Ray reached for his luggage and pulled out the journal. "I can't believe I'm still with this."
Onyx tilted his head, "I always knew you were a psycho who enjoys trouble but hey, I'm not judging."
Ignoring him, Ray opened it and glosses over some pages:
[After 001, we have found our fundings to be reduced. I have decided to direct our focus back to beasts and those things.]
[It's for the best. Too many eyes are on us at the moment.]
Ray closed the journal and threw his head back, "Was this man allergic to being clear? What is with him and vague messages?!"
He tossed the journal to the side and rubbed his hands aggressively against his face, "I mean it's not like he wasn't clear with the Path of Profanity but when it's something as important as 001 or something else, all of a sudden, he starts speaking in riddles."
Onyx smiled and leaned closer, "You could always ask a teacher here. I'm sure you'll find out before they tie you up for your interrogation."
Ray rolled his eyes. Like he'd ever listen to someone like him.
An idea struck Ray like a lightning bolt, "Actually, that's not a bad idea."
Onyx's smile fell, "Wait, what?"
Ray stood. "I'm here. What better place to learn about what I want to know than here."
"But obviously, I don't want to end up answering questions that I actually don't know the answers to." He placed a hand under his chin.
A few plans formed and collapsed in his mind but only one really stood out. He tried everything he could but the idea seemed to resist any holes. 'It isn't like I have a range of choices.'
Ray grabbed the journal and shoved it into his luggage. He needed to meet his new companions, they'd be very useful… especially now.
Onyx stood in front of him, "You're actually serious? Heard of sarcasm? If you are really that desperate to die, let me take your core!"
The two stared at each other in silence and a wide grin spread on Ray's face, "Oh? Are you scared?" He walked forward, passing through Onyx and leaving the room.
Ray left the accommodations and just like Roan had said, they were loitering about.
He closed in the distance between them just in time to hear the last part of Amy's story, "—and she told me that I talk too much."
She noticed Ray and smiled, "Ray!!"
He smiled, "So, uhm, why aren't you guys in class?" Ray asked. Since he had come in the middle of the academic year, he had expected them to be in class.
Roan rolled his eyes, "Oh that? This isn't a mundane school so nobody actively enforces participation in classes."
Ray's eyebrow rose, "So how do people pass… or how do things work?" It didn't make any sense.
Elix chuckled, "Basically, you attend any set of classes you wish and eventually, usually once every year, you can do an assessment on that class. If you pass, yay and if you fail, that's just disheartening. There are those who actually come here to study though."
"You don't have to pass any class. Just be a good enough cultivator and show interest in working for the nation and you're pretty much good to go." He explained as though it was the most basic thing.
Ray nodded as he processed the information. It somewhat made sense. "And how do you cultivate?" That was the only question he had left.
He needed a means to cultivate his core. For some reason, he knew that his dark core wouldn't be affected much by stagnation but that didn't apply to his fire core.
This time, it was Amy who answered, "Well, uhm, it's like this. There are tasks that the professors here put up for grabs. Complete them and you earn points. Accumulate enough and you can trade it with that professor for a cultivation technique."
"So, I can just waltz into any class?" Ray asked and Elix and Amy nodded dramatically. 'Interesting.' It seemed that he'd have to think carefully on the classes he'd do.
Amy suddenly grabbed Ray's hand, "Ray-ray…" She called and Ray internally cringed.
"I forgot to ask but like what's your element?" She smiled deeply and Ray let out a slow breath. "I'm fire. Tier 2."
Elix stepped forward, "Water. Tier 2 as well."
Amy skipped around Ray, latching herself into his arms, "I'm lightning. Tier… uhm, what was it again? Yeah, Tier 3."
Ray's heart dropped. 'Tier 3!' Technically, Amy could solo him easily with just a single spell.
'But then again, I have Onyx and the dark core, so maybe I'll stand a chance.' Ray was trying his best to be optimistic.
Roan coughed, "Oh yes, forget about me." The pout on his face was visible.
Amy sighed, "Oh great Roan, what is your element?"
The latter frowned a little but answered, "Tier 2. Earth element."