Chapter 15: Qualities of a King
Chapter 15: Qualities of a King
"A king has many qualities. A king has to be strong, to lead his army. A king has to have proper subordinates, for he cannot run a kingdom alone. A king has to rule, and to rule he has to have a domain, subjects inside."
The old man spread his hands out, gesturing toward the chess pieces surrounding them.
Each piece, once static and lifeless, now seemed to stir with a subtle energy, each one a symbol of power, strategy, and influence.
"Power is important, yes," the old man continued, his voice rich with experience.
"For in this world, without it, we cannot survive. But allies are also important. A king does not stand alone. It is not enough to simply be strong. You must build your kingdom, forge alliances, and lead with wisdom. Your Codex is so much more than just allowing you to become stronger."
Ren's mind buzzed with the weight of these words.
To rule, to become a king, there was so much more that he needed to learn, to gather.
Power was essential, but without the means to govern, to guide, to protect, it was meaningless.
The old man's gaze was intense, his crimson eyes sharp as he regarded Ren with a mix of expectation and quiet approval.
"Your Life Codex will help you, but only if you understand its true purpose. It is not just a tool to enhance your power; it is a means of shaping the world around you. It will help you build your domain, your influence. It will allow you to see things others cannot, to manipulate your surroundings with a precision that matches your ambitions."
He paused for a moment, allowing the gravity of his words to settle before continuing.
"Your first step has been to take the King's piece. But what will you do with it? How will you use it to lead? Remember, a king is not just a ruler. A king is the one who defines the world he rules."
Seeing Ren's overwhelmed expression, the old man let out a slight sigh. His gaze softened, and he approached Ren with a calm demeanor.
"Let's take a step back," the old man said, raising his hand.
With a casual flick of his wrist, the knight piece that had been stationed on the far-right side of the board suddenly teleported above them.
The piece was enormous, far larger than either of them, towering over them in size.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, the massive knight piece shrank down, condensing into the old man's hand as though it was no longer the weighty force it had been moments before.
The energy from the knight pulsed with life, almost as if it recognized its master, radiating a sense of contentment at being in the old man's grasp.
"Let's start simply," the old man said, his voice steady, his tone laced with patience. "Apply aura to your eyes."
Ren, still processing the enormity of his situation, nodded slightly and obeyed the instruction. He focused his aura and directed it toward his eyes.
To his surprise, he felt it manifest as a faint glow.
It wasn't something he expected—after all, the Nexus was supposed to be a place of reflection, not a physical space where he could manipulate his aura.
As the aura flowed into his eyes, a yellow hue began to emanate from the knight piece in the old man's hand.
It was subtle at first, just a faint glow, but it was unmistakable.
"What do you see?" the old man asked, his voice calm yet expectant.
Ren blinked, taken aback for a moment by the new revelation. "The color yellow," he said, his voice tentative.
The old man nodded with approval, the edges of his lips curling upward. "That symbolizes the potential to be a knight," he explained, holding the piece up for Ren to observe more closely.
Ren looked at the knight, now understanding that its color was tied to something deeper than mere appearance. It was a manifestation of its essence, its role, and its potential in the greater scheme of things.
The old man gestured broadly toward the other pieces on the board, his hands sweeping in an elegant motion. "See, a bishop is blue. Rooks are silver. Some pawns might have slight color, showing their ability to promote into other pieces in the future, but most have no color. The queens have unique colors, depending on their personalities."
Ren's gaze shifted as he took in the board, now seeing it with a new perspective. It was as though the pieces weren't just symbols of power, but living embodiments of potential and purpose. Each one had its place, its destiny, its essence.
"The pieces," the old man continued, "are not just objects. They represent aspects of your life, your journey, your choices. You may not yet fully understand the significance of this, but as you walk the path of a king, you will. The potential you see here in the Nexus is not just about strength—it's about the direction you choose to take, the bonds you form, and the legacy you create."
Just as the old man's final words echoed in his mind, Ren's eyes blinked open, returning to the room around him.
A strange clarity washed over his vision, as though the world itself had shifted into sharper focus. His aura, moving instinctively, had settled around his eyes, casting a faint shimmer over his surroundings.
He took in the details, noticing subtle shifts in the light and shadows, a faint glow of energy trailing from objects in his view.
Then, turning to his side, he found Oliver standing there, watching him intently.
As Ren's eyes adjusted to the new perception, he noticed a faint yellow glow surrounding Oliver—a radiance that pulsed softly, resonating with the same hue he had seen on the knight piece in the Nexus.
"He has the potential of a knight," Ren thought, the realization sinking in like a hidden truth now revealed.
The aura surrounding Oliver was steady and bright, illuminating his figure in a way that felt both familiar and profound.
It was as though Ren could see something fundamental within Oliver—strength, loyalty, resilience—all the qualities that defined the essence of a knight.
Ren let the aura fade from his eyes, and the world settled back into its usual clarity, the faint glow around Oliver disappearing with it.
As his vision returned to normal, he saw Oliver stepping forward, his expression resolute and his hand extended in a gesture of respect.
"That was a good fight," Oliver said, his voice sincere, his eyes showing both humility and a competitive spark. "I won't lose next time."
Ren clasped Oliver's hand, feeling the strength of his grip. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he replied, "I'll take you on anytime."
"I guess that timing will be sooner than you think," Kai said, entering the room with a slight smirk.
Ren tilted his head, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
"Magnus has decided to implement a new system in the class rankings," Kai continued, as Selena stepped in behind him.
"Normally, all 900 students would be divided into multiple classes, each one specializing in essential skills for first years. But now, Magnus wants to begin the implementation of a new type of class."
"Class 0," Selena added, her gaze steady.
Selena continued, her tone steady but with a hint of excitement.
"The top 30 students of your year will be placed into a special class. They'll gain access to the academy's resources—essentially without limit."
Oliver raised an eyebrow. "What exactly do you mean by unlimited resources?"
Selena shook her head slightly and clarified, "Normally, the academy operates on a merit-based system. Not everything here is free. The more a student achieves, the better their access to the academy's facilities and resources."
She glanced at them both and continued, "For example, the training chambers you've been using—they cost 1,000 credits per hour. Just to give you some perspective, the highest credit total for a first-year student so far is 100,000 credits... and that was across an entire year."
Ren and Oliver's eyes widened at this revelation. For Ren, it struck especially hard—he'd practically been living in the training chambers every waking moment since his arrival.
"Ren." Selena called out, her voice insistent. "I don't think you realize how fortunate you are to have Kai as your mentor," she said, while Kai stood by the window, his attention outward, seemingly indifferent to the conversation.
"For context," she continued, "Kai is the strongest person in the entire fourth year. Even among the fifth years, few can truly rival him."