THE HOUSE OF GENTLE TABLET

[important info in this chap]

"Why are we transferring these relics to Yilvale? They are doing just fine here." Simon questioned the decision to transfer the relics, puzzled by the urgency when they seemed to be perfectly secure where they were.

"I don't have a clue, but the captain mentioned that the next expedition will start from Yilvale, and I'm not one to pry with too many questions," replied Kove, in a pristine white suit.

This was the organization named The House of Gentle Tablet. The organization, known as The House of Gentle Tablet, was distinctive for its members clad in immaculate white suits. It had branches in nearly every major city, each consisting of 7–10 members. Their powers were closely linked to the Sun Believers.

It was as if, for an ordinary human seeking to attain extraordinary abilities, delving into the mystical Dream Realm was a necessary journey.

Ordinary humans lacked the means to navigate the dream realm independently. To traverse it, they relied on the aid and guardianship of otherworldly entities already present in their reality.

Not every one of these entities remained concealed; some established their own factions, aiming to exert influence in the contemporary world. The Order of Gentle Tablet was one such organization, formed to safeguard ordinary humans.

The enigma of relics remained a perplexing and elusive topic. The origin and the mechanisms governing their remarkable powers remained a mystery. Yet, this arcane knowledge had been passed down through the ages to the influential historical figures who journeyed through their designated realms.

As a result, these realms became regarded as the most intimidating and dread-inducing environments, where even the most formidable of individuals could meet their demise, oblivious to the inner workings of these enigmatic places.

Simo expressed his frustration with the current workload: "Why don't we bring in more recruits? We're constantly stretched thin. It feels like my last vacation was eons ago, and I'd really like some time to enjoy life for a change."

Kove added an air of mystery to the conversation as he said, "Do you know there are numerous organizations operating in our society, most of them hidden from humans' eyes? But a few collaborate with humans to make the world a better place. Have you ever wondered why our organization is called 'The House of Gentle Tablet?'"

Shaking his head from side to side, Simon eagerly awaited Kove's explanation.

Kove, being a 4-core member of the organization, held a higher rank than Simon, who was a 2-core member. They were currently on a mission to transport two relics to Yilvale.

It was important to note that people up to the 3-core level possessed the ability to manifest their powers in the real world within the proximity of their bodies.

People in the 3- to 6-core range had the ability to exert a far greater influence on their surrounding environment. For instance, a Sun Believer with more than three cores wouldn't experience any discomfort while fighting at night because their cores could act as if they were the sun itself, allowing them to manifest light as intense as the sun and significantly impact their surroundings.

Moving up the hierarchy, there were individuals with 6 to 9 cores, with the 9th core being the highest known core level. These people had the ability to perform true miracles that defied easy comprehension.

They had the unique capacity to enter their respective realms to further enhance their power, as the more cores you possessed, the more challenging it became to increase their number.

Henry stood as a unique exception, being a pure-blood shadow manifestor. In contrast, ordinary humans who gained their abilities from relics or were born as pure-blood individuals were regarded as inferior. Their powers were, fundamentally, borrowed abilities.

Kove delved into the intricacies of their abilities for Simon, stating, "Our powers, Simon, are a gift from the Gentle Tablet. It's not just a title; it symbolizes the essence of our organization. There are certain relics that cannot be separated from the realms, and we refer to them as 'bestowers.'"

Kove continued, "These relics possess the potential to grant unimaginable powers, serving as the foundational elements of every organization. Regarding the entities that bestow these powers, the pure-blooded ones, they establish a profound connection with the individuals they empower, and that link is as significant as their very soul."

"Now, as for your question regarding our reluctance to expand our membership," Kove elucidated, "you see, there are inherent constraints in this realm. The greater one's power, the more this world resists their presence, urging them to explore other dimensions. Regarding the rumors you've heard about our selective recruitment, the larger the group becomes, the more potent the relic becomes, and it begins to wield influence over those connected to it."

"As for the precise number of individuals constituting the limit, that knowledge is confined to our leader alone." Kove expounded on the intricate dynamics at play within their organization.

Simon, hearing all this, couldn't help but wonder about his own fortunate turn of events. It made him realize that he, too, had been fortunate to possess such powers, albeit originating from a relic as well.

"Well, what more can we do but hope for the best? You've thoroughly covered all the essential information about the relics, haven't you?" Kove inquired, his seniority reflecting in his cautious optimism.

"We were initially assigned just one relic, but, as is not often the case, we were instructed at the last minute to take two. One is a compass, referred to as the 'Compass of Findings,' and the other is a key, known as 'The Key of Nothingness.' I have no clue about the individuals responsible for naming these relics," Simon remarked, his curiosity piqued by the rather peculiar names.

"There's a team of hundreds of researchers tirelessly studying these relics to explore their capabilities, limitations, vulnerabilities, and methods to ensure their safekeeping. Relics have a tendency to relocate quite frequently, you see. Once activated, they must be sustained with what they require, or they will dissipate and reappear elsewhere. This is precisely why the research team plays a critical role."

"Considering that even ordinary individuals can trigger these relics, it's paramount to prevent them from falling into just anyone's possession. Such a scenario could lead to utter chaos," Kove explained, underscoring the significance of their work.

Having concluded their conversation, Kove closed his eyes, sensing that the plane was on the verge of landing. Their destination: Yilvale.