SYSTEM ASCENSION

”You... You’re a black eye?”

Silence lingered in the shop after the head tailor’s remark. Their eyes moved from her, to Elias’s face, and then the pendant.

”Black eye?” Tiana yanked free from Claude’s grip and rushed back. She stopped before him and gazed up.

”Woah!”

Kael and Claude subconsciously tilted their heads closer.

Tiana pointed.

”I thought only the pendant could tell who a black eye is, but that’s not true!” She jumped. ”His eyes are black!”

Claude raised a brow.

’Why is she acting surprised. Didn’t she know that already?’

The head tailor tilted her head. ”Are the black eye’s gates open? They never let anyone out or in.”

”It’s still closed off,” Elias replied.

”So, how did you get out?”

He didn’t reply anymore. Rather, he just picked up his hood.

”Alright! Alright!” She raised her hand. ”I’ll measure you fast.”

She began to run the tape around his tall frame. The matter about his background was immediately closed off, but it lingered in everyone’s mind.

It only took a minute.

”Done!”

She stepped back, eyeing his height again.

”A moment. I need to take a few details about you both.”

”We’ll be outside.” Claude yanked Tiana and pulled her out.

The tailors murmured in awe as they walked into the backroom. Soon, only Elias and Kael were left standing.

”You didn’t answer my question earlier.” Kael spoke immediately.

”Were you waiting for a moment together?” Elias turned his gaze to his roommate.

Kael stepped closer.

”You’re an Upholder.”

Elias only tilted his head.

”Why do you assume that?”

”Simple,” Kael folded his arms across his chest and walked. ”The day of the orientation, during the instructor’s speech. You said upholder.”

Elias’s eyes followed him.

”And?”

Kael circled him.

”No person would just sit down, stare into space and mutter ’upholder huh...’ like a freak, except an actual one.”

For the first time since their meeting, a slight smile actually appeared on Elias’s lips. Or perhaps, it was called amusement.

He stepped closer to Kael, and leaned down.

”Isn’t that just admitting that you’re an Upholder too?”

Kael stepped back, and cleared his throat awkwardly. ”I might not be. Upholders are equally needed, desired, and hunted. I might be a disposal.”

Elias released a small scoff.

”Oh, you’re an Upholder, alright.”

”And where is the proof?” Kael countered. ”Because I asked you?”

Elias turned around and walked to the window. Kael’s eyes followed him. Then slowly, he frowned.

”When did you find out?”

Elias smirked slightly.

”The moment we met.”

”That’s absurd!” Kael snapped back. ”I gave nothing off!”

”You gave everything off.” He turned around slightly. ”Everything.”

Kael actually felt uneasy now. He glanced around.

”I blocked out sound with energy,” Elias lazily pulled his hand from his pocket and gestured vaguely around the room. ”No one will hear us, or come in.”

Kael nodded slightly. A moment of silence followed. Elias stared out the window, while Kael just glanced around to be sure no one was eavesdropping.

”What sector are you from?” Elias broke the silence first.

”Sector 3.” Kael slowly replied. He stepped closer.

”How did you find out that I’m an Upholder?”

”Easy,” Elias turned back to him. ”The day we met. You met me inside our room, yes?”

”Yes.”

”Before coming in, you took just a step in two seconds. That could only mean that you were deep in thought or staring at the screen.”

Kael folded his lips.

’He counted the seconds between my steps? And he wasn’t even seeing me.’

”How can you be sure that I was staring at the screen?” He shrugged. ”I could have been deep in thought.”

”If you were deep in thought, you wouldn’t have noticed me immediately when you came in.”

”I would have!”

”I’m Elias. You can never.”

Kael frowned.

”What?”

”In fact, you were on high alert,” Elias lazily strolled around the room. ”We both know that if we get captured, our title as an Upholder would be the worst thing life has to offer. So, you were alert. You walked through the corridor, staring at the screen, and when you finally noticed me inside the room, you dispersed it and hurried your steps,” he glanced over. ”Yes?”

Kael went speechless for a moment. He scratched his head. ”So... you figured it out from the start...” He sighed. ”You should have asked me then.”

”How could I be sure you’re not a disposal?” Elias casually mentioned.

Kael nodded slightly, his eyes glazed, until it hit him.

”You! At the orientation,” He pointed accusingly. ”So you were baiting me from the start!”

Elias smirked. ”Didn’t reality teach you to be smart in Sector 3?”

”I...”

The inside door suddenly swung open, drawing both their attention. The head tailor came in, carrying a book.

”Sorry you had to wait so long,” she chuckled nervously. ”I felt distorted for a second, I didn’t remember what I was searching for.”

Kael cast Elias a knowing glance, but the other just shrugged it off.

As she began to write down the names, Kael glanced at Elias again.

”I feel like I have seen you somewhere... before this.”

”Yes,” Elias confirmed. ”The invasion a year ago. You were the boy in the hood right?”

ZAELA TERRITORY

The Zaela territory remained tense after the report from Ringoff Academy was read to the patriarch.

[Ringoff Academy - Incident Report]

Filed By: Office of Student Conduct, Vice Headmistress Dren.

Subject: Physical Altercation, Council Chamber

*Involved Parties:*

Victim: Ume Zaela, A-rank, Daughter of Board Member Joran Zaela

Aggressor: Elias Morail, C-rank.

*Summary of Event:*

At approx. 13:10, during a standard council introduction, Student Zaela engaged Student Morail in verbal confrontation. Witnesses confirm Student Zaela initiated contact by tapping Student Morail’s chest twice. Student Morail responded with a single open-palm strike to Student Zaela’s face.

*Medical Report Attached:*

- Nasal fracture, minor

- Two teeth dislodged, recovery viable with Aged-grade restoration

- Trauma consistent with force exceeding standard human parameters.

Witness Statements:

Tiana Ringoff: ”Best moment I have ever witnessed this year! I can die in peace now!” [Statement struck from official record]

Kael Winger: ”Didn’t see him move. No one did.”

Claude Merrin (President): ”Ume was at fault.”

Council Members: Collective statement: ”It was... fast.”

Administrative Note:

Student Morail’s registration lists him as C-rank, scholarship student. No prior disciplinary record. No registered combat feats. Speed and force displayed do not align with C-rank classification. Recommend immediate reassessment.

End of report.

The attendant folded the report after reading, just to raise his head and find a teacup flying directly at his face. He narrowly dodged, letting it crash into the wall.

Joran Zaela slammed the table, fury dancing across his face.

”Bring me the boy!”