HPDBC Chapter 24: What happens next
Chapter 24: What happens next
Chapter 24: What happens next
The unnamed teacher talked extremely quickly and with a lot of passion in her voice, sometimes shaking with the fervour she felt in her heart. Although she kept on repeatedly telling Nero that the focus of the class was just to allow him to create one single card, without the need for understanding the complexities that accompanied card making on a wider scale, she could not help but drop bits of random information here and there.
But Nero never stopped her, and maintained his focus throughout the lesson. Learning card making was extremely important for Nero, as he planned on continuing with the class even after he completed the basics. So anything he could learn now would make the lessons that eventually followed much easier.
"Child, you have too many questions," the teacher said, despite the fact that Nero had not asked a single question the entire class. She was the one who asked the questions, and she was also the one who answered them.
"Despite your curiosity, you need to take things one step at a time. Let's focus, for now, on making an Eldrim card based on your innate ability. Understand the steps involved, and its various necessities, and then we can begin to explore more complex matters in the field.
"Let's begin with the base. Let's say you are out in the wilderness, and have no cards and no resources. For your own survival, you need to make cards. So how will you make it? The answer is very simple. The resources to make most cards, especially 0 star or 1 star cards, can easily be found in the wild. Learning to harvest the materials will be one of the following classes.
"When making a card, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. First of all, what type of card do you want to make? For example, is the card a Neutral Magic card, an Elemental card, an Illusion card, an Augmentation card, a Cultivation card, a Healing card, and so on. There are endless categories, and the materials you use to make a card will actually depend on the kind of card you are making.
"For example, if you use the bark of a cedar tree as the base of a card, then from the very getgo, the card will have an elemental affinity. But if you strip away the bark, and use a thin film of the wood within as the base of the card, then it gains an illusion affinity. So you see, the recipe for each and every card is carefully designed long before the spell model even comes close to it.
"Now keep in mind, despite how thin a card is, it is actually made up of many layers, so each layer needs to be extremely thin. That means the process is very delicate, and very precise. The base of the card is the most important factor to determine its durability, but there are other factors that need consideration as well. Subsequent layers are needed, and you will now need a layer that conducts aether very well. It also has to match the affinity of the base layer, and cannot clash with it.
"The exact number of layers vary from recipe to recipe, but the cards also usually need to go through various chemical and aetheric treatments long before the spell model is even applied. Traditionally, crafting the spell model is an extremely difficult task, but in the case of innate cards, you only need to use the innate ability at the correct time, without destabilising the as of yet unformed card, and bind the card together.
"I'm sure, at this point you're wondering, why do cards require pictures, names, and even flavour texts. If you think they are meaningless then you are sorely mistaken, child. The flavour text and image are extremely important for defining the intent of the card!
"Let me give you a quick example. There are two cards, and both create fire. But one is used to burn enemies, and one is used to cauterise wounds during emergency treatment. The intent of one card is clearly malicious and hostile, while the other is clearly trying to provide aid. Although how a card's effects manifest are based on the user, establishing the intent of the card is absolutely essential when creating its recipe. I know what you're thinking, child..."
The class went on for a very long time, during which Nero actually learned a lot of general information, and yet somehow was nowhere near even beginning to make his own card. It was to the point where he did not even know what material to use as a base.
Still, Nero had taken a glimpse into the complex world of card crafting and artisans, and he felt extremely satisfied with it. When the class finally ended, the unnamed teacher gave him a lot of homework, which was basically to read through the entire introductory book she had given him.
Before leaving, Nero asked her if he could have an aether shard as well. Technically speaking, Nero was now eligible to receive 10 aether shards every month until his school finished, so he was not asking for anything outlandish. It was just not common to get them until he officially started the aether cultivation class.
When asked why he wanted it, he simply said he wanted to begin studying various materials used in card manufacturing. Aether dust, made from crushing aether shards, was a common ingredient so it was a believable excuse.
The teacher gave it to him without much hassle, just glad to be rid of him so she could return to her work. If he hadn't managed to get his hands on it he could just borrow one from Gabriel, but it was better to use one of his own if he could.
Of course the fight was still during a spar. But Nero had challenged the bully, and then beat him without giving him the chance to tap out. Then he did it again, and again, until the 'bully' changed schools!
That was a side of Nero no one had ever seen before. But it hardly bothered anyone. They were the children of soldiers. They had seen the darkness of humanity.
But Nero had not saved Silas from bullying, far from it. He just made it so that no one else would bully Silas.
Although the kid still got beat up in spars, it was only a regular amount. But for some reason, after that, Silas became extremely afraid of Nero. No one knew why. Publicly, at least, Nero had never hit him or berated him. But it was clear for everyone to see that Nero was pressuring him in some way.
Often Nero had Silas join him with his friends, but the more he included Silas in his circle, the more afraid he became.
Vanessa watched as Silas trudged out of class, his eyes fixed on the floor. He was sweating, even in this cold weather. Something was clearly up, but no one knew what. Besides, everyone had a good relationship with Nero, so no one wanted to confront him either.
But Vanessa had no qualms about picking a fight with Nero if need be. She made a mental note to judge the situation tomorrow. If she could develop a good relationship with Silas, then...
When Nero got home, he saw an unfamiliar kid sitting in his apartment, studying. He must be one of his roommates.
Nero introduced himself briefly, and let the kid, Anthony, know that he was having a friend over. Anthony, who had been awake all night due to classes, was too drained to hold much of a conversation.
Eventually, around 3:30, there was a knock on the door. The extremely light and hesitant knocks let him know that Silas had finally arrived. It was a pity that Gabriel wasn't here, but he was busy collecting information, so he would miss out.
He opened the door and looked at the pale youth standing in front of him, his eyes on the floor.
"Come on in," Nero said, and led Silas to his room before closing the door.
The boy stood very meekly in a corner, not daring to look up, which caused Nero to frown. For reasons he could not completely understand, whenever he looked at Silas like this, it would grate him in his very soul.
He was not usually quick to anger, but the sheer lack of will to fight in him always managed to tick him off somehow.
"I'll get to the point, Silas. I got one shard. One. This is your one chance. You can take it, or you can go back to the way things were before. How often did you have to get your teeth replanted? Was it weekly, or was it even more frequent than that? If that's what you prefer, then the choice is yours. But suffer no delusions, Silas. This is not life being unfair to you. This is not you getting stuck with asthma, or anything out of your control. This is your choice. So whether you climb out of hell, or dive back into it, it's completely up to you."
His speech did not have the rousing effect he hoped it would. The boy seemed even more afraid than before. Nero just could not understand him. It was like he was an alien race. When he already had nothing to lose anymore, why was he so afraid?
But he said nothing now. For better, or for worse, what happened next was up to Silas.