Mixed Blessing System

[Name: Karen Hum]

[Soul Cultivation: level 11]

[Body Cultivation: level 10]

[STR: 51.9] [CON: 55.6] [DEX: 52.8] [AGI: 53.4] [SOU: ???]

Lothur observed the status of Viktoria's best friend, noting the improvements this blonde woman had undergone since he had last seen her.

As he had surpassed her in some ways, Lothur felt good to see this person while experiencing the difference between him and people he did not get into bed with.

Due to Elke, Annaliese, and Viktoria, he usually could not notice how impressive his cultivation speed was. But when he was in the presence of people like Karen, he felt he was 'walking' through this world faster than his 'nightmares' thought.

That woman also noticed the improvements in Lothur, even though she could not fathom this fellow's powers. "It is good to see you again, Lothur." She smiled at him, knowing that her friend had already entirely given herself to this man.

But noting how handsome, distinguished and talented he was, she was happy for her friend and even a little envious...

She would not find it impossible to be in the same bed as her friend's man!

"I couldn't see you at the Province Conference because I was working out some problems with my family, but I heard you did very well..."

She chatted with him for a few moments, sometimes entertaining Annaliese and Elke, but focused on that handsome silver-haired man.

This woman belonged to a family from outside the Linn Province, so she had naturally attended the Province Conference from her homeland, not this area. That was why she had been absent during that significant competition and only recently returned to the Morning Star Academy.

"... Anyway, are you here to enter Ice Feathers?" This blonde woman asked after some time talking with Lothur's group.

"Yes, I think it's about time we joined a faction." He said to her.

But then Karen looked at Elke and said. "We will have a problem regarding Young Miss Becker. She's still in Sector 2, so she won't pass the faction requirement."

"Don't bother with that. We will move up a sector before officially entering this faction." Lothur commented, already knowing that such a thing would be a problem.

He and Elke were preparing to do missions to gather the merit points needed to take the sector ascension exam. So, for them, this would not be a problem.

He had responsibilities as someone in Sector 6 and would have no problem joining that faction. But he still had to ascend from the sector as he had done so since that had been his initial wish. Because of this, Lothur puts himself in the same situation as Elke.

Karen understood this and said no more on the subject, not taking more time to explain what would happen to them. "Viktoria told me you were coming here today to join our faction. So I will begin the procedure with you."

Lothur smiled upon hearing this, understanding why this woman had come to them and realizing that this was not a coincidence. "All right. What do we have to do?" He asked as his group followed this woman's footsteps up a large central staircase in that mansion.

Karen then explained. "To join a faction, two procedures need to be completed. The first is completing a team mission, which happens once a month."

"So everyone interested in joining a faction in a given month must participate in this mission that always happens on the first weekend of every month." She said as they realized they would have just over a week for such a mission.

She continued. "This mission needs to be completed without casualties. Otherwise, everyone involved is blocked from joining a faction for six months."

Lothur and Elke nodded, already knowing these rules. They then listened. "With that mission completed, any student in that group will be able to compete for the faction slots they chose by participating in the faction's selection process."

"And what will we have to do about this selection process?" Elke asked.

Karen then said. "You have to meet some requirements. First, you have to be at least enrolled in Sector 3 and be a warrior. After that, you will have to go through an interview, a friendly match with a senior in the faction, and receive approval from at least half of our council members."

"Interview? Council?" Lothur repeated those words, curious to understand the workings of this faction.

Annaliese then said. "Lothur, the faction has the ordinary members, fighters, and council members. These subdivisions are to facilitate mission allocation, group formation, and subdivision of responsibilities within the faction."

"Normally, we don't have to act like an organization from outside the academy, but at certain times of competition, we need to act like one. So there is a need for a hierarchy for us to best face our opponents."

Karen nodded. "The council is the highest rank someone in our faction can reach below the leader position. It is responsible for approving new members, administration of essential matters, and paperwork related to missions.

"It is composed of 12 members, all students from Sector 6, with the cultivation of at least 2nd Revolution."

Annaliese then said. "You will have to go through an interview and then fight one of them. That way, they will decide whether or not you are worth adding to the faction."

"Fight against 2nd Revolution cultivators?" Elke asked, thinking that would be too demanding. "How am I going to do that?"

"Don't worry. The council members always fight using power equivalent to that of the candidates. So the fight won't be unfair." Karen said, reassuring that redhead as she directed them to the council, where Viktoria had ordered her to take these individuals.

Viktoria had confidence that Lothur could accomplish the mission that the academy would pass on to his group. So, she already wanted to arrange for him and Elke to join this faction.

Right after the mission that would take place in the next few days, they could immediately join this faction without her having to return to this place just for this.

She was a busy woman who could not be at the academy every day!

Karen said this to Lothur and Elke just before opening the large doors of the central hall of this mansion, where a group of 12 people was already waiting for them.

Upon arriving there, Lothur immediately saw a group of 8 women and 4 men sitting around two similar tables shaped like arches.

Between these two arches was a space the size of a wrestling mat, where the youths to be interviewed and tested usually stood when facing this council.

Everyone in that room looked at Lothur's group after Karen opened the doors, with that woman and Annaliese moving away from them. One went to one of the seats around those tables, and the other to wait beside her sister.

With that, Lothur and Elke walked to the center of that area.

...