บท 52: To the Training Camp
"You're late, Aldrin! Come and hop on, those idiots from the other organizations are already being impatient at the northern gate. What do they think they are? We're from the Refiner's Association!"
Janet's loud and annoyed voice welcomed Aldrin as soon as he arrived at the back of the Refiner's Association building.
It was the designated gathering spot for the new Energy Refiners of the Association who would attend the Joint Rookie Training Camp.
Behind Aldrin, a wheeled suitcase containing his clothes as well as the metallic suitcase containing the Basic Refiner Battlesuit, weapons and elixirs.
None of the new Energy Refiners had been enlightened with a Concept yet. If he showed up without bringing anything, even if they didn't suspect that he had already enlightened himself to Spatial Pocket Concept, they would think that he's crazy enough to come empty-handed for a month-long Training Camp.
"I'm sorry, elder sister, I overslept." Using a guilt-ridden tone, Aldrin apologized.
Last night, after using the elixir to wake himself up, Aldrin eventually decided to do the manual control on Idle Adventure for the 1st run of the day rather than wait for the 5th.
And the reason for that was this Training Camp. Apart from thinking that he might not be able to do it during the fifth run, he treated that as his combat training for the day.
However, contrary to what he planned of leaving the dimension after two hours, that run lasted for more than three hours. Furthermore, he left himself more exhausted than the previous run where he had to take that elixir to stay awake.
If not for his sister waking him up, it's more than possible for him to still be sleeping at this moment.
That's how heavy his body felt after depleting his refined energy in two consecutive runs.
To bring himself back to his optimal condition, he took three elixirs, one of each kind as well as converted some of the IDLE Points he earned from the first run.
Unbeknownst to him, what he experienced was actually a common mistake of a rookie Energy Refiner. Exhausting oneself of refined energy would always result in a state of weakness.
Although his body as an Energy Refiner could now passively absorb and refine Dimensional Energy, the amount was like a drop in the ocean. It would take hours for him to recover naturally.
That's why those elixirs were a precious commodity for every Energy Refiner. And luckily for him, he also possessed another source of Dimensional Energy.
The IDLE Database.
As long as he had IDLE Points to spare, he could use that to get the same effect as an elixir. But still, his Energy Quintessence would take its time to refine it. He still needed to concentrate on it to quicken the refinement process.
In a way, the nature of refined energy was almost the same as how a human needed sustenance to have the energy to move. If one's energy was depleted, one would naturally feel the exhaustion. Eating was one way to replenish it but just like with Dimensional Energy, the human body still needed to refine or rather squeeze out the nutrients from it.
In any case, that's a lesson for him to remember.
'Never deplete your refined energy! Rest if you're exhausted!'
Upon hearing his apology, Janet could only click her tongue, there's no point reprimanding him anymore when they're already pressed with time.
"If not for me slightly favoring you, you've already been left behind. Go and apologize to them."
After saying that, Janet pointed him to the other new signee like him that was already sitting inside an armored transport vehicle. Some of them had a frown while some blatantly said something to spite him.
He knew that it was his fault so he gulped it down and quietly took his place inside after bowing his head in apology.
Counting the heads, there's eight of them that signed for the Association, including Aldrin himself. Five men and three women.
And being the only one who didn't come from an Energy Refiner lineage, he's the oldest among them.
That's why being late on this important day disappointed most of them.
Yesterday, they had already introduced themselves to each other so they could all be said as his acquaintance. However, with him arriving late, Aldrin could only wryly smile as he noticed how they didn't want to associate with him anymore.
A few minutes later, Janet and one other Instructor of the Association entered the transport vehicle with them before it started moving.
Their first destination was to rendezvous with the other organization waiting at the northern gate of the city.
"Alright. Let me brief you all about the venue for this Training Camp. I assume you all read the manual given to you, am I right?"
The other Instructor started. He's a middle-aged man with a well-built physique. However, compared to Janet, his presence wasn't that overwhelming.
Upon hearing his question, everyone nodded, including Aldrin.
Given that Aldrin was reminded to read it by Irina yesterday, he took the time to absorb the knowledge written on it. That way he wouldn't embarrass himself anymore.
According to the Instructor, the venue of the Training Camp will be held at a nearby military fortress created to guard and manage a maintained Dimensional Rift more than one hundred kilometers north of the city.
The military fortress was owned by the Federation with Lonewind City and two other nearby cities to it as overseer. The Refiner's Association and other organizations sending Energy Refiners were only partners for it.
Because of the resources that they could harvest inside the maintained Dimensional Rift, most of the Energy Refiners of the three cities were stationed there. No not stationed, they chose to be posted there.
Those who remained in the Lonewind City were just assigned to that duty except Commander Yun who was known as its Guardian as well as the Windblades who were personal guards of the Lonewind City mayor.
In a way, military fortresses encircling a maintained Dimensional Rifts could be considered to be a haven for most Energy Refiners.
That's where they could progress, earn Federation Credits and grow stronger. Their future advancement was being made there. It's a lot than waiting for Instance-type Dimensional Rifts to show up.
Among Energy Refiner's circle, they treated maintained Dimensional Rifts as a Land of Opportunities.
If they weren't posted to any duty, even without orders from their organization, going to military fortresses with maintained Dimensional Rift was the first destination of every Energy Refiner.
"Apart from training you to operate a Metadome during the first two weeks, we'll have you pick a Concept to enlighten with since you will be needing that apart from your refined energy. Accordingly, the Concept Book choices will depend on your Combat Assessment result. But if you feel like none of the Concept Books on the list suits you, feel free to talk to us and we'll hear you out."
"Remember, in the joint training camp, each one of you will be rivals of each other even if you were put in the same group. And given that it's a joint training camp, don't expect us to favor you if you end up being put under my or Janet's guidance. Everything will be fair game. All you need to do is show that you're more excellent than the other rookie Energy Refiners."
"For now, that's all you need to know. Metadome and Concept. Once you pass the former's assessment and get enlightened with the latter, you'll be cleared to continue in the training and be exposed to more opportunities. Otherwise, you'll be sent back and... lose the chance for another training camp like this. You'll be lucky if your superiors, which means 'us', will look favorably at you and train you in our own capacity."
After the Instructor finished his speech, Janet provided supplementary information, clearing up Aldrin and the other Refiners' minds.
Following that, until they reached the northern gate, they entertained the questions from everyone.
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