Lys FallenDawn's smile, tinged with an almost childlike expression, swept over the motley assembly of Class Z.
Her late, almost casual, introduction after announcing an "activity suggestion" had at least served to slightly ease the atmosphere, or at least, to pique everyone's curiosity.
Alden, for his part, already sensed that this "suggestion" was going to be anything but a mere formality.
"Indeed, Mr. Khan," Lys resumed, her sparkling gaze lingering on him.
"But before we get to the heart of the matter, allow me to clarify the situation of your assigned mentor, Professor Keita. Let's just say he had a particularly… energetic disagreement with a recalcitrant staircase this morning.
Nothing fatal, I assure you, but he will need a few days to, shall we say, realign his perspectives.
I am therefore filling in for him with undisguised pleasure, especially when it gives me the opportunity to propose exercises that are a little… off the beaten path."
Of course, everyone suspected that the reason for their so-called professor's absence was flimsy. Everyone thought the same thing; whether the reason was true or false, Lys couldn't lie, her expression was enough.
She paused, observing the reactions. Looks of disbelief were visible on Asaka's and Saturn's faces. Scott, the third-year with the weathered face, let out a grunt that could pass for a laugh.
Nina Yvan, still bent over her terminal, raised a silver eyebrow, an indecipherable expression on her face.
Asaka and Saturn, the two first-years, seemed simply intimidated by the Stellar's presence; although they had worn incredulous expressions regarding Lys's reason, they made themselves small so as not to attract her attention.
"Your performance during the evaluation test, Mr. Khan," Lys continued, her tone becoming more direct, "has, how shall I put it… generated a certain volume of reports.
And a few repair estimates for academy equipment that clearly underestimated your… enthusiasm." Alden met her gaze.
"The device was not designed for measurements of this magnitude, Professor. A simple matter of calibration."
"Precisely!" Lys exclaimed, delighted.
"And it is this 'magnitude' that interests us to the highest degree. Your potential, Mr. Khan. Since you seem so eager to put it to the test, and Class Z is, by nature, intended for pedagogical approaches that are… let's say, creative, I thought of a little scenario that could both entertain you and provide us with extremely valuable data on your real abilities in an uncontrolled environment."
She knew Alden KHAN's file well; after all, she too had been on the front lines, and since Alden, despite his young age, was a commissioned officer, Lys really wanted to know how far he could go after he had caught her attention.
With an elegant wave of her hand, she conjured a floating holographic screen.
A complex three-dimensional map materialized there, representing a labyrinthine underground section of Xerx, with a particular area highlighted.
"This is the Labyrinth of Echoes," she announced, her smile widening.
"One of our most… stimulating training grounds. It's an old abandoned research section, buried deep beneath the academy, which has been… repurposed for specific tests. Its peculiarity?
Its corridors and rooms constantly change configuration thanks to unstable matronic field generators.
To spice things up a bit, we've also introduced a few local 'specimens' and mana shadows. Nothing too alarming for students of your caliber, of course.
Mainly decommissioned and particularly aggressive security drones, and a few optical and sound illusions designed to test your mental acuity." Scott let out a low whistle.
"The Labyrinth of Echoes… it's almost impossible to make a reliable map of it, and some have lost much more than their way there.
Students are not usually sent there without intensive preparation and solid supervision."
Nina Yvan, for the first time, seemed to completely abandon her terminal, her grey eyes fixed on the hologram.
"The 'specimens'… Are you implying that we would be authorized to engage in real combat? Xerx's protocols are notoriously strict regarding student exposure, even those in Class Z, to active Manas outside of controlled combat simulations."
"Let's just say that for this 'activity suggestion,' the usual protocols benefit from a… flexible interpretation," Lys replied with a disarming wink.
"The objective is threefold. For you, Mr. Khan, it will be a golden opportunity to demonstrate the true extent of that famous potential in a dynamic and unpredictable environment.
For the other members of Class Z who might wish to join the adventure – whether as cautious observers or as active participants, if the desire and abilities move them – it will be a most instructive practical case study.
And for the academy, a harvest of valuable data on the behavior of low-level Manas, the security system, and the resilience of our elite students in the face of the unknown."
Alden felt a familiar surge of adrenaline. A changing environment, real adversaries, even if of low power. It was exactly the kind of challenge he was looking for to assess his current abilities, gain experience, and, above all, force the System to grant him more power.
"And what is the exact nature of this 'mission,' Professor? A simple tourist stroll through this charming maze?" he asked, a calculated hint of irony in his voice.
"Almost, Mr. Khan, almost," Lys retorted, her smile deepening. "At the presumed heart of the Labyrinth of Echoes, we recently installed an experimental test beacon. It emits a very specific coded signal.
Your mission, if you accept it – and I am certain you will not be able to resist such a… direct challenge – will be to locate this beacon and activate it. Simple in appearance, isn't it?" She paused, letting her words sink in.
"You will have a time limit. Let's say… three hours, starting from your entry into the Labyrinth. If you succeed, we will obtain crucial data on signal propagation in an unstable matronic environment, and you will have proven, if proof were needed, that your confidence in your abilities is by no means misplaced.
If you fail, or if you require an emergency extraction… well, we will also have collected data. Of a different kind, certainly, but just as useful."
She then turned to the other students, her gaze sweeping over Scott, Nina, Asaka, and Saturn.
"You are free to accompany Mr. Khan. You can choose to stay back, as observers, and follow his progress via the sensors we will activate – as long as the Labyrinth doesn't jam them too much. You can even lend him assistance if you deem it absolutely necessary, but be aware that any intervention on your part will directly influence the evaluation of his individual performance. Or, of course, you can politely decline my invitation and return to your… fascinating autonomous studies. The choice is yours. But know that you are being evaluated even if you don't participate."
Alden didn't need to think long. His warrior blood, vibrated in unison with this proposal.
"I accept your 'suggestion,' Professor FallenDawn. When can I begin?"
Lys gave a light laugh, visibly pleased with his prompt response. "I was hoping for that reaction from you, Mr. Khan.
The main access to the Labyrinth of Echoes is in the basements of Building Delta.
I'll expect you there in exactly thirty minutes. Prepare accordingly. And Mr. Khan…" She looked at him with a new intensity.
"Try, if possible, not to demolish the entire installation this time. The academy's maintenance budget, while substantial, is not unlimited."
With these words, she left the Class Z room with the same casual grace she had entered, leaving behind an Alden reinvigorated by the prospect of action and a group of students suddenly much more awake and thoughtful. Scott scratched his scar, a pensive look on his face.
"The Labyrinth… and with the Khan kid on the bill. This promises to be more entertaining than a meditation session."
Nina Yvan, meanwhile, had returned to her terminal, her fingers typing at a prodigious speed, displaying complex diagrams and snippets of information.
"The Labyrinth's configurations are generated pseudo-randomly, but they respond to algorithms based on fluctuations in primary matronic energy flows. If one can anticipate these fluctuations…" Asaka and Saturn looked at each other, a palpable mix of nervous excitement and apprehension in their young eyes.
Alden, for his part, was already in silent communication with his internal interface.
"System, this 'mission' proposed by Professor FallenDawn. Is it recognized as an official quest?" [Analyzing proposal… Parameter match found. New quest generated: "The Heart of the Labyrinth." Main objective: Locate and activate the experimental test beacon located at the presumed center of the Labyrinth of Echoes.
Time constraint: three hours maximum. Potential rewards upon success: Substantial EXP, increased affinity with Lys FallenDawn, possibility of unlocking a perception or orientation skill, acquisition of information on low-level Manas and unstable environments.]
A determined smile formed on Alden's lips. Perfect. This was exactly what he needed.