Chapter 41: Bearer Knowledge
"This is important, so listen attentively," Darlus said while maintaining his stern expression.
To show his attention, Morden also nodded while keeping a straight face.
"Alright then, let’s begin."
"As I have said earlier, it all began with the Genetic tree. No one really knows the truth about it, though. some say we have always had it, while some say it only developed after the Omnisphere descended
"But which do you think is right?" Morden asked.
Upon hearing his question, Darlus was stunned for a bit before he regained his countenance and warned Morden.
"Forget about that and just listen; stop asking too many questions."
"Regardless of its origin, the Genetic tree became the pillar of Bearers when the Omnisphere actually descended. When early Bearers got their first-ring tattoo, they were transported to the Omnisphere, where they underwent something called the First Infusion, just like we did."
At that point, Darlus stopped his explanation to check Morden and see if he was still listening. He noticed Morden was still staring back at him attentively, so he smiled and continued.
"I am sure you underwent the first infusion too, since it’s the beginning of everything," he added.
"The First Infusion is a compulsory procedure that involves the forceful injection of Vital energy into the body of the Bearer in order to awaken the Genetic Tree."
"It’s a rate-determining step since it helps Bearers to have a rough evaluation of their talent, at least that’s what my tutor said."
"Talent Evaluation? How?" Morden asked with a raised eyebrow.
"From what I learned from my tutor, it was said that the amount of Pain one feels during the infusion is lower the more the Talent and that is because a Genetic Trees that needs a high amount of Vital Energy to awaken isn’t even that sensitive to Vital Energy,"
Morden thought about the logic behind that statement and couldn’t help but nod.
’That seems like a logical conclusion but raises another problem, since it wasn’t too long; I can remember my first infusion very vividly, and I know it was really painful, does that mean I have terrible talent?’
’Now that doesn’t seem good.’
Before Morden could think more on his current circumstance, Darlus noticed his distraction and immediately called him out on it.
"Hey hey hey, don’t go thinking of other things when I am giving you an important lesson; that’s just rude."
"But I actually don’t blame you; it’s probably because you were wondering, Why is Sensitivity to Vital Energy important anyway?"
"Don’t worry, I will tell you about that soon enough. I am a good tutor after all before that we need to talk about something first."
"What is that?" Morden asked.
"Gene slots. The Genetic tree just like any other tree, has a root, trunk, and then the branches, and that gives us the types of Gene slots. There are Primary Gene slots in the Trunk and then secondary Gene slots in each layer of the branches."
"From the names, you should have realized something, right?" Darlus said with expectant eyes.
"The Primary slots are the most important and dictate what can fill the other slots," Morden answered.
"Exactly, a smart teacher and a smart student are really the perfect combo," a broad smile taking shape on Darlus’s face.
"The Primary Slots doesn’t just decide, though; it mutates the Tree itself, locking its path and determining what other slots can accept."
"But You should know that the Secondary slots can overpower the Primary slots and forcefully mutate the tree, though that has only happened once, and it’s with the great Bearer named Boundless, and it happened because his tree didn’t actually mutate due to the gene he recorded first."
"The Gene from the Legendary Golden Monkeys, despite being only Common-grade beasts, is regarded as a priceless treasure that one knows where or how to find."
"You are in awe, right? that fine, I was just like that the first day I heard about it too."
"Should we proceed with our lesson, or have you had enough to chew on for now?" Darlus asked.
Hearing the question, Morden wanted to immediately say yes, but he decided against it and thought about it for a bit before answering.
"We should proceed, but I should first be able to give a recap of all I have been thinking."
"Alright, go ahead."
"From what you have said, Bearers get a tattoo and enter the Omnisphere to undergo the first Infusion which awakens the Genetic Tree that allows Bearers to record Genes in gene slots. and The Primary Gene slot mutates the tree and determines the path, right?"
Darlus to all that and nodded with an impressed face when Morden got to the end to ask if he was right; his expression quickly changed into a smug one.
"Though it’s a less refined version of what I said that’s still right,"
"Since you get that part, then we can move, where did we stop?"
"We stoppe—"
"Don’t worry, forget that. let’s move to advancement, how do Bearers grow stronger?"
"You need to know that to actually make real progress, you need to enter the Omnisphere; that’s where you hunt beasts and get a part of their vital energy reserve and, in turn, grow your own tree."
"Which means Vital energy acts like Water to your tree and allows it to grow."
"When the tree reaches a particular height and you have gotten to the first Branch, that is, you have a new slot, then the second trial will be immediately initiated."
"After successfully passing your second trial, you obtain the second ring, which makes you a Two-ringed Bearer and so on."
"I think we should stop here, do you have any questions?"
"Yes, I do."
"Alright, go on."
"You still haven’t explained a lot of things, like Innate abilities and other things."
Darlus listened with a nod before finally answering.
"I guess I can explain innate abilities now,"
He was just about to open his mouth to begin speaking when the two heard someone open the door, and then they saw someone peep.
"Mr. Tales, Mr. Xerxes, Lady Mona told me to call you over," Brenda said before immediately running away.
"What could be happening?" they both said in unison.