Extra's Ascent

What are the limitations of an Aldaman with a one-clover eye?

To understand that, one must first ask: to what extent does the potential of a one-leaf clover truly extend?

The three sat within the sheltered space created by four walls, each stacked above by a roof formed from blocks and held down by two pools inside, pressing down on the roofing.

Trevor's body rested crumpled in a corner, folded in a way that allowed the group to fit.

If left fully stretched, there would be no room for them to share.

They had to keep him compact for that reason.

Outside the shelter, the downpour was relentless, a storm brewing in the distance.

The heavy rain cascaded down in sheets, and a thick darkness swallowed everything.

The wind howled as trees bent and groaned under its force.

The sound of the storm outside was terrifying, and the constant whistle of the wind added an eerie tension to it.

"Does the clover eye have the ability to copy an Art you have seen only once without any learning phase?" Ian asked suddenly, his curiosity bubbling over.

He couldn't hold it in.

He had witnessed Aldrich use a wind Art that typically required a D-ranked mastery, yet Aldrich had done so with what Ian knew to be an E rank mastery level.

Ian had to understand how that was possible.

Mastery doesn't simply improve by observing someone else do it just once.

It comes through learning the complex inscriptions tied to each technique, comprehending the mana required, and then allocating it appropriately.

So how was Aldrich able to perform such a technique all the while breezing through those phases?

"Not that I know of," Aldrich replied casually, though the words didn't sit right with Ian.

Truthfully, the clover eye does grant the ability to copy any Art related to the five primary elements, but only when one awakens the second clover.

The advanced form of the first clover eye, which Aldrich hadn't unlocked yet, could grant such a power.

But Aldrich wasn't about to share that detail.

Better to keep Ian in the dark, to let him remain confused.

In this, knowledge is power, and in Eldora Institute, today's ally can become tomorrow's opponent.

No one, not even Aldrich woulf willingly expose his card to a potential rival.

"You just used a technique you said you didn't know, and you expect me to believe that?" Ian pressed, still skeptical.

"Maybe it's because I'm a genius?" Aldrich offered, his voice light with laughter, clearly deflecting the question.

Ian wasn't amused.

He had been serious in his inquiry, but Aldrich had treated him as if it were a joke.

He found it frustrating to deal with.

"But it's a good thing, isn't it? With him joining in, you were able to conserve mana," Camelia added quickly, sensing the tension between Ian and Aldrich.

She shifted the focus, trying to lighten the mood.

Ian still wasn't thrilled about being dismissed so easily, but he acknowledged Camelia's point.

"Right... And I don't know if I've thanked you properly for rescuing Trevor, even if he didn't turn out to be as helpful as we hoped."

He wanted to ask how Camelia had managed to save herself and Trevor, all while remaining unscathed, but he held back.

Prying too much would make him seem unnecessarily suspicious.

Is what he thinks to his knowledge.

He simply wanted to express his gratitude.

"Don't worry about it," Camelia replied nonchalantly. "I didn't do it for the thanks."

Aldrich raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her tone. "Okay... does she know Trevor from somewhere?" he mused quietly to himself, a sense of familiarity in her voice piquing his interest.

"Shh~ both of you, be quiet!" Ian suddenly hissed, his voice urgent.

The two fell silent immediately, realizing Ian had heard something.

He wasn't one to jump to conclusions without reason.

"Did you guys hear that?" Ian asked, his eyes narrowing.

Aldrich and Camelia focused intently, straining to listen.

Through the pounding rain, Ian's keen hearing had caught something faint, but unsettling.

"I hear footsteps... Someone's outside," Ian said, his voice low but sharp.

The rain drowned out most sounds, but Aldrich's sharp hearing caught it too: the faint thud of footsteps on the ground, steady and deliberate.

"They might need help!" Camelia suggested, her tone eager to assist whoever was out there, perhaps to bring them into the shelter.

"No," Ian snapped, shaking his head. "Not a footstep... Footsteps. Plural. Coordinated footsteps."

Aldrich paused, his mind working.

The difference in the way Ian spoke made him think. "What do you mean by 'coordinated footsteps'?" he asked.

Ian didn't hesitate. "During the tests we had to undergo to get here, was there ever a time when you were paired with someone and asked to synchronize your steps perfectly, aligning with your partner's?" he asked, his eyes locking on both Aldrich and Camelia.

They shook their heads, their faces blank.

No such thing had ever happened in the tests they'd taken.

"If that's true, then is it possible for two people, with no official training, to suddenly get their footsteps in perfect synchronization?" Ian asked, his voice growing more serious.

Aldrich and Camelia glanced at one another, a growing unease in their expressions.

They now understood why Ian was asking these strange questions.

"What about if the number isn't two, but more? Could a group of people get their footsteps in perfect synchronization without prior training?" Ian pressed further.

Aldrich stood up, already knowing the answer before Ian had even finished.

He pressed his ear against the wall, listening intently.

Despite the cacophony of rain, Aldrich filtered out the noise, focusing on the sound of the footsteps.

"You're right," Aldrich said, his voice tight with realization. "There's more than one. And the way they march... it's like the steps of trained soldiers."

The implications were chilling.

No group of newly admitted students would march in unison like that.

It didn't make sense.

Why would they, especially in the middle of a storm, when they should be focusing on finding shelter?

Unless...