Chapter 1323: Tour

"Here, you’ll be given the following: the rules of the Verge, how to utilize your will, how to ascend... and the gods’ favorite... a chance to acquire resources."

Atticus raised an eyebrow. "Resources?" he asked.

"You’ll find out more on that during your stay here. My only job is to help you settle in."

The admissions officer still hadn’t paused his steps. Atticus could see that he was leading him toward the main building, the imposing castle he’d seen from on top of the hill.

Atticus used the brief silence to glance around once more. What he’d seen earlier was true. There were only a few sparse buildings littered around.

"Do all the gods stay in the castle?" he finally asked.

"Yes."

Atticus didn’t like the sound of that. The castle looked massive, but with the number of gods he was seeing, it didn’t seem like he would be getting any sort of privacy.

He shuddered and truly hoped that he wouldn’t be forced to share a room with someone, or people. There could be nothing worse.

"What Will path do you follow?"

That question brought the admissions officer to a stop. The man turned towards Atticus, eyes still calm like a still lake.

He looked like Atticus had just asked something he wasn’t supposed to ask. Regardless, Atticus met his gaze calmly. It was a question, it was his choice if he wanted to answer it or not.

A smile creased the aged man’s face, and he turned to continue his walk. "I follow the water path."

"Is that a major faction?"

"No," said Masner, almost chuckling. "We water willers are but a minor faction."

"The water path, huh... it shows."

Atticus focused on Masner’s movement. They were calm, serene. It didn’t look like he was taking steps; it looked like he was flowing like a wave.

"You’ll see more of that here." Masner cast Atticus a probing glance. He felt like he was conversing with a new chick.

"I can see you’re very less informed. For the sake of it, I’ll give you a brief lesson, but don’t expect this to happen again. Visit the library if you want answers."

"Your Will path is more than just a power. It’s an extension of your being. The path you follow will mold who you become. An advice, in Will Hall, it’s easy to tell a god’s disposition by the path they follow."

Atticus listened quietly. If he had to be honest, he was more chatty than usual. This was because he had recognized a chance to gather information when he met Masner. It seemed like a dumb thing to pass up.

Eventually, they both reached the castle and began making their way across the halls. Just like outside, the halls were bustling.

Atticus noted different groups clustered on different paths of the hallway. There was one thing he couldn’t miss even if he wanted to, they each had the same distinct features. The same aura, the same temperament.

’The same Will faction,’ he realized.

He glanced at a group of water willers, as Masner had termed it, clustered on the walkway.

They all had calm dispositions, dressed in simple robes, and had scholarly auras spread around them.

He turned away and focused on another group. The area around them was unusually cold, frost spreading across the ground and wall. Atticus could tell it had something to do with coldness. Or frost.

He sighted many more groups, and he quickly noticed just how seldom it was to see one person moving alone. He realized, in this place, factions were a major factor in its workings.

"I’d like to finish up the introductions now, if I may."

Atticus snapped out of his thoughts and gave Masner a nod.

"As you have noticed," Masner began, "factions are... everything. They protect you. Keep you informed. And most importantly, help you ascend."

"Protect you?" Atticus raised an eyebrow. "Fighting here doesn’t require consent from both parties?" he asked.

"It does. But you’ll come to realize that you’ll be left without a choice."

Atticus didn’t miss the cryptic meaning. "There are loopholes."

Masner smiled. "You’re perceptive."

"As your admissions officer, I’d like to offer you the same advice I give to all other gods who come here factionless. Abolish your path and join a faction."

Masner glanced at Atticus and smiled at his unfazed expression. "It is your choice to follow it or not. You all choose to ignore it, but it is your wills that end up getting snuffed out."

He went silent when he didn’t get a reaction from Atticus. Atticus didn’t ask any other questions, and the tour went on in silence.

Atticus was taken to and briefed on the classes the Will Hall offered. They were far too small in number considering the fact that it was school. In fact, there were only two classes:

Wills Training and Ways to Ascension.

Even their names showed just how much care they put into it, minimal. Each class was self explanatory and Masner didn’t bother to explain them. In the large castle, the only other places to show were the library, where Masner encouraged him to gather necessary information, and then the gods’ living area.

Eventually, the tour ended and Masner stood in front of Atticus.

"This is the Will Hall as a whole. It’s nothing much," he said.

"This place is different from schools you’re probably used to. There’s nothing binding you here. You can choose to attend classes or simply stay in the school. You can even decide to leave anytime you want. Attending does not require you to stay on the premises. But when you’re here, you’re subjected to the rules in place."

Masner glanced down at the bustling halls. They were high up on an open skyway and could oversee some parts of the bottom.

"As for the most important rule: new gods are allowed to attend the Will Hall for three months before they have to pay ’rent.’"

Atticus could already determine who set that rule. ’The Verge.’

"What do I use to pay this rent?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

"You battle with other gods," Masner explained. "Though you’re not required to win."