pearl of wisdom

[Season 1] Chapter 2 - Against All Odds

"That may be so but respect must be given to the will of every creature. Even fish in the ocean swim in its own direction-"

"Would you two chat with me for a while?" The ranker smiled from above you, inviting himself to sit down next to you, "While we're waiting, do you want to play a game?"

"I don't mind. Please enlighten us then."

"Huh? What game. . .?"

"Let's guess which regular will be the first to pass through the shinsu. If you get it right, I will answer any question you ask. But if I'm right, I want you two to answer anything I ask. What do you think?"

"What? Really? Sounds good! Right Ms. [Name]?" Baam beamed. You nodded, a hand to your chest, "I have no qualms with that. If there's a tie then I suppose we'll have to exchange questions."

"Then I'll go first." The ranker smiled, his eyes forming crescents, "I choose that green girl. I think her name was Anak. . ."

"Mm, a good choice." You muttered, concentrating your gaze onto the crowd before the world was drained of colors, shinsu glowing brighter and the room a dull gray, the regulars filled with shinsu of various colors and shapes and amounts. "Yes, I also think she will pass through first."

"Is there a reason you are choosing the same person?"

You responded swiftly, "I could ask you the same, Mr. Lero-Ro."

"Hmm. . ." Baam hummed, the auto of the green regular blossoming before his eyes "I. . . also choose that green girl."

"Is there a reason?"

"I have a feeling. . ."

Not a moment later she passed through the barrier. The ranker smiled, "Seems like it's a tie. Since I'm a ranker, I'll answer your questions first."

"Um. . . then. . .!" Baam beamed, looking up at the superior figure, "Did a girl with light blond hair and freckles pass by here?"

"Light blond hair. . . freckles. . ." Lero-Ro placed a finger on his chin, "I don't think I saw her on any of the tests I was in charge of."

Baam sighed, shouldeds falling, "I see."

"She might be taking a test somewhere else. I'll try to ask the other administrators about her." Lero-Ro turned to you, "What about you, Ms. [Name]?"

"I would like to know more about irregulars, particularly what makes them so feared."

Lero-Ro smiled, a golden cube appearing by his finger tips, "The irregulars are those who go against the rules of the tower."

"As you know, this tower can be divided into three areas. There's a residential area called the outer tower, the test area of the regulars called the inner tower, and a middle area. It's normal for the residents of the tower to be born in the residential area and live on that floor for their entire lives." Three inconsistent lines appeared on the golden cube, "But some people of a particular class can go to other floors through the inner tower or the middle area that's for regulars."

"You're also going through the inner tower because you're a regular, right?" You nodded curtly, "Yes."

"In the case of regulars, they live in the residential area, and one day show enough talent to earn the right to enter the inner tower. There are some other cases too but all of them are chosen, that's what they have in common." He pointed to the cube which fluttered, shapes morphing smoothly, "The sorting of regulars is done by Headon, the administrator of the tower. And all the regulars who have been sorted eventually gahters here."

"However, very rarely, people who don't get sorted get here. They're the irregulars."

"But then. . . are irregulars evil?" Baam asked, head tilted sideways. You shook your head, "No, they may violate the rules of the tower but we can't say they're evil. I suspect that irregulars are powerful and thus feared."