In a white room, two figures collided.
*BOOM*
A tremendous explosion resounded and Aurora was sent flying, hitting the ground several times without being able to slow down the speed of the impact.
When she stopped, she didn’t want to move because of her aching muscles and dropped to the floor, breathing heavily.
“Do you want to finish for today?” The old woman asked.
With an amused smile on her face, her sculpted and toned body made Aurora feel strange.
Despite being an A-Rank fighter herself, her arms still looked thin.
It wasn’t like she was a fan of muscles or anything and, rather, she wondered, if she got some fiber, it would give her some charm points.
A few were enough.
—Your development is internal.
The answer from her system came to her mind, and Aurora sighed.
Nicole was a fighter too, and she hadn’t developed muscle either, so she didn’t feel so alone on this path.
“I think you hit her too hard.” A voice muttered as it looked on curiously from the side.
Aurora’s expression quivered as she heard the older man’s comment.
“I... I’m fine. I think we should call it a day.” Aurora replied, looking up at the sky that was practically limitless white.
As she looked up at the sky, a warm glow covered her completely and made her feel less tired and sore.
Rising with an exhausted sigh, she instead of taking her leave and retreating approached her two masters.
“Do you guys know what’s going on?” Aurora asked curiously.
“Happening... Where?” hesitated the old man uncomprehendingly.
Aurora’s expression quivered.
It wasn’t as if he was sticking to his story that he was locked in a small dimension in the middle of Africa, but he seemed sincere not to know what she was referring to.
Blaming herself for her lack of specification, Aurora explained about what she had heard.
In the not-so-distant future on Earth, new portals would appear, known as Abyssal Portals, whose fate and danger were undetermined.
“Abysmal Portals...” the old man muttered and tapping the sheath of his Katana, he commented. “Referring to ‘abyss’ is an important point. Different cultures have different ways of appreciating ‘abyss’. For some, it is lands of death. For others, it is something referring to ‘hell’ or even others think it is a place where ‘evil beings’ are locked up.”
Aurora was silent when she heard those words, she never thought that ‘abyss’ would have different meanings.
“There are different appreciations and multiple possibilities, however, the point is that portals do not appear for no reason. That’s what you need to focus on,” interjected the old woman and with a strange tone, she added. “Things don’t happen randomly. There is always a cause and someone behind that cause.”
She could understand the old woman’s words and they made sense, however, it was completely out of her search range.
It was one matter to know the nature of those portals and another matter to know the reason why those portals would arrive.
In the first place, no god had given an answer and the God of Time and Space had only replied that; ‘Abyssal Portals are inevitable’.
Aurora gave a long sigh.
“I’ll help you look for information. Maybe I’ll get something you don’t know,” the old woman said and when she met the old man’s gaze, she shrugged her shoulders and asked. “What, you don’t want to help your apprentice? It’s not like we’re going to solve her problems, it just supports.”
Being a good apprentice, Aurora was silent as she saw her two masters looking at each other seriously.
The old man was just training her and giving her some advice, always keeping his secrecy and mysterious sense about him... Even though he was a lousy liar.
“I’ll help too,” replied the old man and gave a glance at his Katana sheath and then at Aurora.
Aurora’s expression quivered, understanding what that old man wanted.
“As a thank you for your help, I will bring you some gifts. This time, they will be the best I can find,” Aurora said in a simple tone.
Instead of buying some katanas online, she could try to get something of better quality and with more authenticity when she went to help Akira in Japan.
“You are my apprentice. It is my duty to help you,” commented the old man with a satisfied tone.
Aurora’s expression subtly trembled, as did the old woman’s gaze.
Aurora, who ended up laughing, took her leave.
White light covered her and the next moment, she was already in the mansion’s room in Atlantis City.
She had not dared to disturb her master or question his words... After all, he was helping her.
Checking the time, she realized that she had been inside for about half an hour, even though in that white room it felt like several hours.
“Someday I think I’ll end up aging beyond my years,” Aurora joked, without hiding the strangeness in her tone.
There was no response from her system, and she just laughed.
Turning off the artifact that created a barrier covering her entire room, she sat down on the couch.
That barrier was to prevent Cithrel, a powerful archmage, from noticing her actions.
It wasn’t as if it was easy to explain that she could disappear out of thin air thanks to a supposed system that responded with text in her mind.
Besides, Aurora liked to keep her secret and only her friend and her parents knew the truth... And both of them didn’t ask questions about it.
Using her holographic watch, she dialed a number and conducted a video call.
“Are you done with the training yet?” Akira asked, appearing in the projection.
She was a little sweaty from the workout and had a few bumps all over her face and, greater than anything, she was exhausted.
It was normal for her to realize that she was training hard.
“Yeah, I just got out. How about you? How’s everything on your side?” Aurora asked curiously.
Akira plopped down on a couch.
“Terrible. We’re all paying attention to the Abyssal Portals now. That we don’t know the location of their arrival makes it even more problematic. There are too many islands in the Pacific and it’s hard to secure them all,” Akira said in an exhausted tone.
The ‘Freezing Storm’ guild was active in most of Asia and Oceania, but had deep connections with the Japanese government.
However, there were too many islands in that region that were uninhabited and had little surveillance.
If those mysterious portals were to appear in those places, no one would know what would happen and such a possibility was what everyone was dreading.
“Besides, thanks to you passing information to me beforehand, I set about preparing myself, and now the superiors have paid more attention to me,” Akira muttered and with a low voice, as if she was distressed, she added. “And they have given me more responsibilities.”
She had informed her of everything Alice had mentioned and even though it was slight and scanty information; it was enough to make a preliminary preparation before a general report was surely given to the authorities.
The superiors she was referring to were surely the Japanese government authorities.
Still, it was normal, since Akira got some information before them and it was certain that a decent superior would give her even more responsibilities to prepare and in the future try to use her contacts.
Aurora had also passed on the information that Cardinal Brousseau gave her, but the governments had similar information and were already carrying out the proper preparations.
“I hope they say something more encouraging today,” Akira said with a sigh.
“I hope so too,” Aurora murmured with a sincere tone.
Today, the big international announcement would be made and the authorities of the important churches had prepared a huge conference.
Expecting something to be revealed that they were unaware of would be pleasant in its own way.
“Let’s put that topic aside,” Aurora said, and looking at Akira, she asked. “Do you already have something to work on?”
“Are you thinking about work? I heard you left the academy for a few days. That’s too bad,” Akira replied using a scolding tone while shaking her head seriously.
They both looked at each other and ended up laughing.
Aurora had to admit, to Akira, she was perfect in acting like a teacher scolding a student.
“I’m looking for something worthwhile. I’ll let you know soon,” Akira revealed with a smile.
For Aurora to go help her, something worthwhile was needed or she would feel like she didn’t ‘use’ them properly.
The two stayed talking for a long time until Aeko interrupted Akira.
“Sorry, I have work to do,” Akira said with a sigh, and looking at the screen, she muttered. “I would have loved to stay with you. It’s nice when others do all the work.”
Aurora didn’t know how to feel about those words.
Just like her being the leader of a mercenary guild in Africa, Akira in Asia was the leader of a medium-sized adventurer’s guild.
Not only did she have her group under her command, but other individuals were working.
It was like a small business, which required attention, care, and to be aware of heavier work than Aurora had in this place.
At least on the administrative side.
“Good luck with the job. I have to go to Cosmos Enterprise for a class trip, too.” Aurora commented with a long sigh.
“Looks like it’s hard to keep up the appearance of a sweet student.” Akira joked with a laugh.
Aurora nodded half-heartedly.
To her, being a student was more trouble than being a mercenary.
******
Aurora looked at the building in front of her.
It was a tall and wide building with a futuristic design that impressed anyone who looked at it.
At night, this building glowed because of the glass windows, which turned a different color during the day.
Now, even though it was daytime, the building glowed dimly, giving the impression that hard work was being done inside.
The holographic projection at the front of the building showed who the owners were.
Cosmos Company.
Focused on the development of all kinds of futuristic technology, its innovation in different areas was illustrious and extended to different scientific fields.
Medical, technological, and scientific development or any area... They were in every branch of science, innovating in every imaginable area.
And although there was talk of monopoly before, at present no one could avoid the control of technology that they had and that, according to rumors, was thanks to the Sage who worked in that company.
It was this individual who allowed them to develop new technology and advance at a giant leap in technology.
The Cosmos Company was not only focused on the field of science but also worked with magical and psionic subjects.
They were known for the ‘Cosmos Portals’ distributed all over the world and connecting entire nations with a few steps.
Such portals were a small sample of what the company could develop.
“This is the headquarters of the Cosmos Enterprise. Administration, development, and research all housed in this building.” Professor Forde reported.
All the students were present dazzled by the building.
Some had looked at the building from the outside, but now that they had the opportunity to see it from the inside, it led to everyone being excited.
“Your Majesty, you feel it too?” Venali asked quietly.
“Yes, that building has very high magical protections,” Cithrel replied with a curious look.
Those present who heard the answer let out surprised exclamations.
Not only because of the duo’s abilities to sense those changes in the building but because of the building itself.
If Aurora was honest, she could feel absolutely nothing.
Still...
“It’s normal to have so many protections. Their technological development is superior to any company in this world and if one of those technologies is lost, it would cause a significant loss,” Alice commented, opening an extra bag of chips.
Aurora nodded in agreement with Alice’s comment.
The Sage who worked for the Cosmos Company caused the advancement in technology and losing even a little of that knowledge could cause a huge monetary loss.
Sages were rare and they could count the number of them on the fingers of one hand and there were some very important ones.
Sage Su Chin, who had awakened knowledge of magic, was one of the most famous individuals in magic and was an obvious example of a world-renowned Sage.
They used his books as a bibliography in the academy.
“Sages may not have a powerful force, but they are illustrious minds in their fields and we can consider their knowledge a type of ‘power’,” Érica commented in a serious tone.
Knowledge was power... For the sages, that phrase made sense, when some of their knowledge could revolutionize some fields and the entire world.
As Cosmos Enterprise had done with all the inventions it had shown since its foundation.
“As we all are, let’s go inside, Professor Forde ordered.
The students followed her enthusiastically.
In a white room, two figures collided.
*BOOM*
A tremendous explosion resounded and Aurora was sent flying, hitting the ground several times without being able to slow down the speed of the impact.
When she stopped, she didn’t want to move because of her aching muscles and dropped to the floor, breathing heavily.
“Do you want to finish for today?” The old woman asked.
With an amused smile on her face, her sculpted and toned body made Aurora feel strange.
Despite being an A-Rank fighter herself, her arms still looked thin.
It wasn’t like she was a fan of muscles or anything and, rather, she wondered, if she got some fiber, it would give her some charm points.
A few were enough.
—Your development is internal.
The answer from her system came to her mind, and Aurora sighed.
Nicole was a fighter too, and she hadn’t developed muscle either, so she didn’t feel so alone on this path.
“I think you hit her too hard.” A voice muttered as it looked on curiously from the side.
Aurora’s expression quivered as she heard the older man’s comment.
“I... I’m fine. I think we should call it a day.” Aurora replied, looking up at the sky that was practically limitless white.
As she looked up at the sky, a warm glow covered her completely and made her feel less tired and sore.
Rising with an exhausted sigh, she instead of taking her leave and retreating approached her two masters.
“Do you guys know what’s going on?” Aurora asked curiously.
“Happening... Where?” hesitated the old man uncomprehendingly.
Aurora’s expression quivered.
It wasn’t as if he was sticking to his story that he was locked in a small dimension in the middle of Africa, but he seemed sincere not to know what she was referring to.
Blaming herself for her lack of specification, Aurora explained about what she had heard.
In the not-so-distant future on Earth, new portals would appear, known as Abyssal Portals, whose fate and danger were undetermined.
“Abysmal Portals...” the old man muttered and tapping the sheath of his Katana, he commented. “Referring to ‘abyss’ is an important point. Different cultures have different ways of appreciating ‘abyss’. For some, it is lands of death. For others, it is something referring to ‘hell’ or even others think it is a place where ‘evil beings’ are locked up.”
Aurora was silent when she heard those words, she never thought that ‘abyss’ would have different meanings.
“There are different appreciations and multiple possibilities, however, the point is that portals do not appear for no reason. That’s what you need to focus on,” interjected the old woman and with a strange tone, she added. “Things don’t happen randomly. There is always a cause and someone behind that cause.”
She could understand the old woman’s words and they made sense, however, it was completely out of her search range.
It was one matter to know the nature of those portals and another matter to know the reason why those portals would arrive.
In the first place, no god had given an answer and the God of Time and Space had only replied that; ‘Abyssal Portals are inevitable’.
Aurora gave a long sigh.
“I’ll help you look for information. Maybe I’ll get something you don’t know,” the old woman said and when she met the old man’s gaze, she shrugged her shoulders and asked. “What, you don’t want to help your apprentice? It’s not like we’re going to solve her problems, it just supports.”
Being a good apprentice, Aurora was silent as she saw her two masters looking at each other seriously.
The old man was just training her and giving her some advice, always keeping his secrecy and mysterious sense about him... Even though he was a lousy liar.
“I’ll help too,” replied the old man and gave a glance at his Katana sheath and then at Aurora.
Aurora’s expression quivered, understanding what that old man wanted.
“As a thank you for your help, I will bring you some gifts. This time, they will be the best I can find,” Aurora said in a simple tone.
Instead of buying some katanas online, she could try to get something of better quality and with more authenticity when she went to help Akira in Japan.
“You are my apprentice. It is my duty to help you,” commented the old man with a satisfied tone.
Aurora’s expression subtly trembled, as did the old woman’s gaze.
Aurora, who ended up laughing, took her leave.
White light covered her and the next moment, she was already in the mansion’s room in Atlantis City.
She had not dared to disturb her master or question his words... After all, he was helping her.
Checking the time, she realized that she had been inside for about half an hour, even though in that white room it felt like several hours.
“Someday I think I’ll end up aging beyond my years,” Aurora joked, without hiding the strangeness in her tone.
There was no response from her system, and she just laughed.
Turning off the artifact that created a barrier covering her entire room, she sat down on the couch.
That barrier was to prevent Cithrel, a powerful archmage, from noticing her actions.
It wasn’t as if it was easy to explain that she could disappear out of thin air thanks to a supposed system that responded with text in her mind.
Besides, Aurora liked to keep her secret and only her friend and her parents knew the truth... And both of them didn’t ask questions about it.
Using her holographic watch, she dialed a number and conducted a video call.
“Are you done with the training yet?” Akira asked, appearing in the projection.
She was a little sweaty from the workout and had a few bumps all over her face and, greater than anything, she was exhausted.
It was normal for her to realize that she was training hard.
“Yeah, I just got out. How about you? How’s everything on your side?” Aurora asked curiously.
Akira plopped down on a couch.
“Terrible. We’re all paying attention to the Abyssal Portals now. That we don’t know the location of their arrival makes it even more problematic. There are too many islands in the Pacific and it’s hard to secure them all,” Akira said in an exhausted tone.
The ‘Freezing Storm’ guild was active in most of Asia and Oceania, but had deep connections with the Japanese government.
However, there were too many islands in that region that were uninhabited and had little surveillance.
If those mysterious portals were to appear in those places, no one would know what would happen and such a possibility was what everyone was dreading.
“Besides, thanks to you passing information to me beforehand, I set about preparing myself, and now the superiors have paid more attention to me,” Akira muttered and with a low voice, as if she was distressed, she added. “And they have given me more responsibilities.”
She had informed her of everything Alice had mentioned and even though it was slight and scanty information; it was enough to make a preliminary preparation before a general report was surely given to the authorities.
The superiors she was referring to were surely the Japanese government authorities.
Still, it was normal, since Akira got some information before them and it was certain that a decent superior would give her even more responsibilities to prepare and in the future try to use her contacts.
Aurora had also passed on the information that Cardinal Brousseau gave her, but the governments had similar information and were already carrying out the proper preparations.
“I hope they say something more encouraging today,” Akira said with a sigh.
“I hope so too,” Aurora murmured with a sincere tone.
Today, the big international announcement would be made and the authorities of the important churches had prepared a huge conference.
Expecting something to be revealed that they were unaware of would be pleasant in its own way.
“Let’s put that topic aside,” Aurora said, and looking at Akira, she asked. “Do you already have something to work on?”
“Are you thinking about work? I heard you left the academy for a few days. That’s too bad,” Akira replied using a scolding tone while shaking her head seriously.
They both looked at each other and ended up laughing.
Aurora had to admit, to Akira, she was perfect in acting like a teacher scolding a student.
“I’m looking for something worthwhile. I’ll let you know soon,” Akira revealed with a smile.
For Aurora to go help her, something worthwhile was needed or she would feel like she didn’t ‘use’ them properly.
The two stayed talking for a long time until Aeko interrupted Akira.
“Sorry, I have work to do,” Akira said with a sigh, and looking at the screen, she muttered. “I would have loved to stay with you. It’s nice when others do all the work.”
Aurora didn’t know how to feel about those words.
Just like her being the leader of a mercenary guild in Africa, Akira in Asia was the leader of a medium-sized adventurer’s guild.
Not only did she have her group under her command, but other individuals were working.
It was like a small business, which required attention, care, and to be aware of heavier work than Aurora had in this place.
At least on the administrative side.
“Good luck with the job. I have to go to Cosmos Enterprise for a class trip, too.” Aurora commented with a long sigh.
“Looks like it’s hard to keep up the appearance of a sweet student.” Akira joked with a laugh.
Aurora nodded half-heartedly.
To her, being a student was more trouble than being a mercenary.
******
Aurora looked at the building in front of her.
It was a tall and wide building with a futuristic design that impressed anyone who looked at it.
At night, this building glowed because of the glass windows, which turned a different color during the day.
Now, even though it was daytime, the building glowed dimly, giving the impression that hard work was being done inside.
The holographic projection at the front of the building showed who the owners were.
Cosmos Company.
Focused on the development of all kinds of futuristic technology, its innovation in different areas was illustrious and extended to different scientific fields.
Medical, technological, and scientific development or any area... They were in every branch of science, innovating in every imaginable area.
And although there was talk of monopoly before, at present no one could avoid the control of technology that they had and that, according to rumors, was thanks to the Sage who worked in that company.
It was this individual who allowed them to develop new technology and advance at a giant leap in technology.
The Cosmos Company was not only focused on the field of science but also worked with magical and psionic subjects.
They were known for the ‘Cosmos Portals’ distributed all over the world and connecting entire nations with a few steps.
Such portals were a small sample of what the company could develop.
“This is the headquarters of the Cosmos Enterprise. Administration, development, and research all housed in this building.” Professor Forde reported.
All the students were present dazzled by the building.
Some had looked at the building from the outside, but now that they had the opportunity to see it from the inside, it led to everyone being excited.
“Your Majesty, you feel it too?” Venali asked quietly.
“Yes, that building has very high magical protections,” Cithrel replied with a curious look.
Those present who heard the answer let out surprised exclamations.
Not only because of the duo’s abilities to sense those changes in the building but because of the building itself.
If Aurora was honest, she could feel absolutely nothing.
Still...
“It’s normal to have so many protections. Their technological development is superior to any company in this world and if one of those technologies is lost, it would cause a significant loss,” Alice commented, opening an extra bag of chips.
Aurora nodded in agreement with Alice’s comment.
The Sage who worked for the Cosmos Company caused the advancement in technology and losing even a little of that knowledge could cause a huge monetary loss.
Sages were rare and they could count the number of them on the fingers of one hand and there were some very important ones.
Sage Su Chin, who had awakened knowledge of magic, was one of the most famous individuals in magic and was an obvious example of a world-renowned Sage.
They used his books as a bibliography in the academy.
“Sages may not have a powerful force, but they are illustrious minds in their fields and we can consider their knowledge a type of ‘power’,” Érica commented in a serious tone.
Knowledge was power... For the sages, that phrase made sense, when some of their knowledge could revolutionize some fields and the entire world.
As Cosmos Enterprise had done with all the inventions it had shown since its foundation.
“As we all are, let’s go inside, Professor Forde ordered.
The students followed her enthusiastically.
