Dual System

The aftermath of the conflict had left a palpable tension hanging in the air, like the stillness after a thunderstorm.

I surveyed the area, where the remnants of chaos lay scattered among the newly erected barricades. My orders echoed in my mind: instruct the CRO team to wrap up the remaining tasks in the area.

Mortius, ever the dutiful subordinate, had already taken charge of overseeing Squad 32 and Squad 44's punishment. I could see him directing the other students, his commanding presence restoring a semblance of order to the chaos.

Once the injured were tended to by the medics and the rest of the students evacuated, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Perhaps, for the first time in weeks, I could take a moment for myself.

Yet, as I turned to leave for my combat technique lessons with my squad, a familiar shadow lingered behind me. I didn't have to look to know it was Master Zovran.

"Are you still following me?" I asked, pausing mid-stride to glance back at him. "I thought I dismissed you."

He chuckled, a low, warm sound that caught me off guard. "Your Highness, it seems you didn't understand the meaning of a Personal Mentor, do you?"

I raised an eyebrow, perplexed. What now?

"I'm not sure yet. Care to explain this to me?"

"Here, a Personal Mentor is highly involved during training," he replied, his tone shifting to a more serious one. "Whether it's combat practice, skill development, or lessons, I provide hands-on guidance and immediate feedback."

"So, Avant-Dar," he continued, emphasizing my name, "as long as you're in the academy for training sessions, I will accompany you throughout. Of course, I will not interfere in your training; I will merely give you feedback when needed."

The realization struck me like a lightning bolt. "You mean you're my babysitter?" I asked incredulously.

Master Zovran laughed, clearly entertained by my reaction. "I am merely your guide, someone who will assist you in your progression. If you want me to be your babysitter, I will gladly—"

"Stop right there. I will accept you as my guide. Nothing more." I cut him short, suddenly aware of the amused glint in his eyes.

Then, out of nowhere, Master Zovran dropped a bombshell I didn't expect. "You see, Avant-Dar, you and I have something in common. We both have lineage from the Zodiac Universe."

I halted in my tracks, turning to face him fully. "What do you mean?"

He met my gaze with a knowing smile. "My mother was an Awakener from the 7th Star Realm. She was a Libra Awakener. Like you, I awakened Ophiuchus powers instead."

"You came from the Zodiac Universe?" My voice barely rose above a whisper, disbelief flickering through me.

"No," he replied, shaking his head. "I was born and raised here in Asclepius. But because of my mother's lineage, I have awakened a dual system."

Surprise surged through me. All this time, I thought I was special because of my dual system.

Master Zovran chuckled softly, as if reading my thoughts. "You think you're the only one with a dual system, right?"

I nodded, feeling slightly embarrassed at his perceptiveness.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about, Avant-Dar. It's quite normal. I could impart you with a secret that I only discovered by myself. Like you, there was no one who could teach me before. But now, since I'm your mentor, I will gladly share this secret knowledge." He winked, his smile encouraging and warm.

"What secret is that?" My eyes widened in anticipation and excitement. The thought of learning something about my dual system intrigued me.

He paused for a moment, allowing the tension to build. "You should know that your Zodiac energy can power your Ophiuchus energy, right?"

I nodded, feeling a surge of pride in my knowledge.

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice as if sharing a hidden truth. "But do you know that you can combine your skills from the ZUA System with the Astrology System into a new skill that is unique to only you?"

A whirlwind of thoughts and possibilities cascaded through my mind. "Really? How do I do that?"

He smiled before continuing, "You should know that your Zodiac energy can power your Ophichus energy right?" I nodded. 

He paused slightly before continuing "But do you know that you can combine your skills from the ZUA System with the Astrology System into a new skill that is entirely unique to only you?"

"It's called astrological alignment. " Master Zovran revealed. "It's all about the right balance of energies. When two energies align, the asrological alignment activates."

As I stood there, the gears in my mind turning, it suddenly all made sense—everything that Master Zovran had been hinting at. Balance. That was the key. The ZUA System and the Astrology System, both drawing from different yet equally powerful energy sources, had their own paths to strength. The ZUA System relied on Zodiac Celestial Energy, while the Astrology System tapped into the unique Ophiuchus Celestial Energy. But they weren't separate—they were two sides of the same coin.

It was about maintaining a perfect balance between the two. I could feel it now, how the energy channels of each system flowed differently, yet harmonized when I focused on them equally. If I could keep both energies balanced—say, 50% Zodiac Celestial Energy and 50% Ophiuchus Celestial Energy—something incredible could happen.

A surge of excitement rushed through me as I realized the truth. When both energies were perfectly balanced, they could align. That alignment could allow me to activate a skill from the ZUA System and another from the Astrology System at the same time. But more than that—when the two systems aligned, they would unify into something greater. A new skill, born from the fusion of both powers, creating an Astrological Alignment.

Master Zovran had been watching me closely, and the moment the realization hit me, he smiled. A deep, knowing smile.

"It seems, Avant-Dar, you finally understand what it means," he said, his voice soft but filled with pride.

I looked at him, feeling a rush of excitement I hadn't felt before. "Astrological Alignment… it's the key, isn't it? The merging of two skills into something entirely new."

Zovran nodded. "Yes, but it's more than just merging two skills. It's about understanding the balance between your dual nature. Ophiuchus and the Zodiacs are not meant to oppose each other—they are meant to complement, to coexist in harmony. When you can master that balance, you will unlock powers few can even dream of."

The realization struck me like a bolt of lightning. The thought of uniting these two systems—the sheer potential—was overwhelming.

"Wait…" I paused, a question forming in my mind. "How did you discover this?"

Master Zovran's smile faded slightly, his eyes growing distant as if recalling a memory buried deep.

"I stumbled upon it by accident, much like many discoveries are made," he began. "It was during a particularly intense battle. My energies—Sagittarius and Ophiuchus—were nearly depleted. In a desperate attempt to survive, I reached deep into both energy reserves. To my surprise, they didn't cancel each other out or conflict. Instead, they aligned."

He paused, the memory clearly vivid in his mind. "And when they did, I unleashed a skill I didn't even know I possessed."