"Sorry, I'm late," Hera said while walking towards her usual seat. She arrived in the nick of time, with just a minute to spare.

  Still, everyone else was already there, and so was Mr. Greyson. The teacher stood leaning against his desk while looking at his tablet, and didn't bother turning towards the girl who just walked in.

  "Shame, we were looking forward to seeing someone running the Drill for being late." A dark-haired woman with very well made eyebrows, chestnut skin, and a red bindi between her eyes said with a mocking tone. The other three around her giggled at her remark.

  "Maybe ye should be the first one to try it, Anaya." Mr. Greyson said without missing a beat. His reply made the girl shrink in her chair.

  Unbothered by those comments, Hera quickly sat down and said hi to her friends. She also noticed a large saucer on the teacher's desk. Not only it was large, it was also very tall, making it almost seem like an altar of sorts.

  "Settle down, ye lot." Mr. Greyson closed the door now that everyone was inside. Then, he used his tablet to activate something, and the light of the room dimmed.

  "Now, today ye are going to learn a very important skill. It's a skill ye will use every day, be it in the MAZE or outside of it. Yer never gonna need to look up things you don't know at a glance again."

  He pressed something on his tablet, and above the saucer, an empty glass of wine appeared. For a moment, Hera thought the altar was a teleportation device. However, looking closely, she realized the object was more see through than it should be.

  "The skill is called Observe, it helps you be sure of what yer seeing. For instance, this glass is not here. But is it a hologram or an illusion?"

  Hera stared at the glass, trying to see if there was a way to be sure what the glass was. She looked for flickers, small jagged lines on the edge of the glass, even the affinities she had seen around Helena. Even with all her effort, nothing seemed to work. A little part of her wondered if the oranges could help her now. But she brushed off that thought as quickly as it came. She didn't want to depend on something to pass the training.

  "Mr. Greyson, is there something that shows us if this is an illusion or not?" Bonnie had a frustrated look on her face. The same one Hera had.

  "As far as Ah know, there are two ways. One is touching it, if ye know how mana feels, ye can tell when ye touch it. The other one is with the skill I'm teaching ye. Now, everybody grab yer tablet. To get the skill, all ye need to do is write down the name of the object and if it's an illusion or a hologram. Any questions?" he barely paused before adding, "Good, let's begin"

  Hera rubbed her eyes. At first, this exercise seemed to be easier than the last one, but as time wen on, she realized it was much more taxing. There have been so many objects to identify that she had lost count.

  For three hours, the recruits kept marking on their tablets the objects as illusions or holograms, as well as their names. Hera wasn't able to name a few objects. After all, who knows the name of the plastic part of a shoelace or the name of the metal part at the end of a pencil.

  They only had around a minute before the object in the saucer would change. Throughout the entire thing, the only noise that could be heard was that of fingers tapping away on the tablets.

  "Yes! I got the skill!" Blue shouted, getting up from her seat "I'm the first one, right? Did anyone else get it?" She looked around for a reply. But before she could get an answer, Mr. Greyson commanded.

  "Blue! Sit down, ye still have work to do." Immediately the girl sat back on her chair, with a big grin on her face.

  The class kept going for another hour without any changes. It was close to 11 A.M and Hera's stomach was already grumbling. Maybe eating only a fruit salad for breakfast wasn't the best idea. She blinked a few times, realizing that she got distracted, and tried to focus on the task, looking at the object on the teacher's desk. It was a small, light green dumbbell, weighing 50 kilograms, and an illusion.

  She typed the answer, but her finger stopped before confirming it. How did she know the weight, and that it was an illusion? Looking back at the dumbbell, it seemed too small to be that heavy. As she focused more and more on the object, a pair of small blue windows showed up above it.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Dumbbell 50 KG (Illusion)

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Skill Acquired: Observe - Rank 2

  Allows the user to see the basic information of the target.

  The information available is limited by the rank of the skill.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Hera was surprised at how simple it seemed. As long as she could see the object, the system would give her more information about it. It was simple but extremely helpful. For instance, if this skill can tell if a mushroom is poisonous. Or if a fridge is broken instead of just malfunctioning.

  "Mr. Greyson, my skill showed up at rank 2, and I don't remember ever having it at rank 1."

  The teacher nodded "Aye, yer supposed to get this one at rank 2, the rank 1 version ye are using since ye were born. Just being able to see is the first rank of the observe skill. For the record, a rank up doesn't really show up as a notification in most cases. This skill is an exception."

  "So, does that mean everything we do is a potential skill?" Hera asked, and the whole class got quiet.

  "Short answer, yes, but not really. Everything we do has the potential of being a skill, but the more common the thing is, the harder it is to increase the rank. Walking, for example, many tried to increase its rank, and Ah haven't seen anyone who succeeded. The same with breathing or thinking. Skills tend to be more specific, they require certain conditions to improve. So ye can try to get a skill, and ye might even get one, but it's as hard as creating a new skill."

  "We can create new skills?" Mark asked, interrupting the teacher. Mr. Greysons's face darkened, and for a second the whole class was ready to see his wrath. However, as quickly as his face changed, it also softened.

  "Ay, laddie. Most of the skills we use have been found out at some point. But if ye try something new, ye will make a new skill. Not that there is anything to let ye know the skill was never created before."

  The class remained silent for a while. It was a lot to process. To Hera, the system always seemed to be an omnipotent and absolute presence. Yet, if anyone was able to create a skill, maybe the system was more flexible than she imagined.

  "Sir, what's the difference between ranking up a skill and evolving it?" Alex asked.

  The teacher got up from his seat and went to the board.

  "When a skill evolves or ranks up, it gets stronger. The difference is in how. Ranking up means that the skill will work the same way it does now, but it will be stronger or have an extra something. Like the observer skill. The higher ranks can give more information. Such as level, disposition, and such. On the other hand, think about the map skill Leo and Bonnie got. Atlas, unlike the basic Mapping lets ye reference things from other places. Know that a type of plant exists here and in another area you visited. Atlas also shows a larger area of a map when you travel through it, not to mention is more detailed."

  While talking, Mr. Greyson made a circle with an arrow in the middle and drew a simple map. On the side of it, he made a much bigger area, almost twice as large, and placed many roads and points of interest on it. He even marked a region as 'monster territory.'

  "Now let's talk about Bonnie's Cartography skill. It can give ye around the same area that yer mapping skill gives. But it will place all the differences in the terrain, the location of the trees, lakes, and hills. It will even give ye an exact format and shape of a river or tree." He proceeded to draw a third circle with an arrow in the middle and gave more detail to the map inside it.

  "If we are thinking about regular terms, mapping is the same as remembering the place. Atlas is having someone who knows the area draw it and give ye directions. Cartography would be a satellite image of the location ye want. All three of them have the same function, but they are vastly different in the execution."

  Even if the concept was relatively simple, it still baffled Hera. The idea that a single skill could change so much was wild. Yes, the basic function would still be there, but considering all the divergent paths made her wonder. Could her Stats Reallocation change into something other than her Exponential Growth? Thinking about this possibility, an idea popped into Hera's mind.

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  "Mr. Greyson, can a skill evolve more than once?"

  Hearing the question, the teacher let out a resounding laugh.

  "A greenhorn already asking for a second evolution?"

  Hera looked down, feeling embarrassed for the laugh. She wasn't trying to rush anything, just to know if it was possible.

  "Aye, lassie, skills can evolve a second time. But the ones we know of are very few, and the requirements are very hard. Now, if ye gonna ask me if they can evolve even a third time. Ah don't know, never heard anyone even talking about it. Beyond that, a fourth or fifth evolution, fuck if Ah know."

  But before the class continued the exercise, Alex still had one doubt, "Mr. Greyson, sorry, but is it possible for a skill to evolve if it already has ranked up?"

  "Ye mean for a skill that is above rank 1 to evolve into something?" He paused for a while, furrowing his brows just to see he was understanding correctly.

  "Yes," the woman with long black hair replied.

  "Aye. Most skills level up at higher ranks. Getting them on low ranks is rare, and hard. In most cases, that only happens if you use the skill in a very specific way. Ah thought I was clear on that, but ah guess not."

  Alex nodded, and the class continued with the exercise. Around half an hour later, a few other recruits had gotten their skills. Including Mark, Alex, and Leonidas.

  Another hour went by, the number of recruits without the skill grew smaller. Hera glanced at Bonnie, who was just staring at the air with a serious expression. With a smile, Hera turned back to her tablet. Bonnie probably was reading about the skill, her worries were for nothing.

  "Mr. Greyson, I got a different skill." Bonnie said. The whole class stopped after she spoke.

  "What's the name of the skill, Bonnie?" The teacher asked with a serious tone.

  "It's called Inspect."

  The reply made Mr. Greyson start to rub his forehead. "Fucking hell, Bonnie, there is a reason we do things in order."

  His reaction was surprising to most of the class. Not just because it was out of the blue, but it sounded more like someone complaining because their coworker messed up than a scolding.

  "I'm sorry, but what did I do wrong? Isn't it a good thing to get a new skill? Or is it just because I'm the only one who got it"

  Bonnie was a bit flustered, but at the same time, she got a new skill all on her own. She would have an edge when she finally went inside the MAZE.

  "Yer the only one who got that skill today. That is tomorrow's lesson. We teach Observe first because Inspect gets in the way when yer trying to learn it. Ye weren't just telling the name and if it was an illusion or a hologram, were ye?"

  Bonnie looked down and started to pull on the sleeves of her sweater a bit.

  "No, I was trying to look at it in more detail. Marking how the objects should be made if they were real to see if any information in the middle of that could help."

  Mr. Greyson let out a long sigh "Fine, try to do the right exercise for now. I'm gonna have to think of something else for you tomorrow."

  "But isn't it just the same? You said Observe helps to see what something is. If I have Inspect, that is even better, right?" Bonnie huffed. It was her achievement, and no one was going to take it away from her.

  "Ye think so? Then Inspect this thing" Mr.Greyson ripped a page from a notebook in his desk and made a paper ball. The class watched as Bonnie focused on the object and start to read something they couldn't see. At the same time, the teacher lightly tossed the paper ball to the girl.

  To a class who had to dodge the dummies' attacks the day before, the paper ball moved like a snail. Any recruit could have caught that throw. But Bonnie wasn't even looking at the projectile going towards her.

  When the paper ball was almost at her face, she jumped back, but it was too late. The toss hit her square in the face. A group of students in the back laughed, and Mr. Greyson let out a long sigh.

  "That's why ye need Observe. Inspect takes too much space in front of ye, if ye are in a dangerous situation even one second of distraction can be enough to be yer doom."

  Bonnie nodded, still a bit flustered about the situation.

  "Now get back to work. Ye still have combat training in the afternoon."

  ——————

  "Blue, if you stop one more time to observe something I'm eating without you," Leo groaned

  It was the fifth time Pamella stopped to use her new skill, and the group had yet to leave the guild block.

  "Let's just leave her. I don't want to be late." Bonnie said as she walked towards the strip mall. She gave a side glance to Blue, angry about her showing off her new skill. To Bonnie, it wasn't her fault that she got a different skill, the teacher was the one who gave her the assignment wrong. If he had specified what she shouldn't do, she would never have gotten the wrong skill.

  "Bonnie, do you have any suggestions about where we could eat?" Alex asked in a casual tone.

  "What? Do you need me to choose the place? Can't figure out yourselves?" the woman replied.

  Hera twisted her nose. They invited her to try to cheer her up, she didn't have to be rude. Leo rolled his eyes and replied to Bonnie while Blue stared daggers at her.

  "We had this discussion yesterday. There are a lot of options, and the strip mall doesn't have that many tables. So, it's better if we eat at the same place. Yesterday I picked the restaurant, today I think you should choose."

  The group nodded in agreement, and which Bonnie just scoffed. They went past the first stoplight in silence, even with Leo having to poke Blue's arm every time she stopped to observe something. After crossing the road, Bonnie had made up her mind.

  "Look, I really want a burger, a greasy, oily burger with onions and bacon," With a big smile, Blue walked toward the girl and put her arm around her.

  "You see this. This is the type of woman I want to be when I grow up. Someone who has the best ideas."

  Leo put his hand on his face and let out a loud groan, "Blue, I'm going to tell you this one more time. You are older than most of us." The man had said something along those lines a few times already, and that was starting to annoy him.

  "You are no fun." The girl answered before sticking out her tongue.

  Bonnie took advantage of her distraction and removed Blue's arm from around her, taking a few steps away from the girl. "Yeah, don't do that. I don't like people being over-friendly with me." She then looked at Hera "You know the area around here, right? Any recommendations?"

  Hera thought for a second before opening a big smile. "I know a good place. But I hope you all like cats." The group stared at her for a while before being led to a different path by the woman. Hera walked a bit faster than usual, happy she would be able to go back to a place she loved so much.

  A few minutes later, they arrived at their destination.

  "I honestly don't know what I was expecting. But it wasn't this," Alex commented now that the group was in front of a building. The words "Cat Made Heaven" were written above the door in beautiful calligraphy.

  "Please tell me this isn't one of those costume places. Those freak me out." Blue shivered remembering the last encounter she had with someone in a full cat costume.

  Hera giggled," No, no, there are just a bunch of cats walking around. They are very well trained so don't worry about one of them walking through the table."

  Bonnie stared at her with wide eyes. "Are you telling me that the cats are just roaming around the whole restaurant?"

  "Not really, they never go to the kitchen or the bathrooms. If I'm remembering correctly, the doors are enchanted with a cat barrier of sorts, and so are the tables. At least that's what one of the staff told me."

  Leo was looking through a window inside, a black cat was sitting on a bench staring at him. "Yeah... am I the only one who thinks cats want to kill us?"

  All four girls answered at the same time.

  "Yes, you are!"

  And started to laugh together as they entered the restaurant, Leo let out a long sigh and walked inside after the rest of the group. Less than an hour later, they were walking out of the Cat Made Heaven.

  "Bonnie, don't be sad. The owner said you could go back there any time you want." Blue tried to cheer the girl up.

  "It was just so cute. I wanted to bring him home with me." Bonnie said while pouting.

  "Well, at least he is in a good home, and you can go see him every time you get back from the MAZE. It should be dangerous to take a house cat with you, even if you have some taming skills." Leo tried to reassure her while putting his wallet in the bag he had left inside the classroom.

  "I suppose you are right," Bonnie tried to rationalize everything, but she was still clearly sad.

  Hera just smiled at the interaction, Bonnie wasn't angry anymore, or at least she wasn't showing that. Her plan to help the girl forget what happened with the skill worked. This time she was able to help her.

  "So, what do you think we are learning now? A new skill? More weapon training?" Alex asked with a big smile.

  It was visible how much she enjoyed being here, there was even a spark in her eyes. Hera watched as her group continued talking about the possibilities while thinking about something else. She never really admitted to anyone how much she enjoyed all the training.

  They arrived back in the class less than five minutes before it was time for class. And everyone was already there, waiting for the teacher. They were talking and joking around just like a bunch of high schoolers. But the second Mr. Greyson walked through the door, the room got quiet. Seeing the man, all the recruits felt a primal instinct that told them one single thing.

  Danger.

  The teacher scanned the class and said only two words.

  "Training. Now."

  His voice was even rougher than it used to be. It was obvious that he was angry about something. Yet, before anyone had a chance to say anything, he walked back and towards the stairs.

  There was a moment when a few recruits looked at each other, trying to understand what to do. Leo was the only one who got up and started to follow Mr. Greyson without missing a beat. With him in the lead, the rest of the class joined in.

  Moments later, all the recruits were in the training room. They walked without making a sound. For some reason, none of them even considered relaxing after seeing the teacher.

  Mr. Greyson was standing in front of the dummies with a big black box by his side, just like the day before. He opened the box and picked a pair of wooden daggers.

  "Today Ah'm gonna teach ye how not to poke yer eye when using a weapon." He stared at the class for a few seconds "So, what ye are all waiting for? Grab yer bloody daggers already."

  All the recruits were surprised by the reaction. Mr. Greyson was a stern and grumpy man, but even this seemed like too much. Hera couldn't help to compare his bad mood with the one he had the day before. It was like comparing a hill to a mountain. What happened that made him so angry?

  A minute later, the recruits were all holding the weapons in front of the training dummies.

  "Ye know how to hit something. Now, ye need to learn how to move around while attacking. Properly," he raised his arms to show everyone how he was holding the daggers "Later ye can test to see how ye like to hold this. But for now, point the daggers at yer elbows. The way A'm teaching is closer to a fistfight than it is to using a sword. A'm doing this way so ye can't end up hurting yerself too much."

  Mr. Greyson then proceeded to show a few moves. Again creating that invisible target in his mind, the teacher moved around it in a circle. Then, he would take a step in and throw a punch to the side, moving his wrist so the dagger would be sticking out like a spike. After the punch, instead of walking back, he moved forward. Using the momentum of the attack, to reposition himself.

  His first few moves were slow, but they started to pick up speed. Each punch was aimed far enough away from the main target so it would never be stopped by its body. Leaving only the dagger to do the damage.

  After a few seconds, the recruits weren't able to see Mr. Greyson's attacks. His arms were just a blur while his body would spin around this phantom target. He finally reached the end of his attacks when he stepped in and threw a jab that went by the side of where the target's face should be, the dagger still pointing towards his elbow. He then pulled his arm back, intending to stab the phantom target.

  Even if nothing was being attacked, the image was visceral. Hera's eyes were wide in shock, not only by the violent attack but by the speed the teacher had achieved. It should be impossible for the human body to move that fast.

  Still, one thing was clear. While the training was somewhat different, it was also a lot of the same.

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