Chloe shared an uncertain glance with Peter, who responded with a light shrug.
“I don’t think saying we’re doing all of this for Daniel is enough for you? To ensure he is not alone in the Camp,” Chloe asked. “Or that we have been searching for unassuming youths with the potential to become strong enough to protect humanity from the threats outside the Bastions?”
She looked at me and let out an exasperated sigh. “But that is the truth. It is for Daniel—just not for the reason you might assume.”
Daniel’s mother looked at her husband. Peter took the hint and spoke in a neutral tone. “Retinues are being graded twice. Once with all cadets and once to register their individual growth. As long as you rank highly and improve swiftly, Daniel will be rewarded for your achievements. After all, you are Daniel’s retinue and thus his responsibility.”
He met my eyes with surprising intensity, and it looked almost like he was searching me for displeasure or anger. Peter Zerog only continued when he was satisfied with what he saw.“In the same instance, Daniel will be in trouble if you mess up. If you cause trouble, Daniel will have to carry out the punishment alongside you.”
I tilted my head and went through the things Peter had just revealed. The information about retinues had been scarce, and everything I knew about them was based on rumors, most of which sounded exaggerated and hard to believe. All I knew for certain was that retinues didn’t exist five years ago. The separated grading system was news to me, and so was the part about rewards.
“Are the rewards valuable?”
Daniel’s parents locked eyes once more, even as he appeared lost.
Daniel has no idea, I realized.
“Finding diamonds among the unBlessed is highly regarded by the Council after the back-to-back success the Camps experienced with the integration of the retinue program. The last few years have been excellent, if reports can be believed, and every year new diamonds are found. If not for the great results in recent years, the Council wouldn’t have encouraged us—and the other renowned families—to help the Beast Temple’s search for treasures,” Peter explained, his voice devoid of emotion as he turned back to me. “They value latebloomers who climbed the first wall greatly due to the increased likelihood of—”
I couldn’t hear what Peter Zerog said as Daniel’s voice rang in my ears.
“The Genesis World hypothesis?” It was barely a mutter to my right, but it muffled Peter Zerog’s words.
The hypothesis sounded oddly familiar, and it didn’t take long before the very information I’d studied for years—desperately searching for solutions to my problem—resurfaced in my mind. Rummaging through the files, theories, and hypotheses accessible to anyone with a properly working ID, I grimaced. Not because nothing made sense. Quite the contrary. My expression soured because I finally understood what was going on, and why Daniel’s parents were acting this way.
“You want me to rank as high as possible, which should be easier if what you said about the latebloomer bonus is true. If I rank high, Daniel will receive various benefits, which will push him further.”
I waited for a moment and studied the faces of the three Zerogs seated around me, but nobody answered.
“I nearly mistook your intentions.” A laugh escaped my lips. “Listening to everything you planned to give me, to invest in me, I almost felt guilty. No, I did feel guilty.”
There was no animosity in my voice as I added,
“The benefits I can provide are very valuable, aren’t they? They provide something not even the Zerog family can give their child. What is it?”
There was no way I’d back out now, but that didn’t mean I would blindly follow Daniel’s parents. I wanted to know where I stood, to understand my position in their little game.
“Aspects,” Peter Zerog responded when I held his gaze. “The Council procured Aspects.”
Daniel’s eyes widened in utter shock, but I could only look at the Zerogs.
“Aspects are invaluable, incredibly rare objects that can be infused into a Blessed’s World,” Chloe explained. “Aspects are versatile, and depending on the Aspect you consume, you can strengthen your bond with Aureus, reinforce his racial potential and unravel unique evolution paths, or bring about new traits.”
She winced when Daniel stared at her with wide eyes but continued. “Aspects can also stimulate your World and permanently increase its size, generate more soul energy, or modify your core to contain more ether or refine it automatically.”
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“Or it will alter the World’s concept,” Daniel muttered, looking aghast.
His parents nodded in agreement, though Chloe looked unwell. Peter, on the other hand, didn’t seem to mind the truth.
I’d known Daniel’s World was massive since the day he was born. That much had been painfully obvious from the moment we met. It was also the reason I’d been eternally jealous of him when we were children. However, according to the Genesis World hypothesis, Daniel’s World had to be severely restricted. That was also the sole reason my jealousy dimmed.
Daniel never explained what his World’s restrictions were, not in detail at least, but I didn’t have to know the specifics to understand.
Since his parents were desperately trying to acquire Aspects for him — something so valuable they couldn’t purchase it straightaway, despite being filthy rich — Daniel’s World had to be severely restricted. Unlike my malleable World, which may as well have no restrictions, Daniel’s World was–...A sudden thought struck me.
“You need to bind lightning-attributed bulls…” I blurted aloud.
If that was true, Daniel was heavily restricted in the range of beasts he could bind. The beast he wanted to bind had to be a bull with a lightning attribute. Finding something like that was… difficult. Binding it… even harder. Clear enough, Daniel’s parents had failed to find another suitable beast since Coco—which was also why they’d focused on nurturing the Thunderhorn Bull.
“Taurus is the term the Beast Temple uses,” Peter said matter-of-factly. “But you are right. Mostly. Daniel is severely restricted and has to bind a Taurus, a male bovine, with a lightning attribute… as well as other specifics.”
“The right Aspect might change that,” I muttered to myself, but it was clear the others could hear me. A little louder, I asked, “And you think I can rank high enough to acquire an Aspect? The right Aspect.”
Chloe Zerog nodded slowly, albeit hesitatingly, whereas Peter shook his head. “You want us to be honest with you, don’t you?”
I nodded.
“I highly doubt you’ll rank high enough, but you are the best chance we have. We searched the Bastions for a few somewhat useful unBlessed, but they were not only older than you, they acquired a Soulkin earlier than you did as well. However, they squandered their potential, and I am certain they wouldn’t have been able to face the Shadowing in your stead.
“You are a latebloomer, which is mostly owed to your World. It is incredibly malleable, which is a curse for most, yet you managed to climb the first wall without any help; you worked tirelessly and expanded your World over the years, even though it must have looked like nothing was changing. You found a beast egg, and your World did not break when it hatched. I am fairly sure you do not understand what that means since you lack the data, but Aureus did not destroy you when he hatched, and you successfully kept up with the rapid increase in Aureus’ demands.”
Peter only stated the facts, but my ears were burning. Embarrassed, I continued listening.
“Your physique is a pleasant surprise, and so is Aureus’ trait, which are also some of the reasons we decided to invest in you.” He stared me deep in the eyes. “You are a latebloomer, and you have the highest probability of helping us. It is worth a try, nothing more.”
It was hard to like Peter Zerog. Oddly enough, the same applied the other way around. Sometimes, more often than not, Peter Zerog sounded like a jerk. Emotionless and result-oriented. However, I didn’t dislike that. I liked how straightforward he was, and especially that the Zerogs invested in my growth for a reason.
“That makes everything a lot easier,” I said, voicing my thoughts. “You need me, and I need you. That means I don’t have to feel bad anymore.”
Chloe’s eyes widened, but she was not the only one surprised. Daniel looked just as surprised.
My attention remained on Peter, who had yet to stop regarding me.
“If you want that Aspect, you’ll have to invest heavily in my growth,” I said, unsure if I was going too far as I added, “As much as you are willing to invest in Daniel’s sake.”
Daniel stared at me, even more surprised than before, and I could see a glimmer of—was that irritation or discontent?—in his mother’s eyes, but Peter Zerog seemed satisfied with me.
“You are right.” He nodded. “That makes everything a lot easier—for both sides.”
Peter smiled calculatingly at me, his mind probably racing with plans. In the meantime, Chloe and Daniel regained their composure.
“Putting business aside, you should talk to your parents first. We are not going to force you, but this is a once—” Chloe glared daggers at Peter. “Never mind. Talk to your parents and give us your answer as soon as you can. There are only six months left before the Camp starts, and we have to run you through a few dozen tests before we can start training you.”
“That won’t be a problem. I already talked to them, and they support me.” That didn’t mean they were pleased with my decision, but that had to be enough for me. I hesitated for a moment. “As long as I can repay them for—”
Peter Zerog looked at me, yet I ignored him. “I want to repay them for everything they have done for me with suitable beasts—give them the same opportunity they gave me with Aureus.”
“You want them to become Blessed?” Daniel chipped in, while Peter nodded in agreement.
“That is probably for the best. You cannot live in the ninth sector if we want to bring you up to standard. Traveling back and forth would only waste time as well.”
Chloe joined the conversation after a moment, and it did not take long before Mr. and Mrs. Zerog came up with a plan for me. A plan I did not particularly like.
“I actually planned to capture two beasts on my own. I don’t need help for that—other than the right equipment maybe.”
This was non-negotiable. Sure, it would be much easier if the Zerogs purchased two Soulkins for my parents, but this was something I had to do. What was the use of a gift if someone else purchased it?
This was my way to show my parents how much I appreciated everything they had done for me all my life.