The Mer instructor's words were deflating and like the sound of thunder within the ears of those Mer who believed they had a chance of receiving the golden badge.
As they echoed throughout the forum, the moods and smiles of the other students and Argent's stepsiblings dropped almost instantly.
"What?! This is so unfair..." voiced one displeased auburn haired mermaid from the front row.
'Hmph he can have it for now, taking it from him will be like taking algae from a guppy...' secretly plotted another.
None of them ever thought they'd see the day that the lame and untalented Argent would win something and based off his Sealocke skills at that!
"Woohoo! Well don't just stand there, go get it!" shouted Jonny breaking the awkward silence.
In a sea of jealous and unhappy faces his was the only one bearing a joyous and celebrating expression.
At that moment under the burning gazes of his Mer peers, Nereus put on a pompous air as he quickly swam up and received the tiny gold Early Decision Badge in his webbed hand.
'Oh great, if this fellow wasn't despised before he definitely is now' he couldn't help but think this to himself as he looked down at the envious gazes staring daggers at his back, ' This little thing has all but made me public enemy number 1. I guess I'll have to work even faster to increase my personal strength now...'
Shortly after receiving his Early Decision Badge, Nereus then took his seat as the Mer instructor made one more proclamation before starting the day's Sealocke lessons.
And much to Nereus's relief, said proclamation was just a further stipulation stating that starting at sunset, the Early Decision Badge recipients had a 48-hour grace period where no students were allowed to challenge them.
"Now that we've got that bit of official business out of the way, let us begin the day's Sealocke lessons on Good, Great, and Grand affinity mastery." began Instructor Hanvic before taking his regular teaching position before the class.
"As you all know, there are 5 possible affinities in a Sealocke's cultivation. First and foremost is water. Beyond water, some may find themselves connected to the earth. Next there is ice, born from water's stillness. Then there is the lightning affinity, the fierce and elusive power that is the hallmark of the ruling Tritanus sect. Lastly, is the song of the Mer or sound, an affinity most commonly found in female Mer that allows them to use a single note to soothe or shatter. Our lesson begins with the understanding that Sealockes naturally possess varying levels of expertise with their born affinity."
The Mer instructor then started a thorough explanation on how one's affinity mastery could be divided into three different levels based on skill level with a particular element.
Using Argent and his stepsiblings as an example, he explained that a Sealocke with a Good affinity mastery level over earth was only qualified to use the element quite rudimentarily and often only through Aqua Arts.
However, a Sealocke with a Great affinity mastery level could exert even more control to the point where they could utilize it offensively without Aqua Arts and even negate another Sealocke's control over the element, as demonstrated in Argent's bout with his stepsiblings in the Forum.
And finally, a Sealocke with a Grand affinity mastery level over earth could manipulate the element so masterfully that they could often generate massive amounts of earth, sand, and stone, from the smallest grains and even exert control over plants.
Looking down at the normally boisterous and disinterested class of Mer students the instructor expected them to not be paying attention as usual.
Surprisingly however they were all staring at him enraptured and expectantly waiting on what he'd say next. Quite pleased at this sight he continued,
"Yes, if those blessed with a Great affinity mastery over an element are considered geniuses, then those blessed with Grand affinity mastery are the geniuses amongst geniuses! In fact, it's often said if a sect can manage to nurture even one such individual to the Reef Grandmaster stage, then that sect's future is secured for two centuries, if they can nurture 2 a quincentenary, and 3 or more a millennium..."
As the class listened on attentively, and much to the chagrin of his two onlooking stepsiblings, they began to look at Argent a bit differently now that they understood the significance of what he did two days ago.
They realized even if he only had a Great affinity mastery level, he was still a genius in his own right. And although Nereus had a disinterested look on his face during all of this, he too was listening attentively as the Good, Great, and Grand mastery categorization didn't exist for Mer in his time.
For as long as he could recall in his previous memories all of the Mer were born with Grand mastery over their respective elements.
'Hmm how peculiar...' he thought to himself puzzled over this matter, ' I suppose it could be caused by natural degradation of bloodline purity over time, and with addition of environmental factors... but still... I wonder what else has changed ...'
"Excuse me instructor, I have a question" Nereus interrupted with a sudden raise of his webbed hand, "If Mer born with a Grand affinity mastery are as important and powerful as you say then surely, they must be quite rare as well, otherwise there'd be more far more than just 5 Great Sects. With that being said how many does our Vorteesi sect have within our ranks?"
The sudden question had taken the instructor completely off guard and while he could admit it was a very good question considering the day's subject matter, it just wasn't one he could provide a whole answer to,
"Very good uh question uh Argent, you see a matter such as that would be a closely guarded clan secret as it relates directly to our uh military strength." chancing a shaky glance at the still present Inner Core messenger Byron, the instructor continued, " But I can say of your generation, Outer and Inner Core included there has only been one such individual confirmed to have Grand affinity level mastery with an element. And that of course as we all know is our respected future sect leader and the sect leader's only daughter Anastasia Vorteesi. Any other questions?"
"How many with Great mastery have been found in our generation then?" Nereus asked as a follow-up question
"Including yourself and counting within the Inner and Outer Core...I'd say...no more than five. Now that's all the questions I have time for today. As I was saying..."
'Wow such a sharp degradation from my time...what in the seas could have happened while I was gone...'
After having his questions answered time seemed to fly by to Nereus and seemingly in the blink of an eye it was already time for class to end.
And while most of the Mer students present immediately swam off and departed like normal, a few made sure to stay long enough to stare daggers at Nereus and Jonny, almost as if warning him of their intentions for his Early Decision badge.
Nereus had expected as much so he didn't pay them too much attention, as he and Jonny made their exit from the Forum and went their respective ways, he was lost in thought with only one thing on his mind.
'I have to get stronger as soon as possible!'