Isekai academy 07 the vo.., p.4
Isekai Academy 07: The Void Titans, page 4
“You have misunderstood what I said, Lyeh. Allow me to show you.” Sign continues after emptying the box he was carrying onto a shelf.
Opening the same door we came through, reveals a massive empty room. There is a small area to stand but the rest of the room is submerged. About a foot of some shimmering liquid fills the rest of the room.
“This is a mana pool. It has many technical uses. In my world, it’s used as a catalyst to evoke miracles. Certain worlds call it the resting place of gods. According to the Academy, it’s essential for many students as a preliminary step towards graduation. Many paths to graduation involve an intermediate stage that cannot survive outside of this type of hyper specific mana rich environment.” Sign explained to me, with a condescending smirk and his eyes closed.
“Sounds crazy. Are we going to need it?”
“It will surely be helpful to most of us. Spending some time here helped calm the raging mana in Cal. He was under a lot of strain after absorbing his grandfather’s curse. Normally, he would have spent years adjusting in an almost coma-like state, learning to control the power he gained. Something his father is still currently doing back on his world. Resting here changed a few years to a few days. Though Lilith reigning in his sin might have helped more than anything.” Sign told me, his voice becoming more annoyed as he continued.
“You really know everything, Sign. That eye is such a hack. Does it have any downside?”
“Of course there is a downside!!! Lyeh, I won’t deny that my eye is responsible. However, this information was hidden from my sight until recently. Our second year officially began three days ago. The Academy increased our level of access. Tons of information that was previously prohibited became available.” Sign explained, turning to me with an exasperated expression, his eyes still closed.
“Normally, I would be pouring over that information until I could comprehend it to some degree. However, much of it is cursed, or encrypted. I have to use the metamaterial lens Inanna gave me to read it. I am left exhausted after only a few hours of reading. Honestly, I wish there was someone else I could talk to about this.” Sign continued.
While Sign was rambling, I conjured a small grail and scooped up some of this shimmering liquid and drank it. Its flavor could best be described as powerful. It was salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and savory all at once. Not really that thirst quenching though.
**Ton Tan** Then came a powerful caffeine-like kick.
“Lyeh, that is liquefied mana! What do you think you are doing?!” Sign yelled.
That first cup didn’t really quench my thirst, so I downed a second. As I go to refill my grail a third time, Sign knocks my cup out of my hand. The mana spills and my grail vanishes. I think it was that divine instrument that keeps appearing whenever I need a tool.
Sign puts his hands on my shoulders before opening his eyes and staring at me intently. This is a surprisingly uncomfortable gaze. What is he looking at?
After enduring Sign’s gaze as long as I could. I pushed him away. He stumbles for a bit then falls in the pool. He gets up, spitting and coughing.
“You may not understand, considering you just drank this. Lyeh, what you did was incredibly dangerous. Pure mana cannot be metabolized. Your a...a...a… Terrifying!” Sign starts.
Sign doesn’t look wet or hurt. What is he getting on about now? This liquid appears to have zero viscosity, it doesn’t stick to you at all.
**Ton tan** Sign is staring at me again. I kind of want to punch him for saying I was terrifying, but…
No, this is different. It’s both more intense and less focused. Oh, his magic eye is glowing. How long has his iris been a gear? Does it always turn like that? I can almost hear a clicking sound as it turns. Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, I open the door to leave.
**Thump** There is a soft bump followed by a familiar nyah. Opening the door further, reveals Chea holding her head with tears leaking from her eyes.
“You weren’t following me.” I asked, kneeling down to check on Chea’s head.
“I cannot phase into that room. When I crossed the threshold, I materialized. In a panic, I went through the door and couldn’t get back.” Chea answered, holding her head.
Interesting, so it’s possible to force Chea to materialize. I should learn how to do that. There are some places I want to make sure she doesn’t follow. She has been good about respecting my privacy so far, but I want to have a method to make sure. I think it’s more wanting the ability to be alone, than actually wanting to be alone.
“Well, it’s getting late. Chea, how about we see if Cath wants to watch that movie? I want to relax tonight. Grandma is probably planning another hell course for me. I think it would be good to get one night to unwind. And maybe an aspirin for your head. Hmm, I wonder if I can find that pillow in my dreams again?”
“Nyah!” Chea whined, as I escorted her to our room.
Do we have a viewing room? If not, I will need to make one. Sometimes, I want to just relax with my friends on a big couch.
Titans’ Lecture
I was right. When I woke up the next morning, brightly displayed on my phone was a schedule for a year’s worth of classes. Fortunately, Mimir didn’t sign me up for the classes. Considering the way the Academy runs its classes. I could finish these in a few days or I could space them out however I want.
Some of these might just be me having to hear a lecture or two then taking a test. I am guessing this is some kind of test from mom and grandma. One to prove I’m responsible and or taking things seriously.
“I’ll make a schedule that doesn’t kill me. Want to leave plenty of room to have fun with my friends. Not to mention, I have know idea what shenanigans the Academy’s System will put us through this year. We had almost nothing but free time, between classes, last year. I don’t expect that to be the case this year.”
**Ding** Mimir dropped another bombshell of a reminder. Apparently, I have to make schedules for everyone else as well. Everyone, except Sign and Pass, said they would take classes for the good of the guild. Meaning I have to choose for them or approve what some suggested.
“Guess administrative work is what a guild-master is supposed to do. I will have to sit down with Sign to figure out what would be best for everyone. This is exactly the time to make best use of his magic eye. And whatever Sign cannot figure out, I can ask Mimir to run simulations. With those two helping this doesn’t sound that hard anymore. No matter what Sign says.”
Sign is willing to help, but he often complains that his plans fall apart when I’m heavily involved in the project. So, we will use the super advanced AI, Mimir, to supplement our own intelligence. Use everything we have at our disposal to improve our chances. But that is a job for future Lyeh now it’s time for homeroom.
[Favored Children, it seems you are worthy of such a title. Despite the many handicaps; limiting thine self to only using prana, creating a body of matter, using a single barrier of Authority, attacking through purely physical means, and abandoning the use of any sort of strategy. You all proved your worth in thine’s crucible.]
The teacher’s voice feels a bit softer compared to how loud and angry they were yesterday. Quickly glancing around, I notice that I may be alone in that thought. Rou and Cath look to be in pain, and Ra and Nora don’t look too happy listening to the teacher in their heads either.
Don’t I have a hero skill that protects my allies?
[With all of you having proved your worth. We are skipping all those useless lessons that teach you how lower lifeforms operate, normally mandated by the System. If you wish to bother yourself with them. You can take the supplementary classes offered by the System as I will not be wasting my time on superfluous information.]
“Wait, advanced biology was locked behind a security wall last year. Now we are completely skipping them? What about the other sciences?” Sign asked.
Personally, I’m glad to be skipping biology. Taxonomy is confusing and boring. And I’m not thrilled at the thought of dissection. Preparing food is one thing, but I don’t want to do that to animals that could be pets like spiders, frogs, and newts. Even if the dissections were done in VR, I don’t want to see that.
Actually, would the Academy even have the same taxonomy as Earth? And what animals would they have us dissect? Nope, I don’t want to know the answer to those questions, or the other questions that just popped into my head. Just going to ignore that potentially creepy and traumatizing rabbit hole in its entirety. Besides, I learned all the basics of biology and health back in the second grade.
[There are simply far too many differences between limited lifeforms, you mortals. And the unbound such as ourselves, divine entities. Unlike most of the teachers, we were always immortal gods. We always had a different way of how we interacted with reality. Those basics were nothing but a waste of time for us.]
The Blue Titan stands proud, holding the far smaller Gold Titan. Looking at how they move, I am certain they are different people with distinct minds. The male voice talking to us currently appears to belong to the large Blue Titan. Which matches their stout male-like physique. And I am certain that the female voice we heard during the testing yesterday belonged to the lithe Gold Titan.
Still, the both of these Titans don’t have a ton of detail on their bodies. They don’t have proper joints or any seams on their bodies. Even their faces lack details like eyes or eye sockets. Their bodies don’t look like they should be able to move the way they do. They are completely unlike Cal’s grandfather, who looked like a giant rocky human. To me these two Titans look more like giant mannequins made of some kind of flowing stone or liquid metal.
[Mortals, like the vermin they are, trick the world into enacting their will by raw manipulation of matter. True gods however, alter the fabric of the Dream. Making their will a reality regardless of the world they are in. That is the power of Divine Authority. The power to alter fundamental laws of the Dream.]
“You’re describing miracles, right? Alterations that leave no detectable traces of how you altered the world. A phenomenon that doesn’t use the world’s energy, not mana or other energy sources. Aren’t those caused by the power of faith?” Sign interrupts again.
[True gods enact change through their Authority, not using the world’s power. Our Authority is our link to the source code of the Dream. Placing us higher than world souls. We alter the very laws of any world by altering the Dream. Those with Authority are what the Academy labels as gods. Regardless of whether or not that being can make proper use of their Authority. Passing my test showed me that all of you, not only possess Authority, but can wield it as a weapon. The absolute most basic ability needed to become a True God.]
“What is this dream!? All of my inquiries have been blocked! The System says it will be taught in the third year, but you have mentioned it several times already. Are lessons on Authority supposed to be taught after the third year? What is the System doing with our schedule?” Again Sign questions, only to be ignored by the Blue Titan.
Now where have I heard the term the Dream before?
“Does this Authority have any relation to the Lords of the Dream? Are they the source of this Authority you speak of? Or are they simply those with the most? Can one become a new Lord of the Dream?” Bau asks, only to be met by a strange glare from the faceless titan.
That’s right! Osormr mentioned the Lords of the Dream recently. What were they again? Were we ever told? I have a feeling others have also mentioned them before, but I cannot remember. I wonder if the Academy is messing with us again?
[All worldly phenomena are subservient to Authority. By wrapping yourself in Authority you become immune to all worldly phenomena. Also while it is to a much lesser extent, your own Authority can protect you from any peer weaker than yourself. Such as the wills’ of mortals, or a world’s soul and its lesser gods.] Oh?
“Wait, do you mean it protects us from magic? How does that work with normal weaponry, such as physical based attacks? What about phenomena that don't use magic but the laws of a world instead? Would you be protected from a nuclear bomb? What about a kinetic impactor?” Sign stands up to ask this time.
Are they implying wrapping yourself in Authority removes you from all interaction with the real world, both magic and physical? If true, nothing would be able to stand against you, without having its own Authority. We would literally be in a class all our own. No, it might be more accurate to say a dimension all our own.
[Wrapping yourself with the correct Authority is how we safely traverse the Outside. The turbulent space between worlds. Tapping into this correct Authority can be done through your origin, or if you evolve your Outsider ability, it can also be used. As is, that ability only grants you the Authority to pierce the veil and traverse the in-between space, not survive it. That is why it is a flawed skill, a dangerous mutation.]
That means all of us have at least two different kinds of Authority already. What the Outsider skill gives and whatever we used to pass the Blue Titan’s test. Then we need to gather additional Authority or strengthen what we have to graduate?
“What is a person’s origin, exactly? I think I have heard that before, but Ms. Awe never went into greater detail.” Jon, the little guy in the back raises his hand to ask this time.
[Your questions today have been too vaguely worded. Superior to Awe I may be. We are still bound by the Headmaster and the System’s Authority. Refine your questions after our future lectures. For now, use what you have gained to choose your extra classes for this year. I now understand why our class was moved up.]
Oh, they teach later years? Was Sign correct about classes on Authority being meant for after third year?
[All of my classes will be entirely focused on Authority. How to use it, steal it, wrap yourself with it. As well as how to determine if you have more or less of it upon any specific world. However, as this subject is directly tied to third-year subjects. I will be hindered in my explanation. It will take me a bit of time to restructure my lessons.]
“Why did we skip the third year’s lessons? Shouldn’t we have those first?” Mao asks.
[All of you are already using Authority. That can be very dangerous. Authority is most easily used as a weapon, as all of you showed. While it is wielded as a weapon, Authority can be used marginally to defend. However, that is not its purpose. Even then, wrapping yourself entirely in Authority will not guarantee your protection from another wielding it against you. Authority is not meant for defense against itself.] The blue titan responded.
{Even weak authority can pierce Authority of a higher quality. A gift to the weak from the Lord of Play. To defend yourself, you need to counter or parry an attack imbued with Authority. However, doing so is incredibly dangerous for you students. If you sharpen your blade too much too soon. You may cut your own safety net.} The gold titan added.
Cut our safety net? Does she mean the Academy’s net that catches us when we fall? If we use our Authority too much, we could die. Is that what they are saying?
“Are you saying strength alone is not enough? Is this what father meant by the power of knowledge?” Rae asks.
[I’ll leave you with that for today. Study for yourselves however you wish today. If you don’t understand your origin, know that you will fall behind. However, understanding your origin is not my prerogative. Only you can understand yourself. Aside from that, only a fundamental understanding of the Dream can help you. Something only individuals from civilizations Type 1 or higher might have a chance of understanding.] The Titan says, turning their head towards me.
Are they implying that was how I used my Authority? Was it how I imagined the electrons fleeing?
“Teach, can we use Authority besides our origin?” Ra stands up to ask.
Ra knows what an origin is? Then Sign must know as well. I will have him tell us everything he knows later.
[Hmph…] The teacher dismisses Ra’s question.
Did they not answer the question because it was implied? Or was this also too vague of a question for them to answer? Didn’t their explanation heavily imply that we needed to use more than one Authority? They even mentioned at the beginning they only wrapped themselves with one Authority to test us basically telling us they held several.
The Gold Titan also mentioned something about using their Authority to stop me from using magic back during the test? That shows they have to have at least two different types of Authority. I wonder if there are different levels as well as different kinds?
W-wait, was that a conclusion only I came to? Is this another difference in perception caused by the gap in civilization levels? I think I need to focus on raising everyone’s civilization level more than anything else. We need everyone to have a better understanding of our situation if we are going to be able to have fun while working towards graduation.
Gah, never thought I would have stumbled across a more perfect example of the inherent power of knowledge.
“So, is class over? We weren’t really dismissed. They completely ignored us and didn’t even use half of our set aside time.” Rou stands up and asks the room.
Shu’s Invitation
“Lyeh, I wish to speak with you.” Someone voiced out of nowhere after the teacher left the room.
They moved so fast and stealthily. It barely triggered my presence sense skill. She was so fast I didn’t know who it was until she slithered in-between me and Chea. The girl in our class I have had the least amount of interaction with approached me out of nowhere. Shu, the young girl with the lower half of a giant snake.
“Sure, we can talk here or we can have snacks in our guildhall.”
“I would prefer to speak with you alone. This is a rather intimate dilemma, almost a family matter.” Shu told me looking embarrassed and glancing over at Chea while completely ignoring Sign who she almost pushed over to get to me.
I don’t mind being alone with her. Students have a very hard time hurting other students, though it is not impossible. Still, something about this feels strange. The way Shu is glancing at me while also making eye contact.
