Selena

The third floor of the mansion was also the practice room. It was where I'm supposed to go.

As the doors opened, I see various groups of two going at each other, trying to take down the other using all of their being.

At glance it was a funny scene, but upon a few seconds of experience, it subconsciously emitted a powerful aura that made it hard for anyone to laugh at it.

Out of this odd looking scene, the only normal person seemed to be a young girl with twin tails, who was coldly watching the pairs, silently judging them.

She doesn't seem to be satisfied as a constant look of disappointment hung on her oval face.

From common sense, I could guess that she was Selena, my boss, under whom I'm supposed to participate in the rookie competition.

My arrival did not interrupt the fighting pairs. They hardly even noticed my presence. The only one whom I'm confident that noticed my arrival was Selena.

But she simply ignored me, while paying attention to the dancing groups.

After a few minutes of fighting, the couple to my right seemed to be in a craze as they suddenly started pulling each other's hair.

Selena, who was calmly watching, finally moved. She appeared beside the duo, and knocked them out.

Her movements were fast enough to appear as a blur in my vision, showing how fast her movements actually are.

As time passed, more and more partners turned crazy, and thus increased the amount of pairs Selena knocked out.

It took 2 more hours, when the final group fell down in exhaustion on their own, making Selena not have the chance to knock them down.

Selena seemed to approve this pair, as a smile of satisfaction finnally appered on her otherwise cold face.

A few servants entered the room to carry the unconscious mob away, leaving me alone with Selena.

We stare at each other for a few seconds, before I awkwardly remove the map and hand it over to her.

The expressionless woman took a look at the map, and then proceeded to walk out of the training room, leaving me alone.

A few seconds later, I turn around and jog up to follow Selena. I belatedly understand that she meant for me to follow when she silently walked by me.

When I caught up, she didn't talk about my inaptitude to take her clue, but instead moved on, once more signalling me to follow her through silence.

We walk down two pairs of stairs and reach the first floor. We then enter an official looking room.

Inside the room was a large table that one could often see in places where political conversations happen.

It was a round table for most part, except that there was a primary spot for the leader, showing that the leader's standing was different from others in the gathering.

Selena obviously took the leader spot, and the concentrating me, immediately took one of the normal seats beside her.

"World" Selena said.

"Alesky." I answered shortly.

"Grade 0 arts?" She continued.

I think for a while, not understanding what she was asking for, but after a few seconds of thought, I shook my head.

Selena didn't interrupt or explain, she continued her questioning.

"No of skills."

"Three"

"Skill books"

"None"

"Duplicate skills"

"5"

"Progressing skills"

Once more, Selena asked something that I did not know. But I understood what she meant after a few seconds of thought.

"3"

By Progressive, it must mean those skills that could progress to level up. Currently, all three of my skills can gain Exp, which would mean that they could progress, this they are progressive skills.

"Synchronised skills?" Selena added a questioning tone at the end, showing that this was something important.

A new term once more, but I could immediately guess what she was asking for.

I nod in response, as that seemed the most appropriate way to answer her for this question.

By synchronised skills, she obviously meant something like my Digest and Enhanced Body. Both these skills gave each other some amount of Exp, when they themselves gained Exp. They could level up together, thus they are synchronised.

"Mutations."

The list of things I have no idea about keep piling up.

"None" I answer, not sure what she was asking for. If I go by the original meaning of the word mutation, I really did not have any.

Selena seemed to have expected as such, as she moved on without much change to her cold expression.

"Be there on time tomorrow."

She got up and left, leaving her monotone words behind.

By that she probably meant that I should be present in the training hall tomorrow to fight in pairs like today.

Only then did I remember that I forgot to ask Selena where I would stay.

I've got no gold on my hands, so renting a room in Houes street like others was obviously out of picture.

I'm probably not allowed to roam around the mansion without permission from Selena, which I do not have.

Thus, the only option I had was.

I look at the round table and nod. It's quite comfy to sleep on this table.