Free Web NovelChapter 119: Ren Changed (2)
"Back in the day," Kaworu began, "betas were the strategic minds, shaping the battleground, while alphas were at the forefront, clashing directly with enemies."
To illustrate his point better, he led them to the gaming room upstairs, activating numerous screens. Within the game, a character began its movements. With several screens showing varied angles, it provided a panoramic view of the action.
"Think of it as a linked multi-screen game," Kaworu motioned to the screens. "The beta stays on the perimeter, linked with the alphas’ senses. This gives them a vantage point to oversee the entire battle, to spot threats, and then share this intel seamlessly with the alphas."
Kestrel quickly pinpointed a potential flaw. "So, in theory, the more alphas linked, the more advantageous it becomes?"
Kaworu’s gaze settled on Kestrel, who, despite her usual detached demeanor, always showcased acute instincts when discussing battles.
He mused, "Had she been born a few hundred years earlier, she’d have been hailed as a legendary warrior."
"Exactly," Kaworu nodded, "the more alphas a beta can sync with simultaneously, the more powerful the team. Exchanging thoughts is way faster than shouting commands across a field. So, back in those days, having many alphas for one beta was the golden setup. The top leaders? They were usually the most experienced and mighty betas."
"But the Queen seems to think I should only stick with one alpha," Kestrel pointed out.
Kaworu nodded again. "She’s right. In a fight, betas have a ton on their plate. They manage the battlefield, fight and confuse the enemy, all while keeping tabs on their alphas. They have to keep them calm, adjust how they feel, dial down their sensitivities, and sometimes even take control if things get dicey."
"It’s not just about raw power. It’s about fine-tuning that power, training it just right. Most start with a one-on-one match-up."
Kestrel took it all in. "Got it."
The idea of teamwork, rather than just raw strength, was something she hadn’t really dove into before.
Kaworu, thinking aloud, said, "It strikes me that our current queen knows a lot about how alphas and betas work together. She’s familiar with the term ’exclusive alpha’ and knows about starting with a single partner."
Kestrel, resting her chin on her hand, remembered the queen. "Well, she’s always been nice to me. The Queen, I mean."
"How so?" Kaworu inquired.
"Why?" Kestrel paused, thinking. She had only met the queen once. Her task? To go to the Polluted Zone with her exclusive alpha. There weren’t any big thank yous or shiny medals for cleaning up the Erdtree’s Polluted Zone, and no new tools or info for other missions either.
When she thought about it, Kestrel realized the Queen hadn’t really done anything special for her. But then, why did she feel so warmly about her? freēwēbηovel.c૦m
Just then, Ren spoke up, "The Eyehole is super risky. Especially if the Queen’s telling us to go deep inside for the Hades Stone. It’s just as dangerous as the Erdtree."
There was a heavy silence, the air thick with thought.
Finally, Kaworu broke the quiet. "You know, I think our queen might be a seriously strong beta."
"She can control people’s minds in a way that’s so smooth, so deep, that even someone as tuned-in as you wouldn’t notice."
...
Under Kaworu’s watchful eye, Kestrel and Ren threw themselves into days and days of training.
When Roy stopped by, he found their practice area such a mess, he could hardly bear to look.
Roy peered around, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Who did you get to tend to this garden? They didn’t do a good job. You might want to think about hiring a different person," he commented, carefully stepping over the remains of plants and scattered greenery as he navigated through the untamed courtyard. However, his stern face softened a bit when he spotted the vibrant roses flourishing by the window. "Well, at least there’s some beauty in this chaos."
Roy quickly settled into a chair and looked over at Kestrel, curiosity brimming in his eyes. "Tell me about your meeting with the Queen! Was she as gracious and wise as they say?"
Kestrel nodded slowly, "She’s both stunning and has mysterious power around her."
Roy’s face lit up like a child hearing a favorite story. But his joyful demeanor shifted to one of worry soon after. "I’ve heard rumors, Kestrel. They say Her Majesty sent you to the Eyehole. Why would she do that? Everyone knows it’s dangerous there!"
Pensively, Kestrel asked, "Roy, do you remember if my mother ever ventured into the Eyehole?"
Scratching his chin, Roy replied, "Your mother? Hmm... I don’t quite remember. When all that was happening, I was just a newbie in the office, far from the inside scoops."
He leaned in, lowering his voice a bit, "You know, we in the SRD serve directly under the queen’s command. And from what I’ve gathered, she decides where most of these powerful alphas should go." He paused, remembering something, "Ah! We have some old files about the Eyehole. I’ll dig them up and hand them to you."
Kestrel just nodded, her face giving away nothing.
Growing more restless, Roy leaned forward, "Look, I have no right to question Her Majesty’s decisions, but it’s hard for me to see why she’d send someone valuable like you, a beta, into the Polluted Zone. Betas are so rare these days. Their numbers are dwindling every year."
Later, as Ren was returning to his dormitory, he felt a weightlessness in his steps, a joy that he hadn’t felt since his return to the Imperial Nexus.
While ascending the staircase, he once again encountered the young girl who delivered coal. Today, her grandfather was absent. Struggling under the weight, the young girl, perhaps six or seven, tried to carry the heavy briquettes in small amounts. Coal stains marked her face, mixing with streaks of sweat.
Seeing her struggle, Ren instinctively took over, hefting the entire box. "Which floor should I drop this off?"
"Um... The eighth floor. Thank you so much, sir," she replied, her small feet pattering behind him.
With her bony frame and tangled yellow hair, she looked too fragile for such hard labor.
Curious, Ren asked, "Where’s your grandpa today?"
She looked up, a mix of sadness and determination in her eyes. "He’s unwell, bedridden. It’s just him and me now. I have to look out for him."
Ren felt a pang of sympathy. The world was tough, especially for people with so little.
As they continued going up stairs, the girl suddenly piped up, "Excuse me, sir..."
Ren, balancing the coal box, glanced down at her, her tiny stature barely reaching his knee.
"Sir, is it true that once you’re over seven, normal folks can’t turn into alphas or betas anymore?" The girl’s voice was laced with genuine curiosity.
Ren nodded, replying, "For the most part, yes."
In the Empire, there’s a difference between alphas, betas, and regular people. Usually, kids from normal families figure out if they’re an alpha or a beta before they hit the age of seven. After that age, the chance of making that switch, or the so-called ’differentiation,’ is pretty much zero.
With hope in her eyes, the young girl continued, "So, after I turn seven, nobody will check on me anymore? I’ll just lead a normal life like everyone else?"
Raising a curious eyebrow, Ren asked, "Are you scared of becoming an alpha?"
The girl hesitated, her fingers nervously playing with her dusty clothes. "No... I’m more worried about becoming a beta. I heard that if you turn into a beta, you get sent to the Tower and can’t come out until you’re grown up. If that happens... who’ll take care of my grandpa?"
Ren’s face softened, "Being a beta is a rare thing. Very few regular people turn into betas each year. It’s so rare that you shouldn’t spend your time worrying about it."
The girl gave a small nod, her worries slightly alleviated. With a lowered gaze, she continued to follow Ren up the stairs, still carrying the weight of her responsibilities on her small shoulders.
