Chapter 33: Phase 1

Today was Thursday. (The ranking tests begun on Sunday and the ranking ended on Wednesday.)

Ignatius officially started this Monday. Usually Nobe and I would be doing something dumb during this free time like making some sort of space time-based meal or something and it would be his idea, but ever since my meeting with Orion and whatever happened to Nobe we decided to us this time for something else.

"We need to get stronger."

Although cringe Nobe was right. Earlier, when I had woken up and I was released, he had something he had to tell me, but I had put it off for now since I had to make Emily's 'idea book' as fast as possible since I had the same desire, but I intended to fulfil it on my own.

In my defense, I didn't know he too wanted to be stronger.

"No shit sherlock, I have literally committed a crime of attempted genocide due to my weakness and you nearly died due to yours. I'm not blaming you, just stating facts, no offence."

"I was just about to say that so no worries."

To be honest, becoming stronger obviously needs a starting point and as I was thinking of one Nobe just casually answered our question.

"Since I have the time element I could create time chamber in which we have all the time to train. But sadly I'm unable to do that with my current strength."

It was a valid and sane idea, but the only problem was his strength. But an idea came to me.

'If a time user were to do that they would spend more mana in the generation on the chamber since the chamber is needed to isolate the created timeline from the main one, wouldn't me creating a small special field make it simpler for him? Since the chamber has already been created giving it an effect with his element should be simpler.'

Sharing the idea with Nobe, he seemed surprised by it given his gapping mouth.

"I guess you qualify as both the smart and stupid one between us."

Tilting my head confused I mumbled, "Stupid?."

"Seems like you forgot about your new accessories." Nobe said as he pointed at his wrists and neck.

Looking at my own I realized what he was talking about, with these shackles on I could really only relay on my physical strength, but I still went with the idea.

"We could steal a space artifact; my house does have those but sadly since I'm not part of the main family I don't have access to them. What about you can't you 'borrow' time artifacts from your house? After all you are a child of the main family."

"No, I can't. It's especially because I am of the main family that I can't use or even touch time artifacts." Nobe shrugged in disappointment at mention of his family. Since his trauma didn't concern him and vice versa, probing into his past was the farthest thing from my mind.

"What of Rina? I think she may be willing to help." Nobe oh so casually tried to bring her as a possibility. Not that I have a grudge against her or hate her, what I do hate is the favor I'll owe her since she will ask something that I will hate to do.

But looking at Nobe who really seemed love his own idea so much. With a sigh I decided to at least try her as an option, she too needs to improve anyway so it's a win-win and Emily might need this too.

"Fine, I ask her. If she does agree then we'll start tomorrow and onwards, though it will me more difficult for me."

"Because of the shackles?"

"No. I'm in the support course remember? My schedule is different from you three."

"OOHHHH! Why did you choose the support course anyway?"

"Blinded by non-existent power is the only reason you should know of, for now."

Nobe was confused but he didn't ask any further since he knew he wouldn't get any more info out of me.

Well the shackles are irritating and I'm not able to remove them, believe me I tried, so Rina really was our only current option. Well that was until I realized what school were in.

"Are you telling me that Ignatius doesn't have a time chamber, or anything related despite its wealth and fame?."

Nobe apparently didn't consider the idea either, scratching his cheek in embarrassment he started at me. For a while we stood there dumbfounded at our stupidity, or was it ignorance? Whatever it is I hated it for this brief moment. Sighing and turning to our dorm door I said. "Let's just go and find out, it'll be easier that way, right my fellow idiot in arms?"

Smiling at the mockery, Nobe stood and followed me out, since my element and mana were sealed I had to time to reflect on the joys of walking a stupidly long distance, though I had the endurance and stamina for it walking really seemed to irritate me since I'm used to instantly appearing in a set location at will with barely a cost.

But it does stimulate my legs a bit, so I won't complain much. Nobe asked a random student if the school had them and, no surprise here, it did only downside was only the top 10 could use them. Even though I couldn't use them Nobe could, so I just walked him there, I'll just use the normal equipment after all there was no problem with them after all.

Be it genuine or not, Nobe really thought of it unfair that I won't be able to use the time chamber he even got a bit angry at it and his reasoning was, 'You were greatly limited with those shackles, it's a miracle that you placed 28th despite both your mana and element being sealed.' Well, I understood where he came from, it was unfair that I am unable to have these removed but I honestly didn't care. And the only reason I was able place 28th despite these on me was because of Orion, so I guess calling it a miracle isn't an understatement.

What I didn't understand though was his anger, be it slight or not my failure was none of his concern but soon I realized why he was like this. Despite us being together for a short time our friendship seems so natural to the point that we both felt like we were longtime friends, I once asked him about it but all he said was, 'I'll tell you when you'll have enough trust in me.', I didn't probe further. To be honest I felt like I too would be angry if the same thing happened to him, I ended up convincing him that I'll be fine, and he was more suited to using the time chamber than I.

"Dude you're in the attack course, your strength shall be priority unlike me where it's more option than anything else. And you placed top 10 there are people in this school who would kill for your position so you should use your privileges as much as possible, I were you I would be abusing them 24/7."

"Haaaaaa.....Fine, but you if you want me to use the time chamber as well as my other privileges then you'll have to owe me one favor."

"I don't get the logic in your thought process but fine, I would like to add the condition that I can accept or not, but I feel like that would lead you to train with those privileges half-assedly, so I won't."

Surprisingly the time chamber was an entire building. Although it is possible to do the amount of mana needed to maintain it is a lot but since this school has a high mana density and amount it was understandable for a person to do this. The building looked really, really flashy.

'I guess it's to show the difference in class and the importance in ranking? Well it's sure to insight competition and a lot of it at that of course the equipment and the importance of the building itself. If I still was able to use my element I would be able to know if this is a different spatial field or not as well if I could teleport in and out of it, though even if I could I bet 'they' would catch me immediately'

Even though my element was sealed I still had better senses than most naturally due to prolonged exposure to spatial awareness so sensing things was still ease though the range and accuracy was greatly lowered. By 'they' I meant the people hiding both in plain sight and not, I guessed that they are part of the staff of this building since they all wore matching uniforms.

What really amazed me was the fact that they only showed mockery towards only me. 'I guess they are already aware of the rankings and that Nobe id part of the top 10 and not me, would explain why they are only looking at me.'

Another thing happened to me after I woke up that really made me smile awkwardly wide and show no envy towards Nobe's privileged was the 'Gift' Orion granted me without me even being aware of it.

I'm confident in my usage of my element as for my physical aspects not so much after meeting Orion so I'll have to work on that. As for Nobe with his privileges as a member of the top 10, I hope he improves on where he's having difficulties.