บท 52: Tutor and Pupil

Varian turned around and looked at Seth in the eye. There was a hint of hesitation in him but it was soon engulfed by the determination.

Having someone believe in him was… strange to him. Especially, since he didn't believe in himself.

But Seth's words resonated with Varian. Those were his childhood dreams. No. Not just childhood. He spent almost a decade training like a madman.

Seth looked back at Varian with hope. He wasn't madly betting on Varian. He was an adventurer for a long, long time and met all kinds of people.

After watching Varian defeat his opponent in the duel, he checked this new student's data.

Coincidentally, he worked in Leon Hall. Thus, Seth contacted Gareth and, with their connections, they dug most of his history.

Plus, Gareth checked every area Varian fought. There was not the slightest aura of supernatural fruit or treasure.

It was beyond all explanations. He was hiding something. But it didn't matter. They had the same goals.

"I'll help you with everything I can. They can take away my influence, my mp and even aura crystals, but there's one thing they can't take away. My strength." He clenched his hand, and the air blasted.

All the plants in the garden were bent towards his fist and were about to be uprooted.

"Stop or you'll have to pay for property damage." Varian reminded.

"Yeah." Seth hurriedly stopped. He needed some time to adjust to his newfound poverty.

Varian shook his head and finally said, "I don't know why you are putting your hopes on me but… you won't be disappointed."

Seth gave a thumbs up. "I'll give you all the help I can for ten years. Then I'll go join the frontline."

Varian nodded.

'You won't need ten years. By then I'll already be ….'

"Do you have books regarding Divine Paths? I'll need them." He stated.

"Oh, right." Seth touched his space ring, and a few old-fashioned books in hard copy appeared in his hands.

Varian was surprised. There were people who still use physical books?

Seth fell silent for a moment and spoke. "I am a Gravity awakener and a Physical Awakener. So I only have the books regarding these two paths. This can be considered as the ceremonial gift." Seth smiled and left the books in the air.

They drifted into his hands.

Varian was shocked.

Dual Awakeners were rare. They were usually the strongest at their level.

But the drawback was that they couldn't breakthrough as fast as others. This might not be as apparent in the early stages, but it'll be clear in high levels.

The highest Dual Awakeners went was Level 9. Despite their immense talent, they never became Sovereigns.

In fact, many felt the Level 9 Dual Awakeners were more talented than any Sovereign.

'So that's why he's sure he can't bring substantial damage to Abyssals. Since he's a dual awakener, he won't be a Sovereign. That's why he's looking for someone else.' Varian realized.

'But I'm in a similar situation to Dual Awakeners. In fact, I will awaken in more paths. The difficulty would increase. Will I…?' He was lost in thought.

If he too was restricted from becoming a Sovereign due to multiple divine paths, then staying silent would be akin to taking advantage of Seth's hope and, to an extent, a betrayal.

Varian himself was worried whether awakening in multiple paths would limit his power ceiling.

[Host, please rest assured. Don't bind yourself by conventional thinking. If there's one thing this system can promise, it would be possibility. Anything is possible. Sovereign is just one step in the long path.]

'You're becoming more vocal, but I like it.' Varian thanked the system and looked at the books in hand.

'Gravity Path manual. Including personal notes.'

'Body Path manual. Personal experiments and guiding notes.'

Seth pointed to the book and said, "You can learn everything the body specialization class teaches you and more. Ask me if you have any doubts. I'm still a Level 7 Extreme Awakener."

Body Awakener (Level 1-3) —> Enhanced (Level 4-6) —> Extreme (Level 7-9)

Seth tapped his finger into the air and the air blasted; the shock waves travelling hundreds of meters and breaking the trees.

Varian was shocked.

So these high-level awakeners keep their strength under control or they might end up kicking a skyscraper into the clouds.

"Here's one more thing you'll learn only in the second year." A sly smile appeared on Seth's face.

Varian perked his ears and raised an eyebrow.

"Unlike what most think, you don't need attendance here. You just need to pass the monthly exam.

The general class, specialization class lectures are recorded. You can watch them any day and prepare for the test. Or you can just check last year's classes, they're the same." He smirked.

Varian believed this ex. Combat teacher turned tutor of his bunked all classes during his own college days.

"As for combat class, you will be given a mission in the Destiny Tower according to your level. If you win, you'll pass." Seth explained.

Destiny Tower.

It was a Level 9 star treasure and found in the Ruins. It was the closest to being an artifact. So it was called as "Pseudo Artifact".

Destiny Tower was used to contain Abyssals and magic beasts across different floors and rooms. The students were then sent for tests.

Varian was silent for a moment and said, "So you're saying I can focus all my time on practice?"

Seth nodded. "Of course, you can visit any class if you want to. All I'm saying is you don't need to."

"Isn't this too… lax for a military academy? What if students don't come to class at all?" Varian heard of the strictness of military academies in both fiction and non-fiction. So he was puzzled.

Seth's smile turned sinister, and he said, "What do you think?"

'!' Varian realized the implications.

The mission system.

People who didn't practice would be ostracized by others!

Since every mission can be fatal, who would bet their life on someone who doesn't even practice?

Soon, these people need to take on the missions alone.

What would happen if a person who lazed around goes to a mission alone?

Death.

Seth nodded. "This is the internal cleansing mechanism. There are a few who die like this every year."

'Sly indeed.' Varian's eyebrows twitched, and he nodded.

"You'll be free from tomorrow, right? Train me in combat every morning." Varian decided his schedule.

He'd train in combat every morning. Study the divine paths in the afternoon and watch the lectures. Then meditate all night.

Awakeners didn't need much of sleep to begin with.

As for his Space path, he would not reveal it to Seth for the time being. There were three problems. He didn't trust Seth fully yet. There was no need for him to know, either. And finally, Seth might drop the whole tutor-pupil thing if he treats him as another Dual Awakener.

Once his level skyrockets, he might consider revealing about being a Dual Awakener of sorts.

"Sure." Seth nodded. After getting temporarily suspended, he had nothing to do, anyway.

Now Varian had a level 8 tutor who agreed to be help him out in general class knowledge, specialization class and, of course, the combat class.

'This is a blessing in disguise.' He thought.

"One last thing. I might be able to find someone who'll agree to take you on a mission. I'll need time to confirm if they allow it." Seth said after thinking.

Varian's eyes lit up, and he nodded fervently. "Thank you, tutor."

Seth laughed out loud. "I like how this sounds."

They chatted for a while and Seth left with a "Contact me if you have anything important."

Varian sighed in relief. He was glad with the way things turned out.

His future path was clear.

Practice. Breakthrough. Missions. Mp. Sia.

Varian returned to his room. He sat on the table chair and opened his comm.

"I'll solve my Space path's problem."