章 18: This Isn’t Realistic

"Hello there. How did you reach Tier 3 so quickly?" Jyorta waved his hand at the girl seated behind the counter, causing her to look at him in surprise before recalling who he was.

"Jyorta…was it?" She blinked her eyes, "Did you just return from the military academy?"

"I returned three days ago," Jyorta nodded, smiling.

"I see," The girl nodded in understanding, "So, my Graduation Ceremony was the first you had witnessed."

"Indeed, it was mind-boggling." Jyorta laughed, "Seeing Rakh Veera in action, it was an eye-opener as to how strong an Amplifier could become."

"He's just a monster. Don't even compare us normal people with him. He's a pillar candidate." Hruna Bone, the girl behind the counter said, then gazing at Jyorta as she spoke, "Right, you too are a pillar candidate. My father has mentioned you at least twice every day for the past week. As a fellow Esper, it is good to see someone as strong as you."

"But," Jyorta smiled wryly, "My strength as an Esper isn't even at the top of my Batch. I only excel in the aura department."

"Still, it is impressive. I wasn't allowed to watch your Graduation Ceremony, but based on what everyone has been speaking about, it seems you were rather spectacular there." She spoke.

Hruna Bone was part of the same Batch as Rakh Veera. So, she had seen what peak talent looked like, having understood the vastness of the world rather early. Spurred by her experience, she managed to reach Tier 3 within a year of her graduation, "I had just broken through to Tier 3 a couple of weeks ago. So, I'm still adjusting to the changes."

"That's why my father told me to simply sit here and stare at the wall all day. This is honestly such a boring job as I don't have anything to do. The only ones who arrive here are members of our family. As for anyone else, they at most visit once per month. So, I have nothing else to do here." She then looked at Jyorta in surprise, recalling that he is just an Area Controller, "How did you come here? Only those at Tier 3 and beyond are allowed to set foot in this research institution."

"Grandfather brought me here for a couple of reasons." Jyorta said, "And, he had said he would return by evening. And, that was supposed to be two days ago. He hasn't arrived even once. So, I was wondering if something came up."

"Actually, about that," Hruna Bone whispered, "It seems something happened as all the higher-ups of our family are in a meeting now. So, you probably have to wait for some time."

"I understand," Jyorta then pointed towards the door at the side of the lobby, "I'll be working there. If anything happens, please inform me."

"What are you doing there?" Hruna Bone showed an expression of interest, wishing to know why Jyorta Bone, an Area Controller was at the place. And judging by what he said, he had been at the place for three days. She wished to know what was up.

"I'm training." Jyorta smiled, asking in response, "Do you wish to see?"

"Of course," She beamed in laughter, immediately getting up from her seat as she rushed him, "Let's go, come on."

"But, what about your work here?" Jyorta pointed at the counter, "What if someone arrives now?"

"There's no problem with that," Hruna Bone laughed, pointing a device in her hand, "It'll alert me once anyone enters the lobby. Since the room you are training in is attached to it, I'll be able to take care of anything immediately. Besides, my psychic arm will keep an eye on the lobby."

"That's great then." Jyorta smiled, opening the door to the room as he calmly entered. But, when Hruna Bone followed suit, she was startled to see ten Tier 3 River Whales nonchalantly flying about, making circles in the air with their water streams.

"What the heck? Did they escape their confines?" Hruna Bone was alarmed, intending to sound the alarm when Jyorta stopped her from doing so.

He pointed at them, "Relax, they are under my control."

"They're under your control?" Hruna Bone stared at him, flabbergasted at the notion of being able to control a Frenzy Beast, "Did you receive the Unranked Skill of Rhachis Ancestor Reef? Wait no, that shouldn't be possible. You're an Esper. Only a Warrior can inherit that Unranked Skill."

"This is different," Jyorta smiled, snapping his hand as the River Whales manipulated the water stream, making it take up the shape of her name, "This is what I have been training."

"How…are you able to do this?" Hruna Bone was unable to wrap her head around it, failing to keep a sense of reality. "This isn't realistically possible unless you have Rhachis Ancestor Reef's Unranked Skill. Or, did you inherit a new Unranked Skill Marble City has created? What's the cause?"

"My Unranked Skill is Regen, the same as you." Jyorta laughed, "I am controlling the River Whales through my aura. Rather, I have planted in them a hallucination and am manipulating it constantly as we speak to force them to move and react in the way I desire."

"Aura? Hallucination?" Hruna Bone was shocked as only now did she sense Jyorta's presence lingering in the air, "You're able to achieve this level of finesse using hallucination?"

"Shouldn't it be possible for anyone else that uses the aura personification of hallucination?" Jyorta said, looking at Hruna Bone with a hint of confusion.

"It's mostly on the level of confusing the Frenzy Beasts to perceive their terrain wrongly or aim attacks at their foes that don't exist in reality. No matter what, there would be a glitch in their movements since their senses wouldn't be completely cut off from reality." Hruna Bone expressed her doubt, "Manipulating them for extended durations like this is impossible. And, you're even making them manipulate the water into writing my name. The River Whales aren't idiots. They are as smart as humans, especially at Tier 3 and beyond. Moreover, they also know Modern Rodawri, so they would realise that they are being manipulated. How come they haven't expressed even the tiniest bit of hesitation or resistance?"

"I've seen some of my friends use Hallucination too. No matter how much they improved, only the quality of their hallucinations improved, making it tougher for the trapped prey to escape. This…isn't realistic!"