Chapter 990 (2/2)
“Good, because there is something we need to talk about, and the sooner the better.” Naffur stepped into the room and peered around as if he was looking for something. Eventually, he frowned, but he turned and focused his gaze back on Vye. “Your performance at the Lottery was exemplary. You managed to disperse a strike from someone who had condensed a Fate and live through it.”
“Barely,” Vye smirked. But even she couldn’t suppress the thrill of excitement at the words. She was definitely correct. If she could learn to freely utilize that power… and perhaps also slightly reduce the pain that resulted from it. Goddamnit, if this continues I’m gonna just cut this thing off.
“Do you know how many things I’ve barely accomplished in my life?” Naffur sighed. “I learned that from Randidly Ghosthound. No one else ever remembers to put barely in front of your successes once they start to pile up. But after taking the blow, you were unconscious. We brought you along with us… but that was a little bit forward. So I want to officially ask you now: would you like to join one of ten finalists to join the Order Ducis? Because otherwise… we will need to let you off at the next stop.”
Yes. More than anything, yes.
But Vye did her best to play it cool while a mental version of herself was frantically resisting the urge to grin like a village idiot and prance about. “Ah…. of course I’m interested in the Order Ducis… I really respect all of the many deeds you’ve accomplished. Definitely done a lot of good stuff… but what do you mean by finalists?”
“Heh, you are much sharper than most people we make the offer to,” Naffur chuckled. “Currently, there are only five official members of the Order Ducis. But Randidly has finally decided to expand our number. We will be hosting a six month long training camp to determine who to actually induct into the order. At the moment… five seems the top limit, should we receive enough applicants who successfully complete the camp.”
“...so there is a fifty percent chance to get in?” Vye’s internal excitement dimmed somewhat. Being a finalist seemed like it would just get her entry into the training camp. From there, she would be forced to prove herself. But based on the Order Ducis’ track record, six months of training with them would definitely see her Skill and Level improve… six months was a little less than the amount of time Vye had taken to get to this point.
After six months of the most intensive training on Earth…
“Ah, actually, finalist is a bit misleading,” Naffur’s smile seemed abruptly guilty. “But you will immediately be taken to the training camp with the distinction of someone we actively recruited. In addition to the finalists, we have about twenty individuals who have… assisted with our other tasks. They’ve earned places in the camp. Finally… we are going to have twenty open slots in the training camp, first come, first served. But we will kick anyone out that doesn’t align with our beliefs or can’t keep up with the training regimen. It was designed for high turnover.”
Naffur scratched his head. “Randidly’s training methods… are not gentle. And the Order Ducis definitely hopes to embody his spirit.”
“Of course, results demand trials to manifest. Without strife, humanity would collapse.”
Vye paused. She had been about to open her mouth and reply to Naffur, but someone else had beat her to it. As one, she and Naffur looked upward toward the source of the voice.
Aldo’s head was popping out of the luggage compartment above where Vye had been resting. Vye’s eyes slowly widened as she looked up at him, as he nonchalantly looked down at the two of them. Clearly, he had been listening into their conversation.
“Ah… Aldo, I had been looking for you... “ Naffur looked blankly up at the other man. “What… are you doing up there?”
“There isn’t any evidence that indicates that Randidly Ghosthound has ever used Manatech trains as a form of transportation.” Aldo lifted his chin and peered around. “As such… I’ve done a lot of thinking about that. Perhaps that is a more important detail than most people think. As someone who investigates the source of Randidly Ghosthound’s power… I’m currently in the middle of an experiment. So if you’ll excuse me…”
Aldo pulled his head back into the luggage compartment like a turtle withdrawing into its shell. The compartment shut itself with a snap.
“... we’ve also asked Aldo to participate.” Naffur said quietly. Then he rubbed his neck, clearly feeling quite awkward. “I… hope you two get along well. We should be arriving at our destination in two hours.”
“Ah… where is the training camp taking place?” Vye asked idly, still staring up toward Aldo’s small hideaway.
Naffur smiled. “Erickson Steel Headquarters.”
Vye’s mouth eye twitched. “I’m… sorry?”