Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 98: First Step to Creation

I smile at the news before I jump for joy. "Alright! Oh yeah! What about Yur1?"

[As you might have guessed by now, he also passed the first phase and is on his way to completing the next one. As for the phase itself, your next objective is to head deeper into this temple you're in right now.]

He taps the end of his staff and before I notice, a door suddenly appears at the end of the room and opens by itself.

[There, you will find the [Rune Tablets] where the [Signs] from our ancient ancestors left them for the world to remember. You will observe them for a while, which should serve as an inspiration for your own [Signs]. Once you're done, you will move on to the last phase of the ceremony. Any questions, young Kazu?]

I hum in thought once I hear what the next phase is. "Yeah, what if I make the [Sign] without seeing those [Rune Tablets] you've mentioned?"

[Some tried to make one without seeing one themselves, but all of them ended in failure, most of which made their would-be [Signs] nothing but scribbles. If you truly want to make your own [Sign], you must observe the past first. That's why we have to conduct the second phase of the ceremony, a close-guarded secret to the rest of the world. Otherwise...]

"Other people, who might have evil intentions might abuse the [Signs] and cause total chaos around <Volo>?" I guess.

[Your imagination never ceases to amaze us, young Kazu,] Sentio says as he smiles at me. [Of course, this phase also acts as a contract. This contract stipulates that you promise never to reveal the source of the [Signs] to anyone but others who are also bound by the same contract as you.]

"If that's the case, I'll make sure to keep that promise no matter what, Master Sentio," I proudly declare while placing my hand on my chest.

[I hope you will. Now be off, young Kazu. The knowledge of the past awaits.]

I bow down to Sentio before packing everything into my inventory. As he said, I want to learn how to make [Signs] right now and there is no time for me to ask more questions. It's time for me to start the second phase of the [Sign Creation Ceremony]!

-----

A figure wearing a white hooded robe hums to himself as he fiddles with a silver coin around his pale skin fingers. He is sitting on the table right in front of several glowing crystals that were placed on the table. One of them shows a moving image of a certain young boy with white hair walking through the long concrete hallway as the figure watches it with great interest. Then, one crystal flickers as a female voice echoed from it.

[Still interested in that young boy's talents, Dux?]

"You can say that," the figure answers as he smiles underneath his hood. "But that doesn't mean I'm hyperfocused on him too much. How are the other candidates?"

[Along with young Kazu and Yur1 moving into the second phase, two more managed to pass the first phase. The others, on the other hand, were still stuck on gathering the materials and some of them were unable to make quills that are strong enough to create [Signs] as our [Mana Papers] shown to us after their crafts.]

The figure named Dux sighs after hearing the latest results. "At least that eases my worries a bit. If those two only passed this year's ceremonies, then you might blame me for favoritism."

[Speaking of favoritism, I want to mention a half-[Insignis] boy's progress in his [Test of Courage]. It seems that he lost a fight against General Veritates recently.]