At morning Syal savored the warm, fluffy bread from Stephanie's family bakery, feeling grateful for the thoughtful gift. As he finished his breakfast, his mind began to wander to the events of the past few days.
Suddenly, he remembered the package his father had sent him, which Colonel Glenn had delivered to his house a few days ago. Syal had been so caught up in his fated journey and the events that followed that he had completely forgotten about the package.
His curiosity piqued, Syal got up from the table and walked over to the corner of the room where he had left the package. It was a small, unassuming box wrapped in brown paper and twine.
Syal's hands moved slowly as he untied the twine and carefully unwrapped the paper. He lifted the lid of the box, revealing its contents. A small, leather-bound book lay inside, along with a folded piece of paper with a note scrawled on it.
Syal's eyes widened as he picked up the book and the note, his heart racing with anticipation.
Syal's eyes scanned the note, his heart swelling with emotion. The words, penned in his father's familiar handwriting, brought back a flood of memories.
The note read: "Only you, Syal, can read the contents here. If you're reading this, it means I broke my promise to attend your graduation. I'm so sorry. Here lies my surprise for you."
Syal's mind wandered back to his graduation day, when he had eagerly scanned the crowd for his father's familiar face, only to be disappointed. He had tried to brush off the feeling of abandonment, telling himself that his father was busy with work.
But now, as he held the note in his hands, Syal realized that his father had been thinking of him all along. The surprise, whatever it was, had been meant for him, a token of his father's love and apology.
With trembling hands, Syal opened the leather-bound book. He found the first page contained the mantra to summon the Wheel, an artifact he had already encountered. He skipped past the familiar information, eager to uncover new secrets.
The book provided an In-depth explanation of the artifact's creation, confirming what Syal had already learned, that The Wheel of Advancement was forged by the God of Fate and other unknown outer deities.
Syal's eyes widened as he read on, discovering that the artifact had the power to grant nine distinct cores. His father's notes revealed that he knew of eight cores: Spirit, Flesh, Mind, Energy, Neuron, Emotion, Will, and Faith/Divine. At his first spin he already known six the others two are new for him. Syal then continue to read the book.
The ninth core remained a mystery, even to Syal's father. The page was marked with a note: "The ninth core remains unknown, a secret hidden even from me."
Syal's curiosity was piqued, and he felt an overwhelming desire to uncover the truth about the ninth core. He wondered if the answer lay hidden within the book's pages or if it was a secret that only the artifact itself could reveal.
As Syal turned the page, he discovered that the rest of the book was dedicated to explaining various mythical professions. The pages were filled with detailed descriptions, skill, and notes, revealing the intricacies of each profession.
Syal's eyes scanned the pages of the book, devouring the information about the mystical professions that required a Spirit Core to unlock. He was fascinated by the possibilities.
One profession that caught his eye was the Artifact Maker. According to the book, Artifact Makers were skilled craftsmen who could create powerful artifacts by infused it with spirit, imbued the artifact with with magical properties. The thought of being able to craft his own artifacts was tantalizing. He already success made one after all.
Another profession that interested Syal was the Beast Tamer. By using the Spirit Core, Beast Tamers could form bonds with and control various beasts, using them for companionship, transportation, or even combat. The problem there's almost no beast on the Nation.
Syal also read about Necromancers, who used the Spirit Core to control and manipulate corpses, often using them for dark and sinister purposes.
Additionally, he learned about Druids, who utilized the Spirit Core to communicate with and control plants, summoning nature's fury to aid them in battle or using their powers to heal and nurture the natural world.
These professions, each with its unique abilities and applications, sparked Syal's imagination. He wondered which path he might cross later.
A small, folded paper slipped out of the book, carrying a heartfelt message from Syal's father:
"If you become Fated, I hope my collection of knowledge on mythical professions can help you fasten your progress. I am sorry to have kept this secret from you for so long. I am also sorry that I couldn't teach you any of this directly."
Syal's eyes welled up with tears as he read the final sentence:
"Remember, Syal, a smile is the antidote to anything."
The words resonated deeply within Syal, and he felt a mix emotions of sadness, gratitude, and determination. He realized that his father had been preparing him for this journey all along, even if he hadn't been aware of it.
With a newfound sense of purpose, Syal carefully returned the paper to its place in the book, feeling a sense of connection to his father that he had never felt before.
Syal realized that his father must have known about his own Fate. The preparations he had made, the knowledge he had gathered, and the secrets he had kept all pointed to one thing: his father had been aware of the path that lay ahead.
And yet, despite knowing his own Fate, Syal's father had still chosen to embark on it. He had embraced his destiny, even if it meant leaving his son behind.
Syal's eyes shone with admiration as he thought about his father's courage. Truly, he was a great Fated, one who had faced his fate head-on and had prepared his son to do the same.
After spending several hours studying the book and contemplating the mystical professions, Syal decided it was time to head back to the barracks. He carefully placed the book back in its hiding place, making sure to secure it safely.
The secrets revealed in the book had ignited a fire within him, and he was eager to see where this newfound knowledge would lead.
But for now, Syal knew he had to keep the book and its contents a secret. He couldn't risk revealing his father's message or the information about the mystical professions to anyone, not even his fellow fated.
With a sense of determination and a hint of secrecy, Syal walked into the barracks, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
***
As Syal entered the colonel room, he was greeted by a familiar face: Colonel Glenn. However, unlike their previous encounters, the Colonel didn't have a new mission or task for Syal.
"Today, I don't have any specific assignments for you, Syal," Colonel Glenn said with a hint of a smile. "Instead, I recommend you use this opportunity to learn more about the world of Fated like yesterday."
The Colonel suggest he go to the library, which was located on the core city. "You can spend some time reading up on various topics, from geography to the history of the Fated. Your knowledge are too shallow."
Alternatively, Colonel Glenn suggested that Syal socialize with the other Fated who were currently residing at the barracks. "Most of the Fated are here, after all," the Colonel said. "It would be beneficial for you to get to know them, form connections, and learn from their experiences."
Syal made his way to the basement, where the recreation room was located and many more Fated related room. As he entered the room, he was greeted by the familiar face of Vincent, who was engaged in a conversation with three other individuals.
Syal's eyes scanned the room, taking in the new faces. There was Gabriel, a Fated with a Mind Core, who had apparently been involved in a cleanup mission. Annabel, a Fated with the double core – Flesh and Emotion – caught his attention. And then there was Jacob, another Fated with a Flesh Core.
Most of the Fated in the room had already known Syal, thanks to his spar with Vincent. They nodded in recognition as he approached.
Gabriel, Annabel, and Jacob turned their attention to Syal, and Vincent smiled, "Hey, Syal. Come join us."
Syal took a seat, and the group began to chat, sharing stories and experiences. Syal listened intently, eager to learn more about his fellow Fated and their unique abilities.
As the conversation flowed, Syal discovered that Gabriel's Mind Core allowed him to analyze situations with incredible clarity, he can't do telekinesis yet, but he already adept with hipnosis, he can easily modify ordinary people memory with it. Annabel's double core gave her emotion manipulation and the usual flesh power. And Jacob's Flesh Core granted him remarkable regenerative abilities.
Syal realize even with same core, there's not given a same set of power or abilities. There's still some different.