"... Eh?" Mike blinked, temporarily allowing his thoughts to flow as he comprehended what Gerald just said.
"You heard me. Hit it." He gestured to his outstretched palm with his head, and Mike looked at it with a small frown.
’He’s probably... no, this is obviously a test. Moreover, my instincts have been warning me since I met him that I have no way of hurting him in any meaningful way. But even then, to just attack him...’ He felt a bit uncomfortable at the thought. He didn’t fear that Gerald would use it as an attack to put him down. He had no bad vibes from the request, and by now, he was beginning to put a lot of trust in his instincts.
"I’ll be fine." Gerald seemed to see through him and said with a faint smile.
’... Well, I’m gonna have to test it on something eventually anyway.’ He sighed, closed his eyes, took a breath, and steadied himself.
When he reopened his eyes, his gaze had sharpened.
"Alright, here I go." He said and clenched his fist. Gerald’s smile just widened a little as he watched Mike wind up his fist.
His aura seemed to surge as the vapor became more potent. His eyes glowed and his heart pounded in his chest, his ferocity rising with his potent emotions.
To prevent it from dragging on for too long, he yelled and threw a punch.
The force shredded the sleeve of his shirt, revealing his well-defined muscles that were pulled taut like metal cables, the power within them a tangible thing.
His fist hit Gerald’s palm, and a strong wind pressure was generated as the two made contact. It pushed the table and chairs over while making their clothes flutter, but to Mike’s shock, Gerald’s palm hadn’t moved an inch.
"Hm. The power is very unfocused. But it shouldn’t be a surprise. As I said, your application of it is quite crude. But even then, the raw power output is quite remarkable. With formal training, it’d be a sight to behold." He said, and Mike took that as the chance to deactivate his ability.
Immediately, he felt the strength boost fade, though, his skin was still tingling from the residual energy.
"Unfocused?" He said with some confusion. He’d just thrown a punch with as much power as he could muster. He felt a bit dejected that his attack did nothing, but it just reaffirmed his belief that he couldn’t hurt Gerald even if he tried.
"Hm. Well, I suppose I can give you some advice," The man retracted his outstretched palm that had some steam wafting off it. "Your aura isn’t just for show. It can make you stronger once activated, but it is still a tangible form of energy. If you can learn how to control it better, you can focus the power, making it more potent, and possibly even create semi-tangible constructs with it. It also seems very compatible with numerous combat techniques. All in all, I’d say it’s very flexible when it comes to combat with lots of room for growth." He said, and Mike blinked before his expression turned thoughtful.
He wasn’t sure he fully understood, but he believed he got the gist of it.
’Maybe it’s like water vapor. It’s still hot on its own. But if I can somehow condense it, the heat will increase a lot?’ He thought. Again, he wasn’t too sure, but his gut told him that he was at least on the right track.
"Now then." Gerald flicked his wrist causing the fallen chairs and table to suddenly stand upright, as though controlled by some invisible force.
Mike was startled, but Gerald paid it no heed as he sat down once more, and Mike followed suit.
"Alright. Before we get on to the main thing, which is where you’re gonna end up, I’m gonna ask a few more questions. Alright?" He said, and Mike nodded slowly.
What followed was Gerald asking Mike questions about a variety of things. How it was growing up, what he did for a living, his relations, even miscellaneous questions like what he thought about certain concepts or behaviors deployed by humanity and certain individuals.
Mike just answered honestly, and for the ones where there was no correct answer, he simply followed his gut. This went on for about half an hour before Herald gave a satisfactory nod.
"Alright, Mike. That’s enough of that." When he said that, Mike let out a relieved sigh. He felt like he’d just written a test, but the result would determine how his life would go from now on.
"Don’t worry, you did alright," Gerald chuckled before saying. "Now, this is the part I’m sure you’re wondering about. But we will now discuss your academy options." When he said this, Mike sat up straight. This was the moment of truth.
Gerald tapped his watch, and it projected three holograms, each of them was a badge with elaborate decorations.
The first one had a red base with a yellow circle that represented the sun, and in the middle was a black fist that seemed to be reaching for the sky.
The second one was black with golden borders. In its center was a golden eye which had wings on its sides.
The last one was the most decorated. It had a white base with depictions of numerous symbols on it. Animals, weapons, celestial bodies, and people.
"There are many Academies meant to cater to ability users, but these are the three I believe will suit you the most." He gestured to the first one.
"This is Solaris Academy," He began. "A powerhouse in military development. If you go here, you can expect heavy discipline, intensity, and structure. Solaris trains you like a soldier, because it turns you into one.
"It values grit over pedigree. Action over talk. You’ll be molded into an asset on the Frontline. You’ll he tested in live operations, forged through conflict. Survival, tactics, team cohesion. It’s brutal and strict, but it works. If you want glory or have a drive to fight for humanity, then Solaris will shape you into a weapon."
Then he gestured to the second badge.
"This is Seeker Academy, and it’s a but... different. Its main focus is on specialization, self-mastery, and individuality. It’s pretty much a haven for those who want to carved their own path."
"Here, you’re encouraged to explore and customize your training. Families, guilds, even corporate factions and organizational powerhouses sponsor Seeker students, grooming them for roles tailored to their talents. If you’re someone who hates having your future dictated by others, Seeker gives you space—and pressure—to grow into something unique."
Finally. He gestured to the third badge.
"Lastly, we have Eventide Academy. It’s probably the most balanced of the three, and the most politically charged."
"It’s a bit of a joint project between the Apex Families. It’s a place run by power, prestige, and potential. Here, you can choose your direction. Be it military operations, corporate contracts, independent study, or even entrepreneurship. However, in that place, eyes are always watching, and freedom is monitored quite a bit. Eventide students are expected to become leaders, powerhouses, or both, and many succeed. Whether on the battlefield, a boardroom, or in the shadows." Gerald folded his arms.
"So, three options. A Soldier, A specialist, or someone the world fears or follows. Choose your pick, Mike.