’Ah," I thought. ’Here it goes again, something unexpected that I wasn’t taught before. Something that will shake me up’
Slya continued after a single look at me. "You don’t know what a construct is. Alright. They’re like the advanced type of enchanted tools. And I’m not talking in form of strength or power.
"Even now, construct can’t be made. They are only found in ruins and such. They are like enchanted tools and not. In the sense that they have spirit that can be bonded with."
"Spirit that can be bonded with?"
"Yes. This allows the construct to grow in power and...."
"Wait, wait. I don’t understand," I said flatly.
Slya took a deep breath. "Constructs are essentially something we can bound with that replace core inside individuals. It takes in mana that core should and then said individuals can use magic through it just like normal Knight. Of course the amount of advancements you can gain is fixed...."
She trailed off when she saw that I wasn’t listening.
My face was flat and shadowed. Just how many things didn’t I know? I thought there’s only Knights’ power here in the Eternal Skies but it turns out....I shook my head and then sighed wearily. It should be expected because I hadn’t really ’see the world’.
"So there construct, can knights also use them?" I asked.
"No, it’s only for people who haven’t activated their cores and they won’t be ever able to."
"Are they more powerful than Knight?" I wanted to know.
"On average? No but we do have some very powerful ones. As you can imagine, the Clans and the Knight Assembly don’t look at construct users with favorable eyes."
"I can imagine," I said with a bitter smile. "They tend to be against things they don’t understand. So, the construct users are basically borrowing artificial powers?"
Slya paused. "Yes. And it’s one of the reasons why a lot of normal people flock to borderlands. People like me and Tiber, we hope to gain some construct. Even if it can only take us to the rank of official Knight."
"So the rank that construct can reach is already set?"
"Yes. That’s one of the disadvantages and you can’t change constructs."
"Impressive," I said, and it was the truth. No wonder people always said the borderlands was full of dangers and opportunities, all in equal measures.
"And this Nyxori can provide that," I said.
Tiber shrugged. "Yes and although you might have no need for it, think about how much you can sell it. Although it might be one with a low rank and relatively weak but still."
I nodded, no matter what, I was going to need a lot of money. I nodded firmly. "This is worth the deal. Then you mean this Kade is construct user? Very impressive."
My eyes blazed. I had read a lot about Knight...read what was available in the books provided by the Clan but this one was outside it entirely. My body trembled slightly and I tightened my hand on my pickaxe. "I’m very curious about this construct. Then I’ll ask you this because you two seems to be experienced about such.
"What happens when a Squire or Knight kills a monster?"
Tiber frowned. "From what I know, Knights can take some essence from the monsters they kill. Like a rush of essence will settle into their cores. It’s why they like to hunt and kill monsters and its also one of the easiest way to advance."
’So that’s why my core started working again, because I killed that monster. Then what I really need to fill my core up is to kill monster? Already I can feel it regenerating but it’ll take days at this rate’
I smiled. "Thank you. I can’t wait to see this Kade, then you’ll have to excuse me. And oh, I’ve made enough starsalt for all of us, cart my own in my name. See you before dinner!"
With that I turned and dissappeared into the tunnel.
Tiber and Slya stared a while and then she said. "Why did you tell him about the monsters? Now. Our second hope of survival here might get himself killed."
Tiber grunted and picked up a shovel. "We’ve got work to do."
I saw through the dark because the deeper I went the less starsalt I saw, most of them weren’t in the surface level again, covered by rocks and stone.
I picked my way gently over the rough stones before I finally stopped walking. I stood there, unmoving and digested everything I’d just heard. "It seems things aren’t always what they seems."
"I am hesitating, I know because once something began there should be no going back. Hesitation is only for when making the decision." I smiled a twisted, bitter smile. Those were my father’s words.
There was silence and then in the dark, a pair of green eye gleamed brightly. "I am Vale Athrimir and I have the highest potential in hundreds of years of its history. Let’s see what that is worth."
I began to walk again, my pickaxe ready. "I will climb the rank of advancement and see what knighthood has to offer me."
What potential meant was simply that amount of essence one can hold in their core which also directly mean the amount of techniques they can do.
I must have walked for close to half and hour and thankful that the tunnel is straightforward or I might have gotten lost. "Should I join this Nyxori? I don’t care about their plans but maybe I’ll be able to get information about the other organizations. Maybe they’ll know one with my mark."
Suddenly I stopped as I heard a dry giggle, like an old man with a lung disease was trying to laugh. I tensed and took a step forward then shifted my body slightly to the left and loosened my feet.
The air shifted behind me and I whirled, my pickaxe low on the ground. I heard a sharp crunch and warm liquid splattered me. I felt something warm like liquid honey settled on me and then my core. It was small but it was noticeable progress.
I smiled. "Time to get my core filled for the first time."