442. Eclipses, Moons and the Moon Candidates
Frost strode through the halls of the Nexus, the clopping of her boots filled with intent. She was on the sa level as the Floor of Amalgamation, but her destination was not that gated paradise.
Rather, it was of another door at the end of a brilliant chamber. Luxurious pillars of black and white rose to hold the ceiling as Frost rely gazed at the sealed, colossal doors, rousing a response. The doors were pale with the markings of black and white feathers and were so large that they would put Divas Gate to sha.
A tipping scale sat in the center where a circular seal twisted, revealing the void within.
This was the entrance to Ti Reverberation’s Workshop. Frost adorned her formal garbs this ti as she ventured into the Threshold, allowing it to consu her whole. She walked in the darkness, following only her judgent as she felt a warmth emanating from one side, and coldness from the other.
Soft winds swept through here from multiple directions. Her Eyes of Judgent could not cut through the darkness, for it was a magical veil rather than the absence of light. This was the only place in the Nexus directly connected with the outside world, and to think that it was the Subcut Layer of all places too.
The scenery slowly began to change. Stars filled the void as the chaotic winds began to blow from directly ahead. It was not until she reached the light that the world morphed all around her.
Erald trees filled her vision as the sweet scent of dew pleasantly greeted her. A green, forest world revealed itself as cobblestone pathways could be found in large forest clearings, so shattered and others newly paved. Pine trees were so thick that they could pass as redwood filled the world.
In the center of it all was a sole, pale spire that regulated the ti in this domain. This world was Jury’s Workshop. There was hardly any infrastructure around, but that was because Frost was currently in the training grounds.
Clashes of steel and the sound of cracking whips could be heard all around her. Beyond the tree lines were blurs that moved faster than the speed of sound. Grass exploded like confetti and bark was stripped from trees like.
They were fast. Inconceivably so. But that was only to the untrained eye. Frost perfectly watched their movents. The Moons stationed here ran through innurable exercises in relation to their newfound role.
As one would expect, these were the combat oriented Moons from the Seci Arm. They were currently sparing with one another to make up for their lack of combat experience outside of the Corrupted.
“No restraint. Instant healing available. Greater healers at base. Fight to near death.” An Aquatid ordered from the sidelines as Frost approached the danger zone, gracefully maneuvering through for she could perceive their every movent.
Her AGI was so high that the Moons zipping by at their fastest were like underhanded ball throws. These several Moons were not alone. A handful of unidentifiable people watched with widened eyes, unable to comprehend the scenery as they hid behind other watchful Moons.
These people were Moon Candidates brought in by their sponsored Moons. Only five were present, and their faces were perpetually robbed of color as they soundlessly watched the spectacle of a Moon verses Moon conflict. The Aquatid – who was an Eclipse – acted as the instructor for the Moons.
She had vibrant orange hair with white stripes that ran all the way down to her knees. It was bundled into a long ponytail, and she was the first Aquatid that didn’t originate from the deep sea. She wore thick orange clothing rather than the revealing outfits of the Eclipses she knew.
It was an oversized trench coat, with the collar raised up past her ears. How she was able to see things in her peripheries was a mystery no one dared to ask, because her position spoke for itself.
She reminded Frost of a croissant for so reason, but the way her hands were tucked by her chest like a kangaroo instantly hinted on the marine creature she took after.
The woman froze montarily as she sensed Frost’s arrival, her orange, blank eyes imdiately widening as she pivoted her body to face the sky and with a single punch – a hole appeared on several trees.
“Amalgam here! Stand! No fighting! Say hello!”
Her punch created a vacuum in a single, straight column. The air was superheated, and not a second later the air ca rushing back in, causing the trees to nearly fold into themselves.
What this Eclipse took after was the Mantis Shrimp, known for their underwater punches that could reach temperatures akin to the surface of the sun. Only for a fraction of a second, however.
The woman’s fist sizzled as they dropped to her side in an act of respect to the approaching Amalgam.
“Manti! Happy to see Amalgam!” She exclaid, erecting herself like a statue, as did the other Moons who happily greeted her. They were formal and highly disciplined, a testant of how highly they viewed Frost as she greeted them back with an acknowledging nod.
Manti. I swear everyone has the simplest nas. What’s next, a rock-man nad Rocki? Or The Rock?
“You’re not one to talk. ‘Frost’ because soone’s cold hand touched your head?”
That soone happens to be Iscario.
“And?”
Haaah…
“Nice to see that you’re all proactive. The Seci Arm is going to require the best of the best. I have no doubt that you chose the perfect Candidates to join you on your deploynts.” Frost praised them, causing one of the Moons to vehently utter:
“Your words of gratitude are wasted on us.”
“Clearly not if it can motivate you to continue working hard.” Frost smiled, not wanting to scare the Candidate Moons, but she maintained a level of superiority to live up to whatever tales her Moons must have told them.
“Yes, Amalgam.” The sa Moon uttered.
The Candidates could barely et with her eyes.
Hardly any of them reached past level 30. Level 50 was the highest. Frost didn’t question the judgent of her Moons. They knew better than her who would fit them the best on the field.
Besides, the results would speak for themselves when the ti ca.
“How is the Training Doctrine? Is it, in your honest opinion, effective?” The reason Frost appeared here was to check up on this team of twenty-eight.
Exactly half of all the Moons were assigned to the Seci Arm, with the other two quarters split between the Hora Therapeutical Arm, and the Minu Auditors. Not many had the skills to move into different roles, and this was both expected and welco.
It was their primary role to take on the Corrupted, after all.
“Very good. Writer has better points than Eclipse training. But we have better practical techniques. Therefore, we change it up for Moons. Normal one good for Moon Candidates.”
The few dozen Eclipses that migrated from ImpulseWorks were part of the Seci Response Arm and served two unique roles: as instructors due to their formal training in ImpulseWorks as opposed to Moons that were mostly trained by pure combat exposure, and secondly; as assassins of the Head.
Regular Moons were only to fight the Corrupted. Eclipses on the other hand, could fight other Moons. The reason why they taught these Moons how to fight was to both refine them further, and to eventually make them surpass the Eclipses.
Moons also needed to be able to handle each other in the event of a possible Corruption, or otherwise.
“Can I ask? Are you here for Beholder Jury?” The Eclipse wondered.
“No. Not this ti. I’m here for other business. Keep up the good work. Every hour spent here is six minutes outside. One month is half a week. One year is one month.” Frost looked over at a single, pale spire that rose above the canopies.
It was a colossal Isolation Sphere installation, effectively turning Jury’s Workshop into a ti chamber. Surrounding it, unseen due to the treetops, was where the heart of Ti Reverberation resided.
Frost inhaled deeply.
“How many Candidate Moons were culled?” She asked.
“Fifteen. One was very angry. They said they knew you too. Green hair, apparently a blood relative of the Green Composer.” A Moon complained.
“They weren’t ours. Soone’s spreading a rumor that people can beco Candidate Moons. The Receptionists had a rough ti managing that ss.” Another said.
“Luckily they were all confined in the Reception.” One more said, nearly sighing.
Why do I feel like this is Cer’s fault?
“Ber said that she did see Cer with Ara at one instance. She must have told her that she could beco one.”
Remind to never trust Cer with secrets if she’s going to run her mouth like that.
“I shall prepare a wire toothbrush and soap. Can I try washing her mouth?”
Please. She’ll take it as a reward if it’s from .”
Frost ntally sighed.
“At least it wasn’t anything too disruptive. Ahem. Candidate Moons. Do your best.” She flashed them a sincere smile, making her just slightly more bearable to look at. “I believe we’ll be finishing around the sa ti as your ‘graduation’.”
“May I ask? How long are you planning to stay here?” One Moon questioned just as Frost began to depart.
“Roughly ten weeks. Or a week in the outside world. There’s much to be done. Ti Reverberation will be completed by that ti. I will be there to personally congratulate you all. Until then, please continue doing your best.”
“Yes Amalgam!” A unified cry exploded from behind as she took a casual stroll into the forest.
Before long, the clashes of steel and the turbulent winds returned.
Her eyes were set to an erging silhouette beyond the tree line as she ntally prepared herself to tinker with the White Light Apparatus. It was ti to get knee deep in creating her very own Aspects of Technology, and Jury would be there right beside her within the heart of Ti Reverberation.
It was going to be a long week.
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