Chapter 43: Recommendation Letter.
"Sixteen years old?? He has already reached this height and weight? Look at those refined muscles. He looks like he can lift an entire car." Madam Naima’s pupils widened in shock, a rare display of emotion.
"I told you, he has SS potential. I am sure the nightcrawlers in the assembly and other agencies will fight tooth and nail over him." Shia said.
"Who wouldn’t? I can already see him being a powerhouse in the future." Madam Naima said solemnly, "Shia, make sure to recruit him to our agency. If you need more than the recommendation letter to convince him, don’t hesitate to ask."
Madam Naima understood that genetic qualities were one of the most important factors that decided one’s potential and limitations.
Sure, the chosen nightcrawler was still the main decider of a Daywalker’s limitation. But it helped a lot to have a talented human as a partner and not a deadweight.
That’s because when the Shadowlife seed unlocked rewards for the hosts, it tapped into both the genetic pool of the nightcrawlers and humans to define the best evolutionary path.
In other words, if Arthur chose an enhancement specialization nightcrawler, their raw strength would be absolutely barbaric since their seed would be taking advantage of both of their amazing genetic codes.
After all, the seed considered both humans and nightcrawlers as its hosts, which meant, it would accelerate their evolution simultaneously as long as they had actual noteworthy traits to evolve.
On the other hand, if an average human were chosen, the seed would rely mostly on the nightcrawler’s DNA for their evolutionary path...This was what usually happened.
"I will see what I can do."
Shia stood up after receiving an email with the recommendation letter signed by her mother.
Anyone between the ages of twelve and twenty-one could use this letter to enter the Contract Ritual Assembly, even if they were in a wheelchair.
Usually, the letters came with the names of the bestowed owners to ensure no fraud happened. But, Madam Naima didn’t need to do this as she trusted her daughter would never try to pull a fast one on her.
The family’s rules were simply too strict, and if she did such a foolish thing to ruin their family’s reputation, the punishment awaiting her wasn’t for the weak.
As Madam Naima watched the back of her daughter walking towards the door, she glanced at the Crystal Blood Flower garden and offered, "Why don’t you take a flower with you? You have already wasted six months being a Junior Daywalker; your younger cousins will surpass you in no time like this."
"I wish them all the best."
Not bothering to stop for even a moment or turn around, Shia walked out of the door and entered the glass elevator.
After it closed behind her, Madam Naima was left alone. But one should never forget, in this world, you would never be alone.
"Your daughter is feisty as always."
A sudden, alluring voice echoed in Madam Naima’s ears, coming from a giant red rose with pitch-black stems and thorns. It slithered down her sleeveless robe like a whip.
"Leave her Ros’mourn. She is in her teenage rebellious years, just like I was." Madam Naima replied calmly while sipping her tea, "A day will come when she will grow up and understand us."
"If she kept moving at this pace, I doubt she would make it out alive." Ros’mourn giggled, her toothless mouth appearing on the bottom petal of the crimson rose.
"If she dies, it only means she isn’t strong enough for this world or what lies behind it." Madam Naima murmured as she gazed at the clear sky, "Maybe, it’s a much merciful way to go..."
...
In Tamara’s settlement...
A sudden call interrupted Levi’s cultivation session. When he asked Astra about the caller and found out it was Shia’s, he paused his cultivation and took the call.
After greeting each other, Shia went straight to the subject and told him that she had secured the recommendation letter for him.
"So quick? How?" Levi was left surprised.
He knew the importance of recommendation letters for each agency, and he expected it would take Shia a great effort to convince her agency to waste it on a blind kid.
Shia went on and explained what she did to secure it, leaving Levi speechless at her boldness.
He knew that if he used the recommendation letter planned for Arthur, everyone in the Assembly would give the Morningstar family funny looks.
After all, those letters were the same as sponsorship, putting immense focus on the chosen candidates. If they were found to have used it on someone blind, it would do great damage to their reputation.
"As long as Arthur puts on a great show and chooses our agency at the end, I will be fine," Shia said casually.
"I see." Levi chuckled, "I believe you don’t see much hope in me not embarrassing your family in the assembly, right?"
Shia’s giggle was heard from over the phone.
"You think too lowly of me. As much as I want you to embarrass my family’s name, I have a feeling that you will give us an unforgettable show."
"Is that so?" Levi smiled, feeling somewhat appreciative of her belief.
"But, it’s just a feeling, don’t let it get over your head." Shia suddenly warned, "The yearly assembly is an opportunity for which all candidates prepare extensively. They might not be Daywalkers yet, but some monsters appear once in a while, who can even defeat Stage Two Rookie Daywalkers while still being civilians."
"It’s gonna be much, much, worse for you. Do you know why?"
"Yes." Levi nodded.
Levi understood that his spiritual vision could work only on Daywalkers or Nightcrawlers. Since the assembly would involve normal civilians, his spiritual vision would capture nothing.
Simply put, he was going in completely unprepared against opponents who had been trained in martial arts, sword fighting, and other battle skills since birth, all ready for this very moment.
This was no daydream of a child who thought that being blind might give one an advantage in battles.
This was real life, and being blind was a massive disability, especially if one wasn’t already well-trained to fight while being blind.
Levi might have been training his body, building great muscles, and even learning boxing on the side, but he wasn’t vexed in battles at all...This showed during the Harrowing Forest.
"If you know, then I hope you take the safer trials and just surrender when it comes to battles." Shia advised him, "No need to get badly wounded over nothing. No one will take mercy on you as they know that nightcrawlers prefer candidates with cold hearts, who wouldn’t hesitate to do anything for the sake of growth."
"Thank you for your concerns," Levi said appreciatively.
Shia went quiet for a few seconds and then sighed helplessly. Then, she changed the subject, having a strong feeling that Levi was going to do what he wanted to do.
"I am in the capital right now. Once I purchase the required materials, I will return to Tamara." Shia asked, "You will need a lab, right?"
"Most preferably." Levi nodded.
Levi already obtained the full formula for Blee’der’s Tier 3 perfect evolution from Ash’Kral. He knew it would require a lab as the procedure involved many tools.
"Hmmm, then I will rent out a public one." Shia said, "If it were up to me, I would have brought you to my agency or family’s labs. But, they are highly monitored and I can’t promise that your knowledge won’t be stolen."
Since Evolutionists were considered one of the most lucrative and rewarding careers besides being a Daywalker in this day and age, many businessmen had chosen to build public labs for the less fortunate.
After all, not everyone could afford an entire lab with its expensive pieces of equipment. Thus, the public labs were born and were rented by the hour for any aspiring Evolutionists or traveling ones from different regions.
Security was ensured through nocturnal contracts due to the sensitivity of those sessions, as not even the owner had the right to pry inside a used lab.
"No worries, a public lab will do wonders."
"Good, see you later then."