Syal raised an eyebrow. "Am I only being allowed to join the military because of my father?" he asked.
The Colonel shook his head. "No, Syal. The coin test was genuine. If you hadn't passed, you wouldn't be here right now. You see, if someone who isn't Fated tries to use the Wheel of Advancement, it will become a curse to them."
Syal's eyes widened in understanding. "I see," he said.
The Colonel nodded. "Enough questions for now, Syal. Close your eyes and say these words: 'Fate of Humanity decided by luck. Individual luck can change the entire race. May the war bring luck upon!'"
Syal took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and repeated the words. As soon as he finished speaking, a vision appeared in his mind's eye. The Wheel of Advancement had appeared, its slices spinning rapidly.
Syal opened his eyes and looked at the Colonel. "How many choices are there?" he asked.
The Colonel smiled. "Each individual has a different number of slices on their Wheel. What does yours show?"
Syal concentrated, recalling the vision in his mind's eye. "Mine has six slices," he said.
The Colonel nodded, his expression serious. "Very well, Syal. You have six possible paths. Remember, the chosen slice's make will determine your fate...and possibly the fate of humanity."
The Colonel leaned forward, his eyes shining with excitement. "The Wheel of Advancement grants mystical professions to humans, but it's not an instant process. It's a growth-type system, where you'll develop your abilities over time."
Syal nodded, intrigued. "I see. And what about the slices on the Wheel? What do they represent?"
The Colonel smiled. "The first Wheel will always contain a Core slice. After you've acquired your Core, the Wheel will appear again with new options that are suitable for the development of that Core."
Syal's eyes widened as he recalled the vision in his mind's eye. "I remember now. My six slices were...Spirit, Flesh, Emotion, Mind, Neuron, and Energy."
The Colonel nodded, his expression serious. "Very well, Syal. Now, as a Fated, you'll need to spin the Wheel to determine your profession. You can't choose; the Wheel will decide for you."
Syal's heart began to pound with anticipation. "What do I need to do?" he asked.
The Colonel smiled. "Just focus your mind and spin the Wheel. The result will be revealed to you."
Syal took a deep breath, focused his mind, and spun the Wheel. The Wheel began to spin rapidly in his mind's eye, its slices blurring together in a kaleidoscope of colors. Every second felt like an eternity as the Wheel spun faster and faster.
Finally, the Wheel slowed to a stop, its pointer quivering before coming to rest on a single slice. Syal's heart skipped a beat as he saw that the Wheel had landed on... Spirit.
As soon as the Wheel stopped, Syal's entire body began to throb with energy. He could feel the artifact's power coursing through his veins, like a river of fire that was reshaping his very soul. A point of light began to form inside him, a core that pulsed with an otherworldly energy.
Syal felt himself being transformed, his body and mind undergoing a radical shift that was both exhilarating and terrifying. He was no longer just a ordinary human being; he was becoming something more, something that was connected to the very fabric of the universe.
The Colonel's voice broke the silence. "You have been granted a Spirit Core. Your second spin will have a mystical profession on it. But I hope you didn't get a mythical profession... instead, I hope you'll get another Core."
The Colonel smiled warmly. "I think that's enough for today, Syal. You've already learned a great deal, and there's still much more to come. But for now, I think you've earned a rest."
Syal nodded, feeling a mix of exhaustion and excitement. He had learned so much in such a short time, and his mind was still reeling from the implications.
The Colonel's expression turned serious. "Remember, Syal, you've been granted a Spirit Core. But don't try to use it just yet. You need to rest and let your body adjust to the changes that are taking place within you."
Syal nodded, feeling a sense of anticipation building inside him. He couldn't wait to see what his Spirit Core would bring, but he knew he had to be patient.
The Colonel stood up, signaling the end of their meeting. "Go home, Syal, and get some rest. We'll continue your training tomorrow. Oh don't forget to open that god-damned package. That something your father want to give for your graduation but he couldn't."
***
As soon as Syal arrived home, he couldn't shake off the excitement and curiosity about his newfound power. Despite the Colonel's warning to rest, Syal couldn't resist the urge to try out his Spirit Core.
As he focused his mind, he discovered that his Spirit Core granted him the ability to manipulate his own spirit. He could infuse his spirit into items, and even into beasts. However, his power was still very weak, and he could only control one thing at a time.
Syal's eyes landed on a decorative sword that hung on the wall. He decided to use it to try out his power. Concentrating his mind, he attempted to make the sword float in mid-air. However, instead of floating, the sword merely wobbled slightly, as if it was being manipulated by an invisible string.
Syal realized that his power allowed him to move things, but not to make them float. He tried again, this time focusing on making the sword move on its own. To his delight, the sword began to swing back and forth, as if it was being wielded by an invisible hand.
Emboldened by his success, Syal decided to try infusing his spirit into a puppet that he had bought as a souvenir. He focused his mind, and suddenly the puppet began to move on its own, its limbs twitching and jerking in a surprisingly lifelike manner.
Syal watched in amazement as the puppet danced and capered around the room. He realized that he wasn't using telekinesis to move the puppet, but was instead infusing his spirit into it, allowing it to move on its own.
A broad grin spread across Syal's face as he understood the true nature of his power. He was eager to learn more and to develop his abilities further. Little did he know, his journey as a Fated was only just beginning.
As the puppet continued to dance, Syal couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and excitement. He had never imagined that he would have such abilities, and he was eager to learn more.
He spent the rest of the evening experimenting with his power, infusing his spirit into various objects around the room. He quickly discovered that he could control more delicate movements with smaller objects, but struggled to control larger objects with the same precision.
As the night wore on, Syal began to feel a growing sense of fatigue. He realized that using his Spirit Core's power was taking a toll on his physical and mental energy.
Suddenly, the puppet's movements became more erratic, and it began to twitch and jerk wildly. Syal's eyes widened in surprise as he realized that he was losing control.
The puppet's movements became faster and more violent, and Syal stumbled backward, desperate to regain control. But it was too late. With a final, violent jerk, the puppet exploded into a thousand pieces, sending shards of wood and fabric flying everywhere.
Syal stood amidst the wreckage, panting and trembling with exhaustion. He realized that he had pushed himself too far, and that he needed to learn to control his power more carefully.
As he looked around at the mess, Syal couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. What other unexpected consequences might his power have? And how could he learn to control it before it was too late?
Syal spent the rest of the night cleaning up the mess and reflecting on his experiment. He realized that he needed to be more careful and controlled when using his Spirit Core's power.
As he drifted off to sleep, Syal felt a sense of excitement and trepidation about the future. He knew that he had a lot to learn about his power and how to use it responsibly.
Despite the exhaustion, Syal's mind was racing with possibilities. He couldn't wait to see what the next day would bring and how he could continue to develop his abilities. The darkness of the night seemed to hold endless possibilities.
Meanwhile the puppet fragment at trash bin somehow rearrange itself. But not forming the once human figure puppet, but some kind of abominations. Of course syal doesn't know any of this. He already fall asleep.