The room was quiet. Ray tapping on the board drew everyone's attention.
"Yeah, you see the words there your evolver percentage, bloodline, and attributes. In some cases, you have a rare trait, a legendary trait, a genius trait, or a heavenly accomplishment..."
"Err, what does that imply?" Mary asked.
"Well, it means your bloodline might have hidden traits," Ray said, writing something on the board.
"So what if I don't have a trait?" Pan asked. He was staring at his screen.
"Well, life is full of wonders." Ray pointed to what he'd written on the board: It all depends on you.
Ray turned toward them. "My bloodline is the Heavenly North Saber Lion. It's a lightning strength type monster that lives in the northern mountain ranges. It came with a Heavenly Accomplishment Trait: Alpha of the North." The blue in his eyes gave a light tint.
"Hahaha. You can share your bloodline type with us, or not." He stared at Tars. "What was yours?"
Tars stood up. "My bloodline is the Mystic Eye Sly Fox, and I have a legendary trait: Lucid Sight."
"Hmm, interesting," Ray said. "Pan?"
Pan stood up. "Bloodline is the High Target Thunder Bear. I have the legendary trait: Thunder Lord."
"Noted," Ray said.
"I have the Angry Blue Bird. Legendary trait: The Angry One," Ken said.
"Hahaha!" Loki could no longer control himself. The Angry One? Thunder Lord? What was happening? Weird names, he thought.
"Hey Loki, I hate it when you act all cocky. Who do you think you are?" Ken slammed the table.
"He's sorry," Tars said as she stood up.
"I'm not," Loki said, still seated.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Ray clapped his hands three times. Loki felt his heart skip a beat as he looked at Ray, who had his eyes closed. Tars was forced to sit down. Ken slowly sat back.
Pan had a grin on his face he felt the awe and aura coming from Ray. Mary was shaking in her seat.
"Loki, please, for the love of life, let this be the last time you make such a fuss in my class," Ray said.
"Yes, Captain. My apologies. But I find it funny everyone is talking about traits. Strange everyone has one," Loki said.
"Mary," Ray said.
"My bloodline is the Thunder Echo Owl. Genius Trait: Insight."
"Loki!"
"My bloodline is the Lightning Wolf, and rare trait: The Proud Lone Wolf, Alpha Class." Loki said it with a grin on his face.
Ray turned to the board. "The rare trait, as the name implies, is a very rare attribute to obtain. From what we know, it's the most complex and power-hungry trait. There are many ranks to it Alpha Class, Beta Class, and Omega Class, ranked in order of increasing power." He paused and added,
"Alpha is the highest within the rare category. But rare itself is officially ranked lowest compared to legendary, genius, and heavenly accomplishment."
Ken raised an eyebrow. "So, Loki's got the highest of the low?"
Ray shook his head. "Not exactly. The rare trait is ranked lowest because we don't understand it well. Few people get it, so there's less knowledge. But that doesn't mean it's weak. The strongest person I know apart from myself has a rare trait."
Loki's grin faded slightly.
"Anyway," Ray continued, "above rare is the legendary trait, which is what most bloodlines come with. It's easier to understand and comes with clear feats. The genius class sits above both offers a stable mind, excellent for combat decisions, one‑strike kills. And at the top sits the heavenly accomplishment trait. Takes an insane amount of luck to get one."
"Well, Captain, why do we all have some trait? I don't think it's normal," Mary asked.
Ray sighed. "From the books and what Captain Omar taught me when I got here, this is all we know. Everyone having a trait? Strange. But it's one of those things we don't have answers to."
"We have a library?" Mary's eyes lit up.
"Yeah, it's the next hall beside this. I'll take you there after this meeting."
Loki stared at the board. So, I've got the highest rank in the rarest category. His eyes twitched. "So, you mean I'm the strongest among the weakest?"
Tars looked at him, wanting to say something. Pan kept staring at Mary's notes. Mary was still writing. Ken had that same grin.
Ray sighed again. He circled the words on the board: It all depends on you.
He tapped it with the chalk, each tap echoing.
"Loki, it all depends on you. Like I said, the world's full of wonders. You didn't choose your bloodline or trait, but now you've got them. You can't run from that. The rare trait is ranked lowest because we don't understand it—not because it's weak. People fear what they don't get. So don't let your ego trip you up." He gave Loki a grin.
"Comparison is the thief of joy."
Loki felt something loosen in his chest. He was alive. The rest was on him.
"Alright, newbies, that's all for this class. Questions? Go read. Follow me." Ray walked toward the door.
Loki got up. Mary and Pan followed right after Ray. Ken approached Loki, opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, then just shook his head and followed.
Tars bumped into Loki's back. "My Alpha, you're standing in my way."
Loki looked at her smile. "Ha. Don't call me that." He touched her nose with a finger, then leaned closer and sniffed. "You smell good."
Tars felt his breath on her neck. Her face went red. For a second, she just stood there, then slowly like she was making up her mind she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Tars, what are you doing, foxy?" Loki wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Hey! Loki! I remember saying follow me." Ray's voice cracked through the room.
They both froze. Loki grabbed her hand and they rushed out.
Ray stood by a door, arms crossed. "You two. I get it, you've been through a lot. I'll let this slide. This time."
"Yes, Captain," Loki said.
"Noted, Captain," Tars muttered, still holding his hand.
Ray stared at their linked hands, shook his head, and headed inside.
In the next room, Mary leaned on Pan, a book in her hand, standing by a bookstand. Ken sat on a chair, staring at his watch.
The room was big bookstands with labels everywhere, chairs, desks, light coming through the windows. Cool air.
Ray coughed. "This is the library. Books on monsters, bloodlines, survival, evolvers, even Erenstone. Come whenever."
"Wow! Captain, whenever I'm free, I can come here?" Mary shook Pan excitedly.
"Hey, keep it down."
A voice from behind a bookshelf. A chair scraped, and Lisa walked out. She wore black shorts and only a bra, hair messy, a book in her hand.
Mary slapped her palm over Pan's eyes. Ken stared. Loki stared, but a humph from Tars snapped his head toward her she was glaring at him.
Ray hurried to Lisa, grabbing her shoulder. "Hey, you were supposed to be training." He pulled off his blue jacket and threw it over her. "And I told you to always wear a top!" He tried to flatten her messy hair. "Look at you, baby. Seriously."
Lisa looked up at him. "I'm sorry. I needed to finish this book, please."
Mary slowly lowered her hand from Pan's face. Pan blinked, and his eyes landed on Mary but she wasn't looking at him. She was staring at Ray, at the way his arms moved, at his bare chest, her face going red.
Pan's jaw tightened. As he just watched her.
Loki coughed.
"What are you looking at?" Lisa blushed and walked off.
Ray cleared his throat. "Yeah, so. Library. Let's head to the basement."
He turned toward the door, shirtless, and Pan still standing beside Mary called out, "Captain, please put a shirt on."