Chapter 25: The Briefing

What was especially intriguing to Kyle was the [Inspect] skill he saw on the skill menu. Others like [Regeneration] and [Inventory] were what he was already accustomed to. Though, he hadn't entertained the possibility of storing items in the inventory.

'Others have stats too?!' Kyle wondered in surprise. He decided to give it a try and selected the skill. He didn't need to tap as the system was more of a mental projection than a screen in front of him.

[Inspect] >Locked

- Cost: 5 Skill points

'Five skill points,' Kyle thought. 'I'll get that from the quest.'

He took some time to survey the other changes. 'Intelligence. That may have to deal with mana points in the same manner as Stamina to Energy and Vitality to Health points,' he guessed after observing their similarities. 'Maybe, one Intelligence stat equals an MP stat.'

Kyle dropped his blood on the egg for the 13th day in a row. 'It's funny how days fly, isn't it?'

Kyle stopped his conversation with the egg after he was done with the ritual and placed it back in the inventory.

'Uhhm, you know, the academy is advanced and stuff. What if they're hidden cameras in my room watching me bring an egg out of thin air and drop my blood every day?' A thought suddenly came to Kyle that made him gulp hard.

[All system-related items can only be seen by the host] The system responded, relieving his worries.

'Hmm, you still answer my questions?' Kyle asked the system with surprise. 'Well, let's talk. Tell me more about who you are?'

[...]

Kyle gave up after the system failed to provide another response.

'Though they can't see the egg. They still see me dropping my blood on the floor,' Kyle thought with an embarrassed expression. 'They must think I'm a kinda weirdo or something.'

Kyle thought hard about what to do before deciding to call Nate to share the good news. He had earlier decided not to visit the arena today as he was exhausted from his mana core formation process.

As he scoured his comm for Nate's ID; an unexpected call came in.

"Hey, Riya!" Kyle greeted. After confirming the name on the ID.

"Kyle! You now know your element." Riya's voice burst through the comm. "What was it?"

Kyle leaned back, resisting the urge to tell her. "Yeah, I did. Want to take a guess?"

Riya laughed playfully. "Ooh, a guessing game, huh? Alright, let's see. Fire? No, too common for you. Maybe something like ice?"

Kyle chuckled. "Nope, keep guessing."

"Hmm, okay. How about wind? You already have an affinity towards speed."

"Close, but not quite," Kyle teased, enjoying the suspense.

"Alright, I give up," Riya said, after mentioning lots of elements. "Just tell me already!"

Kyle grinned. "It's lightning."

Riya facepalmed herself. "Lightning! Why didn't I think of that?

The two continued to discuss for some time before they ended the call.

Kyle tried calling Nate, who didn't pick up as he was most likely in class.

He decided to go to sleep early, to gain a much-needed rest. He didn't have to set an alarm as the bus would pick them up by nine.

The night quickly passed before a new day came again.

Kyle checked his comm to see the time. 7:38 AM. He felt as refreshed as ever. He had slept for almost fifteen hours! Something he's never done, even in Yurigur.

Stretching his arms, he pushed off the blanket and sat up, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. Today was a significant day; by nine, they would be briefed on their new arrangements.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, feeling the cool wooden floor beneath his feet.

After a quick shower, he dressed in casual clothes, a simple t-shirt, and shorts, suitable to complete his quest. His wardrobe was well stocked, thanks to his copious credits.

Kyle made his way to the academy's restaurant, his stomach rumbling in anticipation as he had been asleep for a long.

Kyle joined the line and scanned the menu displayed on a large digital screen. After a moment of deliberation, he decided on a hearty meal: eggs, bacon, toast, and a large glass of orange juice. He swiped his comm, deducting the necessary credits, and grabbed a tray.

Finding a quiet corner, Kyle sat down and began eating, savoring each bite. He watched the other students as they went about their morning routines. Some were engrossed in conversations, while others seemed lost in thought, no doubt pondering the same things Kyle was— the briefing to be held.

As he finished his meal, Kyle checked the time. 8:00 AM. He still had plenty of time to complete his quest before the briefing.

[Congratulations! You have completed your daily quest]

[You have obtained 1 STA point]

[STA: 14 >> 15]

[Energy: 28 >> 30]

[Time: 0:27:09] Sёarch* The NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Once back in his room, Kyle quickly showered, feeling refreshed as the warm water washed away the sweat from his run.

Kyle donned his academy uniform before checking his comm for the time. 8:55 AM.

He waited for the bus which would transport them to the hall where the briefing would be held. It didn't take long for the bus to arrive, flying then to the hall.

Kyle found a seat near the front, where he spotted Orion. He waved and made his way over, sitting down beside him.

"Hey, Orion," Kyle greeted. "I haven't seen you in a while."

"Ah, Kyle!" Orion exclaimed, surprised to see him. "The academy's just too arduous."

"So, what have you been up to?" Kyle asked. "Back to your devices?"

"I require heavy funding to continue on my innovations, and these meager credits aren't making it easier." Orion sighed. "It's like a carrot in front of us which we can't obtain."

Kyle thought about all the credits he had from The Arena, subconsciously leaving a smile on his face.

"I hope that would be addressed today," he wished.

"You have a way to earn credits, don't you?" Orion immediately asked. "Spill it out, now!"

'Jeez! This boy's scary,' Kyle concluded. "Yes, I do. But I'm not sure it's something you'll fancy."

Orion nodded. "I'm listening."

"Okay- "

Their conversation was cut short as the room quieted, preventing Kyle from sharing his ways with Orion.

The lights dimmed slightly, and a spotlight illuminated the stage. Elizabeth Quill, the Year 1 head, stepped up to the podium. Her presence commanded attention, and the room fell silent in anticipation.