Aurelius was on his way back to his dorm, reflecting on his conversation with Augustus about his evolution. Augustus had quickly left after hearing about Aurelius' evolution, so Aurelius couldn't ask many questions. Aurelius did manage to ask if it was a good thing that Augustus hadn't heard of this evolution before. It resulted in Augustus giving a long-winded explanation on evolutions.
Augustus explained that there were four main types of evolutions. The first type was a standard evolution that focused on a specific class. In Aurelius' case, it was the Chrono-Warrior evolution, which was designed to enhance his Chronomage class. Within this category, there were variations based on factors determined by the system, but Augustus wasn't sure about all the details. Some standard evolutions were stronger than others, and the Chrono-Warrior evolution was considered one of the stronger ones for the Chronomage class.
The second type of evolution was experience-based, meaning it resulted from the Chosen's experiences. For example, Aurelius' Scholar Chosen evolution came from his extensive time spent studying in the library.
The third type was a hybrid evolution, which combined the benefits of multiple classes. Generally, this type of evolution was better than the standard evolution focused on a single class, but not always.
The Fractured Chosen evolution, which Aurelius seemed to have, was the fourth and final type. It was a unique blend of experiences and classes, making it special to the individual. This type of evolution was often considered the best because it drew from both class advantages and individual experiences.
Normally, the fourth kind of evolution would only focus on one class, similar to the standard evolution. However, Aurelius was a rare case where his evolution was a mix of multiple classes and experiences. Augustus pointed out that Aurelius was very lucky to have received such a special evolution.
In short, Augustus believed that Aurelius had made a good choice in selecting his evolution.
Interestingly, when Aurelius described his evolutionary process, he surprised Augustus in two ways. First, he qualified for an astonishing number of evolutions, far more than the usual 3 or 4. Second, the quality of Aurelius' classes was exceptional, with most of them being above average.
The praise had begun to inflate Aurelius' ego until Augustus humbled him, reminding him of the journey ahead. Abruptly afterwards, Augustus departed, leaving Aurelius deep in thought as he walked back to his dorm, contemplating his plans for tomorrow.
He wanted to make the most of his Adaptive Resilience skill, and that started by gaining more essence immediately. To do that, Aurelius planned on spending tomorrow, a Saturday, fighting in the Tournament of Elites.
Opening the door to his dorm room, Aurelius was greeted by the usual: Valen laying down on his bed and reading a book.
“Why do you always come back so late on Fridays?” Valen asked, not looking up from the book he was reading in his hands.
“There is no way you're spending all that time in the library studying or working on projects. I know you work hard, but nobody works that hard.”
“So,” Valen continued, sitting up on his bed and looking at Aurelius. “What are you doing? Letting loose perhaps?” He said, wiggling his eyebrows at Aurelius. “I wouldn’t blame you. I know this academy can be stressful and would do the same if I had the looks for it.”
“What? No.” Aurelius said, a disgusted look on his face. He placed his bag down, which was now significantly lighter since heremoved the runes from it and placed it in his storage ring.
“Huh, that only makes you sound more suspicious, you know?”
Aurelius let out a sigh, knowing Valen wouldn't let it go easily.
"It's nothing too exciting, really," Aurelius replied, trying to downplay it. "I just spent some extra time at the training grounds, working on my combat skills. You know how much I want to improve, especially with my ranking in the Tournament of Elites."
As Aurelius blatantly lied to Valen, he couldn’t help but be reminded of The Deceitful Chosen evolution that had been available as one of his potential evolutions. It caused a pang of guilt to wash over him, as he continued to lie to someone who, realistically, was one of the few people Aurelius knew well enough to have any sort of semblance of trust. Aurelius had to mentally remind himself that it was better for everyone if he continued to hide. However, even that excuse seemed to fall flat in Aurelius’ mind.
Valen raised an eyebrow, clearly not fully convinced but willing to let the matter rest for now. "Well, as long as you're not getting yourself into any trouble," he said, finally looking satisfied with the answer. "Speaking of the Tournament, are you really planning on participating tomorrow?"
Aurelius nodded. "Yes, I think it's an excellent opportunity to test my abilities. As the saying goes, steel sharpens steel."
Valen nodded in agreement. "True, true. Just be careful out there.”
“Honestly,” Valen said, flopping on his bed with a sigh. “If I were in your position, a gold-ranking first year, an achievement only a few geniuses have done in the history of the academy, I would just stop while I am ahead. No need to risk my status as a gold-ranker.”
Aurelius also let out a sigh. “You know I can’t do that, and you shouldn’t either. No matter your strength, you should never be complacent. As the saying goes, there’s always bigger fish in the sea.”
Valen let out a groan, pushing his pillow into his face. “What is wrong with you and your damn quotes today? Is that what you were doing in the library? Reading famous quotes?”
Aurelius chuckled at Valen's playful annoyance. "Hey, quotes are a great source of wisdom! They've been passed down through generations for a reason."
Valen peeked out from behind his pillow and grinned. "Alright, fine, I'll admit they sometimes have a point. But you better not start quoting those ancient philosophers during the Tournament. You might give your opponents an existential crisis, and that's not how you win fights."
Aurelius laughed, shaking his head. "Don't worry, I'll save the philosophical musings for our late-night discussions. In the Tournament, I'll focus on fighting my opponents."
Valen nodded, a serious expression crossing his face. "That's the spirit. Like I said earlier though, be careful. The competition is fierce, and some of those participants can be ruthless. Don't push yourself too hard."
"I'll keep that in mind," Aurelius assured him. "And don't worry, I won't do anything reckless."
After Aurelius spoke, a moment of silence settled in the room. Valen shifted in his bed, appearing to be on the verge of sleep, while Aurelius too made his way to his own bed, stretching out and getting comfortable.
"Aurelius?" Valen said, looking up at the ceiling from his bed.
"Yeah?" Aurelius replied, sitting up a bit.
"I've been meaning to ask you this. What motivates you? Why do you try so hard?" Valen asked.
Aurelius was caught off guard by Valen's question, causing him to pause and truly ponder his motivations. Why was he pushing himself so relentlessly? What drove him to pursue rapid advancement? His family was gone, and he lacked significant connections, aside from Valen and a few friends. Admitting that he was driven by a desire to protect loved ones would be a lie. So, was it all just for personal gain?
In that moment of contemplation, Aurelius found himself grappling with the true source of his motivation. Valen's question struck a chord, urging him to confront the depths of his inner drive. It was time to be honest, even if it meant revealing some vulnerabilities to his closest friend.
"You know, Valen, it's not just about protecting family or personal gain," Aurelius began sincerely. "There's something deeper for me. It's about my past, the fragments of my identity that remain unknown. I've always felt this persistent void, an overwhelming sense of not belonging. Striving to become stronger and rise in ranks gives me purpose, a way to discover myself. It's far better than my previous life, when I was barely surviving, scavenging the city day by day. Back then, I had no real identity or direction."
Valen listened intently, a mix of curiosity and genuine concern showing on his face.
"And there's also this internal desire to prove myself, not so much to others, but to myself," Aurelius continued. "To show that I am more than that poor, broken boy left beaten in some city alley. Or maybe it's just the fear of returning to that dark place."
Aurelius could sense Valen's expression softening as he absorbed his words. This was probably the first time Aurelius had talked about this part of his life to Valen.
"I had no idea, Aurelius," Valen said gently. "I'm sorry you had to go through such things. But I admire your strength and resilience in rising above it all. You've come so far, and I believe you'll continue to achieve great things."
"Of course," Aurelius said, a hint of a grin slipping into his voice as he tried to lighten the mood. "Who doesn’t want power to have power? You know how nice it would be to be strong enough to do anything, without having to worry about being pushed or looked down on by others?"
