"They aren't the spirit realms"
Ren felt a slight discomfort coming from his chest.
"W-what do you mean they're not the spirit realms, sir?"
The Captain didn't move, he sat there solemnly as he unraveled the truth.
"Think about it, Ren, how many Primary elements do you know of? And how many elements are those "realms"?"
Ren's eyes widened, the discomfort in his chest growing stronger.
"Seven, there are seven primary elements, yet only four realms…"
The Captain nodded.
"Exactly, though the mystical element isn't a conventional element and doesn't have a realm."
The Captain kept his eye on Ren, observing his reaction to every word.
"There are actually six spirit realms surrounding Votum. And those barriers, as we call them, are what's actually protecting us from their onslaught."
Ren sat back in his chair, processing the information he just heard.
'Six realms… that's two more realms that endanger us than what people know of. I understand why that would be hidden, but how are four barriers protecting us from six realms? No, actually, why?'
As he digested the information the discomfort he felt slowly lessened. Then he voiced his concerns.
"Sir, I understand why hiding that there are two more realms from the public is the better choice, but why only four barriers to protect from six realms? Why not make a dark and light barrier?"
The Captain suddenly burst into laughter.
"Ha ha… phew… I haven't heard something that funny in a while."
Ren just tilted his head to the side in confusion.
"What's so funny, sir?"
The Captain smiled as he looked at Ren.
"How do you think those barriers are made?"
Bewildered at the question, Ren thought about it for a moment.
"A device channeling Ether charged from multiple strikers?"
The Captain shook his head.
"If only it were that easy, then we could have one at each city, not just the borders."
Before Ren could suggest something else, the Captain explained.
"Those Barriers are manifestations of a very strong Striker's power. Domains they call them. They are our strongest weapon as of yet against the spirits."
'Domains…'
"Wait, did you just say a manifestation of a strong Striker's power? You mean that those four barriers are made by one striker alone?!"
The Captain scoffed.
"Of course not. That would be too much."
Ren let out a deep breath.
"Four."
Ren looked up at the Captain.
"What?"
"Each barrier is made up of one Striker's domain, so four Class 7 Strikers to maintain them."
Ren felt a shake in his core as he stood up.
"Class 7?! Class 7 Strikers exist?! I thought the highest was the commander rumored to be Class 6 but Class 7? And four of them?!"
The Captain offered a slight smirk in response.
"Oh they're real alright, and they're called Archons. Get why I'm not the strongest now?"
Ren sat down, his mouth agape.
"Archons… four of them too, and they're protecting us every day from the spirit realms…"
Feeling the slight instability in his core, Ren took a deep breath and controlled the flow of his Ether to spread it and return it to the core.
"Phew."
Opening his eyes, Ren saw the Captain's gaze on him as if piercing his body.
"W-what is it, sir?"
The Captain looked him in the eye and replied,
"Just gauging your reaction to the information, Adepts usually get their Ether riled up often at the beginning, let alone one who achieved intermediate control in half the time."
An idea struck Ren.
"Is that why you revealed such classified information to me?"
The Captain suddenly sat back in his chair, his vibe somehow becoming more laid back than serious.
"Well, that's part of it, but not the whole reason. First of all, this information is not exactly classified, you just need a certain degree of clearance to be privy to it. Second of all, you're a mystical Striker, a mystic as we call them. That grants you a few perks, including higher clearance to information such as that and…"
The Captain suddenly tossed a disk-shaped device at Ren.
Landing in his lap, Ren picked up the disk and inspected it.
It was a small disk, as thick as a finger, it was mostly blue, surrounded by silver edges. It was a bit heavier than it looked, but generally light as devices went.
"What is this, sir?"
The Captain put his hands behind his head and said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, this? This is just a piece of cutting-edge technology, which is inaccessible to anyone below Class 4."
"…"
Ren's brain went blank.
"C-c-class 4?! Why am I getting such a high-tech device?!"
The Captain shrugged.
"No idea, orders from the Central headquarters require that mystics get special treatment in all branches. Probably because you guys are so rare."
Ren stared blankly at the horizon behind the Captain.
He had been shocked so many times in this conversation that he forgot how to react, so he decided to just accept it and move on.
"I… I see, but what exactly is it?"
"Just think of it as a guide book of sorts, it shows information about you, is able to store mission points, oh and it has some tutorials and a communication function, but you probably won't be able to use anything but the basic functions due to your low class. Still, there's no device more convenient than it for strikers, just place it under your chest, where your core is, and you're set."
'That… kind of sounded like an advertisement.'
"Well, that's all, Ren. It was nice meeting you, I hope you grow up to be a marvelous striker, I've already arranged your affairs with Cain, so don't worry about it."
The Captain subtly pointed Ren to the door.
"Thank you, sir, for everything. I'll make sure to be diligent with my tasks."
Ren got up and started walking to the door, a few steps later, the Captain called out.
"Oh, and Ren."
Ren turned around to see the Captain sitting up at his desk again, his vibe once again changing.
"Power always comes at a cost, keep that in mind."
"Yes… sir."
Then he turned around and left the room.