The Storm Wolf: Gathering Clouds - 7. Chapter 3 Hermit

Hermit: introspection, solitude, isolation, guidance, and so forth.

 

"...That concludes the reminders. Please make sure you all adhere to them," said Resolute, the Weaver, her golden eyes sweeping over the cadets seated below. "Just because the 'Treaty' established by Darkfang is still in effect doesn't mean the Academy can afford to let its guard down. Maintaining the truth about psychic abilities at the level of urban legend is the Council's ideal outcome."

Resolute wasn't a Master of the Academy; her role was more... administrative. To new cadets, she was likely one of the staff members they saw most frequently. Yet, some cadets were disrespectful toward her, perhaps because she was only an Epsilon-level psychic, even though she was known for her meticulousness.

I'd never understood the logic behind that attitude--if Resolute could barely utilize psychic abilities yet was still chosen by the Council, didn't that prove how exceptional she was?

But today, I didn't have the mental space to dwell on such things--I was so anxious that I'd started plucking my own fur.

As soon as the safety briefing and other procedures wrapped up, I darted out of the lecture hall, slipping into the stairwell and unstrapping my terminal. While waiting for messages to sync, I couldn't help but recall how I'd completely forgotten about Aether.

Yes, it had been a full year without any contact or interaction. I'd been insanely busy--repeatedly getting knocked out by Master Field, reciting every tiny structure of my body from memory only rely on Snow's simple-minded persistence, struggling through complex schemes and political maneuvering, and trying to build my social skills from scratch.

Yet, no matter how intense Academy life was, I still couldn't fathom how I'd completely forgotten him.

Maybe I just didn't want to admit that this was simply who I was...

A soft chime from the terminal pulled me back to reality.

Several unread messages were in my inbox, mostly from Aether. Only one was from Qana.

I opened Qana's message first. It was brief, mainly saying he had some matters to wrap up and might be out of contact for a long time, advising me to take care.

Though it was only a few words, the bitter ache at the back of my throat lingered for quite a while.

After sitting for a long moment, I finally gathered enough courage to start reading Aether's messages.

It didn't take me long to realize that I needed to reach out to him right away and offer some explanation.

After checking the time at the Library of Alexandria, I initiated a call. While waiting for him to accept, I looked at the starry-night photo Aether used as his avatar. The sound of waves crashing against the seawall from that night we spent listening to the tide together echoed in my mind.

The call was accepted, and Aether's face appeared on the screen, his yellow eyes gleaming like amber against his dark fur.

He didn't speak or give any clear body language; he just looked at me.

"Hey," I forced myself not to scratch my ear, keeping my tone casual and pretending my mind wasn't flooded with random speculations. "How have you been?"

Aether still didn't respond, just stared at me intently. I hoped it was a connection issue causing a delay in the video, but I knew I wasn't that lucky.

"I thought," he finally spoke after a long pause, his white teeth flashing briefly as he enunciated each word, "you were dead."

"Sorry, I thought Qana would explain..." Or something like that. Just wishful thinking, really.

"Qana killed half the members of the Golden House and reportedly almost did the same to the German House," Aether said slowly. My ears stood straight up, gaining a bit more perspective on his "matters to wrap up." "Everyone believes it was an act of revenge."

"Uh..." I didn't know how to respond. "Why?" So many whys--why was it revenge? Why the Golden House and the German House? The only connection I could think of was the diplomatic clash I happened to witness in the Tree Hall.

"The Senate claims to be 'investigating' the whole 'incident.' It's been a while since anyone has seen Qana, so it's impossible to know whether he acted on Senate orders," Aether emphasized certain words. "In any case, the official line here at the Library of Alexandria is that the Golden House incited the German House into actions ranging from interference Selection in the Colosseo to sending mercenaries into Hadrian's Wall, and that Qana punished both Houses to send a message to other factions not to mess with the Senate."

"I don't really understand..." So killing half the House members was what they meant by 'punishment'? I knew the Golden House was a noble family with a large membership, so half would be a sizable number. "What does Qana have to do with this?"

"You really don't know Qana's true position?" Aether tilted his head slightly, showing more emotion for the first time in our conversation.

"Uh... master swordsman?" I finally gave in and scratched my ear.

"Qana is the Senate's Sword," Aether said, his expression hesitating for a moment before continuing. "In other words, he enforces the Senate's will directly, including intervening in Imperial affairs."

"Is that common knowledge?" The flood of questions swirling in my mind had jumbled my thoughts into chaos.

Qana had never mentioned anything like this to me.

"Generally, anyone familiar with Senate affairs knows about the existence of the Senate's Sword. But it wasn't until Qana made such an open display that his identity as that Sword was confirmed. Snow likely knows, given the unusual way this position is passed down." Aether tilted his head the other way, as if a thought had just occurred to him. "Anyway, rumors are rampant, and ever since Qana was summoned to the palace, he hasn't been seen, while the high-ranking Masters remain tight-lipped."

"I'm sure Qana had good reasons for doing what he did..." I tried to recall the confrontation with those mercenaries at Hadrian's Wall--it felt like something from a long time ago. "And he can certainly take care of himself."

I wasn't even sure what I was saying, but somehow, voicing it helped me start to process things.

After all, there was nothing I could do...

"Momus is on the Lunar now. The wolf from the London House came for him about half a year ago," Aether said, his ears flattening a little. "I suppose I never truly thanked you." He looked up again, his tone softening. "I didn't think I'd get the chance."

"Oh, that was Qana's doing," I replied, feeling uneasy about being thanked for something I had barely helped with, and briefly explained the situation at the time. "Maybe you can tell him in person next time you see him."

Aether nodded slightly, accepting my account of events without further questions. Then he updated me on Senate affairs, including the announcement of the new generation of Elector candidates and his own acceptance into the librarian training program.

I wasn't very familiar with Nyx's system, but I assumed that, at a place called the Library of Alexandria, a librarian must be an important role.

I was relieved Aether didn't delve further into the matter of Qana. Even though I was confident the master swordsman could look after himself, listening to speculation with no resolution still made me anxious, no matter how irrational that worry was.

Aether talked a lot, never once complaining or questioning my sudden disappearance.

Feeling a bit guilty, I decided to accept his kindness and summon the courage to explain, despite feeling unprepared, everything that had happened over the past year--from the fateful encounter at the Academy's psychic evaluation, the journey through the wormhole into an unknown mystic Academy, the buzz around my psychic assessment, my quirky dragon mentor, ongoing attempts to improve my social skills but not quite succeeding, and trying not to get swept away by the countless factions and conspiracies.

Since Aether was a psychic, our conversation wasn't really restricted. I was almost certain I'd see a black wolf emerging from the wormhole at the teleportation platform next year.

"So... the Academy, huh?" Aether tilted his head, scratching his chin.

"Yeah, 'Knowledge is Power!'" I recited the Academy's motto, chuckling to myself. "Who would've thought becoming a psychic would come with so many required courses."

Literature, art, philosophy, economics, history, biology, physics, chemistry, information science... Even though they were all introductory courses in the first year, they were still exhausting.

To this day, I still don't quite understand how I managed to survive the torture of quantum physics, let alone actually pass the final.

I can only suspect the instructor went easy on me, probably out of respect for Master Field. Otherwise, I don't see how it would've been possible.

"In the second year, we get to choose our own areas of specialization, so I'm hoping it'll be a bit more interesting." Under Master Dawn's guidance, I gained a lot from the biology courses, so that'll likely be my main focus moving forward. Meanwhile, Master Field's required courses include probability and statistics, crystallography, and thermodynamics--it's like he's determined not to let me have it easy.

"Doesn't sound that different from basic education training," Aether shrugged. "But just hearing you talk about it sounds pretty interesting."

Huh, really? Is there that much of a difference between basic education on Snow and Nyx?

"Well, that's the gist of it." I said cautiously, unsure of how Aether would actually react to my entire explanation. "I got chosen by a world-controlling organization, and now they're trying to turn me into a qualified member."

"All in all, sounds like you're doing pretty well," Aether chuckled, seeming surprisingly accepting of this surreal situation. "Have you met any interesting people?"

"Hmm..." I rubbed my nose with my back of paw, feeling like I was about to step into turbulent waters, and decided to test the depth with my toes first. "The wolves from the Senate are pretty much what you'd expect." I didn't need to explain further--Aether would understand. "Oh, and I've got a red deer for a roommate; he's actually pretty interesting." I imagined what it would be like to introduce Aether to Tadao.

"An herbivore from the Federation?" Aether seemed intrigued.

"Yeah, it seems the Academy did it on purpose." I'd spoken with Kotetsu senpai about it before, which confirmed he and Hemp senpai were also roommates. "Everyone at the Academy has to room with someone from a different background--no exceptions."

"Seems like a good chance for cultural exchange." Aether's white fangs showed from his slightly upturned mouth, quite noticeable. "So, how's that going?"

"'How's that going' is kind of broad." I scratched my chin, uncertain whether the most surprising part of the past year was Kotetsu senpai displaying such an alpha predator stance around Tadao, or Tadao's very visible mood swings when he was without his antlers. "But originally, I thought herbivores would all be kind of scrawny, so I was surprised to see a lot of them are pretty well-built."

It's only now that I realize it's kind of funny for me, always the smallest in my pack, to be saying something like that.

"Oh?" Aether tilted his head, his higher ear perking up.

Was I reading too much into it? That one syllable seemed to carry a lot of weight--like the kind of weight that could lead to a bottomless fall if I made a misstep.

I really hope I'm just overthinking this...

"The Academy has a senior mentorship system," I said, realizing I'd instinctively lowered my ears and shrunk down a bit, trying to choose my words carefully to avoid sounding flustered. "My senior mentor is Altai wapiti. Seeing him without clothes for the first time was... shocking."

Wait, wasn't I supposed to ease into this topic? And now I'm rambling incoherently! This definitely sounds way too suspicious!

"Hmm." Aether hadn't changed his posture, but at least this time, he responded with a two-syllable hum.

"He's been looking out for me a lot and has taught me a lot about the Academy and psychic powers over the past year. Without his guidance, I'd definitely have run into all sorts of issues." Maybe I should have started from this part, but it was too late.

I don't know how I managed it, but under Aether's intense yellow gaze and the growing heat in my ears, I successfully gave a brief overview of Kotetsu senpai and how much he'd helped me during this time.

"Sounds like he's pretty important to you," Aether said in a calm tone, giving away no discernible emotion or body language.

Somehow, I was getting a bad feeling, but I don't think Aether's the... uh, jealous type?

"Maybe he is," I replied. Ignoring why Aether chose that particular way to phrase it, it was true. "I guess it's because I'm not used to receiving kindness, so I really appreciate anyone willing to treat me with respect."

I didn't intentionally emphasize "anyone," but I still snuck a glance at the black wolf on screen.

Aether simply waited, just a little bit like a predator waiting for its prey to reach a dead end--I must've been watching too many nature documentaries.

"So, anyway, the other day," I scratched my ears, giving up on resisting the itchiness. "After finishing some psychic training, I was a bit disheveled, and Kotetsu senpai decided to help me clean up..."

Trying to sound as nonchalant as possible, I told Aether about the events of that day.

"So," he hadn't moved a muscle the entire time. "You two did it."

"Uh..." I guess that's a pretty straightforward interpretation. "Yes."

"What, you think I'd be mad?" Aether's tone remained unchanged, still showing no movement or expression.

But you look exactly like you're mad!

"I..." I wasn't sure what to say. I was sure that saying, "I forgot you even existed in that moment" would only make things more awkward, so I wisely chose to keep silent.

"We haven't committed anything, so where would I get the right to interfere in your social life?" Aether slowly tilted his head to the other side, though I was grateful he finally made a move. "'Friends who give you benefit obviously count, too. So if I were angry, that'd be a strange reaction, wouldn't it?"

Is this Nyx's logical reasoning? I mean, it does sound reasonable, but...

"So you're really not mad?" I raised my gaze slowly but kept my nose and ears down.

"No." Aether sighed, his posture relaxing slightly. "I'm really not."

"Oh... okay." A wave of relief washed over me, which immediately brought a new wave of guilt. But another question quickly occupied my mind. "Then... what does it mean to 'commit', exactly?" I could feel the heat rising to my face at my shameless question, and as Aether burst into laughter, my already burning ears practically caught fire.

"Oh, Rationalism above, we haven't seen each other for a year, and you don't even know where you are!" He wiped tears of laughter from his eyes. "According to Qana, it'll be five years before you're back at the Senate. Isn't that a bit abrupt?"

Abrupt...?

"I think we'll see each other sooner..." I murmured, and Aether raised an eyebrow, though I couldn't elaborate further--was Qana's restriction still necessary?

"Anyway," Aether didn't push the topic and quickly shifted gears. "It might sound a bit... 'lecturing,'" he rolled his eyes at his own choice of words, probably disliking the stereotype of Nyx. "But I think you're not very clear on what you want."

I didn't respond, just listening silently, agreeing that I didn't know what I wanted--though which aspect he was referring to, I couldn't be sure. There were just too many areas that fit the description...

"I think this is a good opportunity to explore and try things out." Aether gave me a faint smile. "When you're ready, we can talk about how to 'commit."

"Oh..." I scratched my chin, feeling like he'd implied he was willing to wait.

"But right now, I'm more interested in your 'well-built' Altai wapiti senior." Aether flashed a mischievous grin, showing the tips of his fangs.

"Aether..." I protested weakly, too overwhelmed to care about my flushed ears.

"I'm really curious about the details, you know." He laughed, clearly enjoying teasing me. "If you're willing to share your experiences, then maybe..." Aether let his words hang, until I couldn't resist looking up to meet his gaze. Only then did the black wolf continue, "Maybe I'll share some of mine."

"Eh?" That was all I managed to say, as if my brain had short-circuited.

"What?" Aether grinned, his sharp white teeth gleaming. "You think you're the only one with 'experiences'?"

"I..." I still hadn't regained my ability to speak, unsure why he emphasized that word, so I curled up into a ball, pressing my paws over my head.

"Whenever you're ready." Aether's voice came through the terminal with a light-hearted tone. "I said I'd wait until you were."

After a prolonged standoff, Aether finally coaxed me into stammering out the details of that day. When he laughed at Kotetsu senpai's remark of "That was quick," I realized that I no longer had a single shred of self-respect left.

Using the navigation program sent by Explorer senpai, I managed to locate one of the laboratories under the Alchemical Faction.

Factions that are highly protective of secrecy and exclusive knowledge often do this, so within the Academy's countless rooms, only a few people know the exact purpose or affiliation of most of them.

The corridor was cluttered with all sorts of strange instruments that looked very much like junk. But I had no intention of coming to my senses only to find myself teleported to the Centauri system when my tail had ended up on the Lunar, so I carefully avoided touching any of the scattered items.

What I hadn't expected was that the room itself would be in an even worse state of disarray than the hallway.

"Richter, welcome!" Explorer senpai opened his arms wide, pulling me into an overly enthusiastic embrace.

To preserve my dignity and make my stance clear, I completely ignored him, as if he didn't exist at all. This way, he couldn't have hugged me, and I wouldn't have felt uncomfortable.

After gesturing to the other members, the green-scaled dragon left the room, leaving me face-to-face with three other members of the faction, all strangers.

Oh no, that female fox did seem a little familiar.

"You look... quite uneasy," she commented, approaching me for a chat while the others set up equipment whose purpose I couldn't discern. She seemed to be trying to make things more amicable between me and the faction. "Would you like me to get you some water?"

"No, thank you." I don't dare drink anything you'd offer, to be honest. "I'm just..." I carefully chose my words, not wanting to make the atmosphere any tenser. "...nervous."

"Ah," she chuckled, her green eyes narrowing with the expression. "Sorry, Infinity is always like that, a bit too enthusiastic." She stuck out her tongue apologetically. "But I can assure you he means no harm."

I had to take that assurance with a grain of salt.

"Maybe it's not exactly about 'enthusiasm,' you know?" I tried to state my perspective without sounding overly critical.

"Oh," she scratched her ear, seeming to realize why I might have appeared "uneasy." "Sorry, our last meeting was terribly awkward. I got a bit overexcited--you know, being able to meet a psychic who can manipulate objects on a micron scale!" The fox's tone indeed held a note of excitement, and she patted me on the shoulder. But she quickly calmed down, lowering her ears and looking my way. "It really wasn't our intention to make you uncomfortable; it's just that the potential for breakthrough was so exciting!" Her voice trailed off as she looked away toward the floor. "And, well, I tend to get... overly enthusiastic when I'm excited."

"I had assumed it was the Explorer's idea." I tilted my head, raising the ear on the higher side.

"Oh, not quite." The fox met my gaze with a wry smile, almost as if she'd heard an outdated joke, which left me feeling a bit complex. "I found out that certain approaches work well for, well, certain nerd types." She shrugged and glanced up at the ceiling. "Not to imply you're one of those nerds, of course." She quickly added, and I waved it off, indicating I didn't mind the small dig.

"But don't you feel that's... quite disrespectful?" I asked, trying not to come off as too self-righteous. "As if you were some sort of commodity?"

"If we'd known about your orientation earlier, we'd have had someone else step in." She turned her head slightly, glancing at the ferret and otter who were setting up some sort of metal apparatus. I wasn't sure who she was looking at, or if I even wanted to know. "Infinity once 'selling favors' personally, too," she laughed at her choice of words, "since the other party was quite curious about dragon anatomy."

"I'm deeply grateful for this fascinating tidbit." I replied with a touch of sarcasm, sincerely impressed by her diplomatic phrasing for such a specific topic. It was a skill I should probably learn.

"You're welcome. If you're worried about people finding out about your preferences, I can guarantee, you have nothing to worry about." She winked at me, a sly smile appearing at the corners of her mouth. "No one would spread information this valuable." I thought she was joking at first, but then I wasn't so sure.

"Anyway," I cleared my throat, pretending not to understand that they might actually sell my orientation as valuable intel. "Doesn't this kind of... transaction feel strange to you?"

"Well..." She lowered her head, considering for a moment before continuing our conversation. "Do you know what transmutation is?"

"As far as I know, it's an alchemical concept, like turning lead into gold." I recalled relevant entries in my mind. "It became feasible as nuclear transmutation technology matured, but it lacks commercial viability. It's mostly used to process radioactive materials with long half-lives."

"Are you really a Snow?" Her question was rather intrusive, raising one eyebrow, but I refrained from responding further. She seemed to pick up on my cue and continued. "You see, the difference between materials, however great or small, can be changed as simply as altering their essence." I didn't agree that nuclear reactors counted as "simple," but I understood the analogy. "All things are composed of particles, none more noble or base than others. People assign value to different elements based on their own desires. But hey," she spread her hands, "methods are just methods--useful is what matters."

I was silent for a moment, for some reason recalling a conversation with Tadao about promiscuity.

"Sorry, I must have sounded quite self-righteous," I muttered, shifting my gaze to the other two who were making adjustments to the setup.

"No, we should have anticipated that you might be sensitive to such things." The fox scratched the back of her head awkwardly. "After all, you're... different from the typical Senate Wolf." Her voice trailed off, but I heard it clearly.

"But I'm curious," I tried to steer the conversation toward something else, to clear up a few of my own questions. "What's the importance of this experiment that you're willing to part with your precious adamantine?"

"To us, adamantine isn't all that important; it's just a widely accepted medium for transactions." She waved her paw dismissively. "I can't go into detail at this stage, but simply put," she tilted her head, a mysterious smile crossing her face, "we may have found a way to solve the end of the world."

I tilted my head, hoping she would elaborate, but the fox only deepened her smile without further explanation.

"Done." The otter spoke up, drawing my attention. He handed me a panel terminal and adjusted his glasses. "There are a bunch of carbon nanotubes on the platform, on the micron scale. Can you touch them?"

"Yes." I extended my consciousness, shifting my gaze to the platform they'd just set up, preferring not to keep staring at the tuft of a goatee on the otter's chin.

"Arrange the nanotubes according to this pattern," he directed me, indicating the instructions on the panel. "Then, stack a second layer..."

Following his instructions, I began manipulating the tiny, invisible structures on the platform. After completing a few stages, while they checked data, I stole a glance at the array of high-energy laser emitters set up around the platform, curious about the real nature of this project. A world-saving technology? What exactly did "solve the end of the world" mean?

"Such... enviable talent," the otter murmured, shaking his head and scribbling something on his terminal screen with his finger.

"Oh, um... thank you." I continued arranging the nanotubes as they directed, filling the hollow sections with nitrogen molecules. "I'm just following orders; the real talent lies in design and planning."

"That's not how things work," the otter chuckled, giving me a sidelong glance. "Value is often determined by scarcity."

"Oh?" I glanced at the fox, who was busy powering up the lasers. "Your colleague might not agree."

"That's a subjective assessment of value, unrelated to essence," he replied, checking something on his terminal.

"If that's the case, doesn't it imply that 'essence' is inherently flawed?" I took the earplugs and goggles that the ferret handed over, checked the fit, and prepared to put them on.

"An existentialist? Didn't expect that." The otter turned to me, one eyebrow raised in mild surprise. "Other factions would be pretty miffed."

"Uh... what?" I sometimes found myself frustrated at how little I understood the Academy's intricate politics--but really, it was just too complicated!

The otter didn't answer, only gesturing toward the platform, asking me to focus.

"Now, let's witness history." Even with the earplugs on, I could faintly hear the otter's voice.

All the lasers activated, aiming at a single point on the platform.

Amid the low humming, I could sense through my Domination that something was changing. Bit by bit, the rotating nanotubes were driving ionization... Oh no!

"Get down!" I shouted, hoping my voice would carry through the earplugs, and quickly set up a containment circle around the entire platform, while attempting to push both the otter and the fox beside me away.

The otter opened his mouth, his expression suggesting he was about to question what I was doing. But before he could utter a single word, the platform exploded. In that instant, a blinding flash, like the birth of a star, engulfed the world in a resounding roar.

"Truly... fascinating!" As my vision and hearing gradually returned, I thought I heard the otter's voice.

"I'd say it's terrifying," the fox's blurry figure became clearer as she seemed to be trying to pull the otter away from the remnants of what used to be the platform. "You know that if Richter hadn't contained the reaction, we'd all be vaporized by now, right?"

"A minor setback," the otter waved his paw dismissively, leaving a faint afterimage in my sight. "Not only did we discover a flaw in the ion trap, but we also found another way to induce nuclear fusion." He crossed his arms, gazing at where the platform had been. "Though, I'd say stability might need some improvement."

"He holds a star in his grasp..." I turned my head toward the ferret who hadn't spoken until now. He was getting up from the ground, muttering to himself. "As if it were no different from breathing..."

I focused my attention forward, where a fireball, the size of a thumb, floated where the platform had once existed.

By Rationalism, despite the vast difference in size, the radiant plasma sphere undeniably held the qualities of a star. The waveforms transmitted through the domain clearly showed the sheer magnitude and majesty of the energy I was trying to capture with the containment circle.

I dared not look directly at the fireball; even with protective goggles, my optic nerves couldn't withstand such intense energy.

But that's when I noticed--the dark world around me was tinted with a red hue.

Damn.

I immediately attempted to establish a connection with Master Field, but before I could finish the full signal, a sudden wave of dizziness caused me to stumble, almost collapsing.

"Richter, are you okay?" I felt the fox steady me, her tone filled with concern.

"I'm... fine..." I tried to speak, but it felt like I'd just finished a grueling cross-country run, panting heavily. "Contact... the Master Field..." The exhaustion was seeping into my mind, draining my already depleted mental reserves; the containment circle could collapse at any moment.

"You're bleeding!" The fox's voice was edged with panic, and her remark made me aware of the cold, sticky sensation at the tip of my nose.

The scene blurred again, this time with clusters of black spots creeping from the edges of my vision, swiftly spreading over the entire view.

"I'm going into Red-Eye State!" I forced myself to stay conscious, trying to squeeze out every last ounce of strength. I knew that if I let go of the containment circle, not only would we be in danger, but a large section of the Academy would likely be vaporized on the spot. "Find Master Field, or Master Sunflare, quickly!"

I had lost both sight and awareness of my body's posture, clenching my teeth and holding onto the containment circle's strength with all my might. My inner ears pounded as if my eardrums would burst, and my heart thudded with the intensity of a potential explosion, but I couldn't afford even the slightest slip.

To hold the world, the universe, within my grasp... one is all, all is one...

I had no idea how long I'd maintained this state, but when I finally heard a familiar voice cursing, I was able to let go, feeling safe enough to relinquish control. Then I immediately lost consciousness.

A chill roused me, and I quickly recognized from the furnishings and various instruments that I was lying in the infirmary.

"Good, you're awake." I turned toward the voice--it was a gray wolf with steely gray eyes, scanning the terminal in his paw. "How are you feeling?"

"Master Latent Heat," I tried to greet him, but my body wasn't fully responding. "Just a bit tired."

"Classic symptoms of psychic fatigue," the master said, setting down his terminal and directing his gray eyes at me. "Common in psychics who push their consciousness past their limits."

"Is everyone else alright?" I moved my fingers and toes, trying to ensure there were no residual side effects. Without my powers, I lacked the means for self-diagnosis.

"Not a single burn. Your swift decision-making was spot-on." Master Latent Heat nodded slightly, his way of showing approval. "Later, Sunflare and Field worked together to transfer that miniature sun into a reactor. Thankfully, the Academy has plenty of spare reactors; otherwise, we'd have no idea what to do with it." He tilted his head and scratched his chin--for a Gray, it's almost equal to laughing. "There's talk of naming the newly activated reactor after you."

"Uh..." I imagined the scene, feeling it was far too strange. "Shouldn't it be named after the person who invented the new technology?" Now that I thought about it, I hadn't asked their names.

"That's a fair point. Although, it's generally best to avoid naming new discoveries after inventors--knowledge and breakthroughs are cumulative, so crediting a single individual isn't logical." The master tilted his head. Then, one ear perked up as he turned toward the door. "It sounds like you have visitors. Shall I let them in?"

"Oh," my ears perked up slightly, not sure whom I'd be seeing. "If you think it's okay, Master."

With a wave of his paw, Master Latent Heat made his exit. After the sliding metal door shut, I could only make out faint murmurs from beyond.

"Ah," Piqsirpoq exclaimed dramatically as he entered the room. "How do you always manage to end up looking like crap?"

"Must be a family trait," I replied coolly, though I couldn't help but chuckle, which weakened the effect.

"Binding a sun, huh?" He dragged a chair over and sat by my bed. "Do you know what your new nickname is now?"

"Whatever it is, I have no interest in knowing." I sighed, covering my eyes with both paws.

"The One as Mighty as a Star," Piqsirpoq announced with mock seriousness, making me laugh again. "At least it's better than 'Star Devourer' or 'Icarus.'"

"Who comes up with this stuff anyway?" I asked sincerely, dropping my paws and looking up at the stark white ceiling.

"That's one of those mysteries that will probably never be solved," he shrugged.

"I should have some say in how I'm referred to, don't you think?" I muttered, idly running my fingers through the fur on my arm. "Like a kind of personal rights thing?"

"Too bad the nickname system doesn't work that way--how people perceive you is something you can never control." Piqsirpoq stood up, straightening his clothes. "Anyway, I have actual important matters to attend to, so I won't stick around watching you sleep off your beauty nap."

"I just need a little rest to recover, alright?" I rolled my eyes as he waved nonchalantly, not even glancing back as he swaggered out of the room.

A few seconds later, the door slid open again, and a female fox walked in.

"Well, this feels a bit awkward." She stood at the foot of my bed, shifting positions before settling her paws behind her back. "First of all, we offer our deepest apologies and gratitude." She bowed formally, as if she'd rehearsed it, leaving me wondering if she had. " Infinity has decided to end its collaboration with you, but as compensation, you'll still retain access..."

"Wait," I raised a paw to stop her mid-sentence. "Why end the collaboration?"

"Well," the fox scratched her chin, looking a bit hesitant. "Because we nearly blew up half the Academy?"

"The explosion was only stopped because I was there, wasn't it?" I flicked one ear down, applying a bit of pressure to make my point.

"Technically, it was your presence that almost caused the explosion in the first place," she shrugged, her gaze drifting upwards. "But I understand your logic."

"My logic is perfectly sound." I clicked my tongue unconsciously, and she didn't seem inclined to argue the point. "Anyway, I'd like our collaboration to continue."

"Even though we're already compensating you?" She tilted her head, scratching her chin. "That's generous, but if I may ask, why?" She made a few gestures in the air that I couldn't quite interpret. "Everyone seems to think you're either obsessed with adamantine or eager to disrupt the market, but this looks like something else."

"My intentions with adamantine are for me to know," I replied, giving her a knowing smile, unwilling to give away free intel. "As for continuing the collaboration--I'm very interested to see how you plan to save us from the end of the world."

The fox's response was laughter, accompanied by a slight shake of her head.

"You're even stranger than the rumors say. But I suppose that makes sense, given that your mentor is Master Field..." I tried to control my ears, but one involuntarily twitched; she didn't miss it. "No offense intended," she added quickly, but I just waved for her to continue, a bit exasperated. "As for the end of the world--the end of the universe is inevitable, with no way to prevent it. The possibility we've uncovered isn't about saving the world, but more... a solution."

I tilted my head, folding my right ear in a request for more explanation, but she didn't elaborate.

"Then it seems," I conceded, "we'll just have to uncover the truth gradually through our partnership?" She looked quite pleased with my compromise, replying with a broad smile.

"Looking forward to our collaboration." She made the gesture for invoking Rationalism as witness, and I mirrored it, touching my brow and chest in response.

"Oh, by the way," I called out as she turned to leave, "I don't know your name yet."

"Anna," she replied, glancing back with a slight squint and a toothy smile. "Anna Karenina."

"Anna," I echoed softly, nodding slightly. "I suppose we're officially acquainted now."

Apparently, I'd hit her funny bone; she was still laughing as she left the room, drawing curious looks from a passing red deer.

"Hey, are you okay?" Tadao asked, sitting on the chair Piqsirpoq had pulled over and pressing his palms beneath him.

"It's really not a big deal, to be honest." Mental exhaustion--or officially, "psychic fatigue"--could be recovered with a bit of rest, and as long as one didn't remain in that extreme state for too long, it wouldn't have lasting effects on body or mind. "I already feel a lot better. I just need to notify Master Latent Heat, and then I can leave."

"There are a lot of rumors outside. I'm not sure what's true," Tadao said, glancing at me. "But honestly, if it's you, triggering a fusion reaction just by thought doesn't sound all that exaggerated."

"Not you too, please." I sighed, shifting on the bed and quickly scanning the room to locate my shoes and other belongings. "I just prevented a plasma mass from a fusion reaction from exploding, and I even blacked out in the process."

"Ah, there's a saying about never meeting your heroes, right?" Tadao joked.

"Yeah, it's a bit disillusioning," I replied, lacing up my snow boots. "Learning the First Emperor was a hedonistic coyote who got diagnosed with syphilis twice in record, that's really something."

"What?" Tadao asked, looking utterly baffled.

"Exactly, twice." I started lacing up the other boot, noticing it could use some oiling. "I mean, are you serious? Once is bad enough; just get vaccinated, for Rationalism's sake."

"That's not the issue," Tadao muttered, turning his head as if exasperated. "The first emperor of the Canid Empire was a coyote?"

"Of course," I replied, confused by his surprise. Wasn't this common knowledge? "It is called the 'Canid' Empire, after all."

"I must have slept through way more history classes than I thought. But that's beside the point." Tadao shook his head vigorously, as if trying to clear unwelcome thoughts from his mind. I understood the feeling--though I worried he might twist his neck with those antlers. "Have you taken care of your external communications application?"

"Oh, it's done." I couldn't help but smile a bit, thinking of the awkward yet endearing conversation with Aether.

"Hmm..." Tadao replied softly, and I realized that single syllable held a lot of unspoken emotion.

After finishing with my laces, I looked up, meeting the red deer's gaze. He seemed uncomfortable under my stare, turning his head to look away even though he stayed seated.

"And you?" I asked in a casual tone, lowering my ears slightly to help him relax.

"I took care of it too," he replied, looking a bit restless, pulling his right hand from beneath him and scratching the skin between his antlers--a habit he had when his antlers were about to shed. Kotetsu did that yesterday too, I recalled. "There are some voices I haven't heard in so long... it's almost nostalgic."

"Oh," I said softly, sensing his story wasn't over. "Are things okay at home?" For those cadets who had left everything behind, reestablishing contact must be significant.

"Yeah... everything's fine." He scratched at a few different places, and I saw him make several gestures, as if he wanted to say something but kept stopping.

"That sounds good," I replied gently, trying to give him more time to prepare. "It feels good to be able to share some things with others."

I transmitted a very faint, harmonious waveform his way, hoping to convey that I was listening.

"If you have kids someday, would you tell them you're a psychic?" After wrestling with his thoughts, Tadao finally voiced the question that had been stuck in his throat.

"I can't imagine myself with kids anytime soon, so my answer might not be very useful." Though I said that, I felt he didn't really need my answer. My role here was to respond and listen. "But if I did have children, I think I would tell them. After all, being a psychic isn't something to hide." I tilted my head slightly, trying to picture a future in which I inexplicably had kids, and realized it went beyond just that. "Even if there was a very good reason to keep this identity hidden, I don't think I'd keep it from my children. I'd want people who are important to me to know me--all of me."

After I finished, Tadao didn't respond immediately. We just looked at each other in silence.

"I found out my father's a psychic," he said finally. I'd guessed it might lead here, so when he admitted it, I only nodded, quietly listening. "I mean... all these years... just saying something wouldn't have killed him, would it?" His hands fidgeted with agitation, and he looked torn over whether to sit on his palms again. "I kept making excuses for him--special job requirements, always traveling, constantly at meetings, never home, missing all my important moments." He let out a string of nearly mumbled grievances before burying his face in his hands, leaving some parts unheard. "But just telling me, that's all it would've taken. Why couldn't he even do that?"

I continued listening, not wanting to speak on things I didn't understand.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to dump all this on you suddenly. You just woke up, and here I am, dragging you down with my issues." Tadao sighed, standing up and adjusting his clothes. "I was so full of myself, lecturing you..."

"No, not at all." Sensing he was about to fall into the "I'm burdening others" mindset, I quickly redirected his attention. "Whether or not we ever understand each other or can agree, it's impossible to achieve any of that without communication. Understanding starts with conversation."

On the bedside table, I spotted my terminal and checked it quickly, noticing no new messages. A slight feeling of disappointment washed over me, but I forced myself to shake it off. Tadao needed me right now--I couldn't wallow in pointless self-pity.

"Is there anyone else outside?" I asked, securing the terminal back onto my arm strap.

"No," he replied, moving to stand beside me. "At least, I didn't see anyone just now."

"In that case, I have two proposals." I double-checked my belongings to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything. "First, I'm kind of hungry. Want to grab something to eat at the cafeteria?" He responded with a smile, which I took as a yes. "And second, I don't think we've ever shared much detail about our lives before we came to the Academy." I lowered my snout and ears slightly, expressing openness and invitation. "Maybe we could talk about it over dinner?"

"That sounds great," Tadao replied, and I thought I caught a glimmer of gratitude in his brown eyes.

With a clear plan in mind, we left the room, exchanged greetings with Master Latent Heat, and headed to the cafeteria together.

Since I'd stayed up late chatting with Tadao last night, I got out of bed quietly, careful not to wake him. I directed water from the faucet to wash up, and even after I was fully dressed, the red deer hadn't stirred, his breathing calm and steady.

I left the dormitory area, moving through the Academy's indistinct corridors. The app I'd installed earlier prompted me to find where to turn at each junction, and after a short walk, my terminal chimed, signaling that I'd reached my destination.

"Ah, Richter." The metallic sliding door closed behind me, and a honey badger looked up from his workstation, greeting me with a nod. "Here to finish up that commission?"

"Yes, Mr. Cape. It's the last one--I'd like to wrap everything up before the semester officially starts." I bowed respectfully and couldn't resist a glance at the striking swath of silver-white fur that ran from his forehead back. It always made his facial proportions seem slightly off to me. "Have the Vanguard arrived yet?"

"Not yet, but I expect them any moment," Mr. Cape said, tapping a few keys on his console. "You can go inside and wait; the door takes a while to open."

"Thanks," I said, nodding in appreciation before moving to the room's far side to await the heavy blast door's opening.

The high-polymer alloy and concrete structure slid horizontally along its track, grinding open at a painfully slow pace. When the gap was finally wide enough for me to slip through, I moved quickly, unwilling to wait for the door to open all the way--a process that took a full five minutes.

On the other side of the blast door lay the inner chamber. Through a glass wall spanning the high ceiling, I could see the control room, currently empty. Reflected in its transparent wall was the image of a peculiar structure--"gate," as Mr. Cape had called it.

A ring-shaped archway made of stone blocks engraved with unique symbols stood there, the lowest part obscured by a metal ramp that served as a passageway. During activation, the blocks would rotate along the arch, stopping when a specific symbol reached the top. After a short delay, the selected symbol would glow red, and then an inscription would form within the center of the arch.

Watching this contraption--somewhat reminiscent of an ancient dialing system--always filled me with a profound sense of mystery.

I knew that activating the gate to the "Tower" required aligning seven specific symbols, so I continued observing the blocks rotating around the arch.

I had a strong suspicion that with a different combination of symbols, the gate might open to somewhere else entirely.

"Hello, Richter." A Thomson's gazelle entered the inner room, followed by four other herbivores. "You're always so punctual."

"As much as I can be," I replied, shaking hands with Tanaka senpai and glancing at the others, who seemed a bit uneasy.

"They're all newcomers, just recently authorized, so I thought I'd show them around," the Thomson's gazelle explained, perhaps guessing my confusion. "Would you mind joining us for a round? I know it's different from the original request, but you didn't have permission back then." He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "We won't go beyond the tenth floor--just letting the rookies get a feel for the place."

He tapped the altimeter on his wrist for emphasis, his tone promising reassurance.

"Of course, no problem!" I replied with a smile, signaling my willingness to go along.

Maintaining good relations with the Vanguard faction was nothing but beneficial. Besides, accompanying them for an initial exploration of the Tower's floors seemed prudent before attempting anything on my own.

My paw absentmindedly brushed the hilt of sword at my waist, considering whether Tanaka senpai had noticed I'd brought Gray Snow along, prompting him to alter his plan.

Whatever the reason, it didn't affect my decision, so I followed Tanaka senpai through the ringed gate. After a short walk, we stopped in front of the Tower's main entrance.

Tanaka senpai pulled out a silver card embedded with invisible microchip and held it to the Tower's gate.

"Is that... 'The Coronation of Seven Nights'?" a sheepish-looking herbivore asked, casting a quick glance my way before averting his gaze.

"Yes," I replied, surprised that someone recognized the artwork and even knew its title--an uncommon subject for the Federation. "It depicts the founding of the Canid Empire."

"Oh, I wondered what that was about--why so many wolves were bowing to a coyote," said another herbivore, likely a spiral-horned antelope by the shape of its horns.

"Hold on," Tanaka senpai paused, looking back at us with a peculiar expression. "Are you all seeing the same thing?"

The herbivores exchanged glances, then nodded affirmatively.

"Interesting." The Thomson's gazelle glanced at my side, where Gray Snow was sheathed. "So, it's truly a complete adamantine weapon?"

From Tanaka senpai's hint, I gathered that the changes in the Tower are connected to having a complete adamantine weapon. Beyond that, Hemp, Kotetsu senpai, and even Tadao hadn't informed anyone else that Gray snow was a complete adamantine weapon.

As the gate opened, I expanded my consciousness, enveloping everyone within its bounds, and a faint red hue tinged my vision. Then we ascended the stairs, heading to the higher floors.

Tanaka senpai explained things to the others as we went, documenting observations on his terminal, but I didn't listen closely--my thoughts were elsewhere.

I have an almost nonexistent sense of direction, so remembering landmarks is nearly impossible. Yet, the surroundings gave me a strange sense of déjà vu.

Yes, it wasn't my imagination--that corner, that staircase, and the engravings on that wall...

This was exactly like the scene I'd encountered in my dreams.

I pressed gently into the Tower's realm, probing for strength, and the result was worrisome.

"Senpai," I stopped abruptly, interrupting Tanaka, who was showing the others some gray markings on the wall that might have been part of a mural. "What floor are we on?"

"We've only crossed into the second floor," he replied, looking at me with slight confusion, his crimson eyes oddly disconcerting. But, sensing the urgency in my tone, he glanced at his wrist. His face froze, and he rubbed the altimeter's screen with his thumb. "This can't be...," he muttered, scanning our surroundings. "We're on the fiftieth floor..."

His answer confirmed my worst fear. Just then, a metallic scraping sound on stone caught my attention, making my ears stand up, and I instinctively gripped my sword hilt.

"Shall we head back the way we came?" Tanaka senpai whispered, consulting me. "What do you think?"

"Yes," I replied in a low voice, scanning our surroundings warily.

Tanaka senpai briefed the others to tread lightly and stay alert, but likely to avoid panic, he didn't disclose our exact situation.

If it were just a few scattered squids, I should be able to handle them with the experience I gained last time. But with so many to protect...

As Tanaka senpai and I exchanged glances, it seemed we'd reached the same conclusion.

Perhaps it was the eerie atmosphere or simply the fact that this was my first time in the Tower with a large group, but our staggered footsteps created a somber melody that echoed ominously in the vast space, making every corner and shadow feel like it held a pair watching eyes--or a lot of red dots.

Just as we were about to reach the staircase leading to the lower floors, almost ready to celebrate our luck, I heard the sharp grinding of metal against metal--far too close.

"Go ahead without me, please don't wait." I whispered to Tanaka, unsheathing Gray Snow. "I'll need all my strength."

The gazelle's face showed hesitation, but he nodded after a glance at the visibly shaken herbivores, then led them back the way we'd come.

I turned, positioning myself at the end of the narrow corridor, taking up the Frost stance.

Here they came.

A mass of red dots filled the corridor. The writhing, heaving forms surged forward like a flood from the darkest pits of a nightmare, threatening to engulf me completely.

The squids piled on top of each other, their number impossible to estimate. All I knew was that there were a lot--an overwhelming number.

I thrust Gray Snow forward, skewering one squid that had darted out of the mass, then withdrew and slashed at another that lunged toward me.

No, this was too many.

Even with the narrow corridor in my favor, I would be overwhelmed eventually.

As soon as I felt Tanaka and the others exit, I withdrew my consciousness, pouring all my focus into Gray Snow.

The hand-and-a-half sword resonated with a deep, powerful hum, and without a moment's delay, I unleashed a sweeping Snow stance strike. Several sharp, pale-blue slashes materialized in the air, surging toward the horde of squid. The consciousness density I prime into the sword was very high, the slashes emitted piercing shrieks as they sliced through the Tower's domain, shredding every squid in their path to pieces.

As the metallic clatter of countless falling fragments filled the air, my legs gave out, and I barely managed to catch myself before collapsing.

But unexpectedly, I found myself leaning against something solid and warm.

A strong paw gripped my shoulder, a solid chest supporting me, helping me stay upright.

Turning, I saw a pure white wolf with intense red eyes, gazing at me with an amused expression. His canine teeth, visible in a sly smile, seemed to gleam in the dim light.

I glanced down and confirmed his identity by the style of the long sword at his waist.

"So, are you saying we're even now?" I teased, smirking. "Hardly! You were seriously injured back then."

The Snow just snorted, letting out a deliberately mocking huff, as if I'd just told the worst joke he'd ever heard.

The scene was so absurd that I couldn't help but laugh as well.

Somehow, our strange, alternating laughter echoed through the vast, eerie space of the tower--and after bouncing around for a while, it didn't seem so strange anymore.