakened status, it is more that your real talent can't be evaluated....]
[In simpler words, you, Victor Bright are in a delicate and suspended state, where you could either truly have the lowest ranking talent assessment in history...]
[Or the Highest ranking talent in all of humanity.]
My lips parted, and a small chuckle escaped from my mouth.
I recalled my summary sheet I saw at Wren's office.
Null assessment?
Hah!
In actuality, I was a highest priority asset, if not one of them.
Until my true talent would be revealed, I was actually in a very uncertain state where I was both, or either, a very low assessed prospect, or the highest humanity has ever seen.
It was either my talent was so meager, the device couldn't properly gauge it and give an assessment, or that my talent was actually very great — so great, in fact, the device couldn't gauge it too.
[It is almost like that cat theory from your previous world. The one where a cat in a closed box of acid is in an omniscient state where it is both either dead and alive, until the box is opened will it's fate be sealed.]
Shrödinger's cat, was it... I mused with a small laugh.
I was a bit caught of guard when Meta suddenly used such an unexpected analogy from earthto describe my situation.
Hehe, well as amusing as she was, Meta was right.
"Hah... I need a bath."
Since I just returned from an entire day at the training hall, I was covered in sweat and stink like wet socks.
"Tsk. That damned caretaker didn't let me use the training hall bathroom to at least wash up before leaving...!" There was something like a locker room at the training hall, but since it was already way into curfew, I didn't get the chance to wash off before returning back to my room.
I walked into the bath after discarding my sweaty clothes and locking my door. While continuing to review my thoughts about the training hall, and how precarious my current state was.
The only way for Aegis to determine what my true potential was, is to keep monitoring me.
Haa... I came in with the intention of avoiding unnecessary attention, but that back fired rather splendidly.
"Actually, nothing has gone as planned for me ever since coming to this damned academy..."
But, this attention might not be allowed bad depending on how I utilised it. Actually, i was in a favourable advantage and position.
It was very obvious where the institution stance about me was at. It would be careless of them and premature to openly announce me as as an incredibly high prospect individual without being sure or knowing anything in particular.
So instead, they did just the opposite of that; they made me humanity's worst Awakened.
In retrospect, this was usually enough reason for me to even get expelled when I think of it.
Why waste resources on dead weight?
But they needed to first of all observe me for a while before making corresponding judgement.
-Shaaaa!
The raining sound of the shower filled the bathroom, as pouring drops of water fell against my head shoulders, and down my back, drenching my body.
"Hmm, my guess is that, soon they'll begin applying pressure on me to reveal my true abilities, if I have any, knowingly hidden or unknowingly."
They'll probably do this by throwing me into certain types of situations to gauge my reaction and response.
But.
If by the end of all of it, nothing happens...
I looked up at the shower faucet and revealed a strained smile as I raised the side of my palm raised against my neck.
"I'll get axed."