“Sentient Beings are the true power not only behind this country but to the outside world as well. There are Sentient beings who can tear open space and clone a perfect copy of themselves. Meaning these beings can destroy a city and be gone before the last breath is gone.” Templar Vena says, lecturing.


    “This is why a great deal of tax dollars goes into developing and nurturing Sentient beings. You will get access to these resources as Officers of the Shepherds organizations.”


    “Is it true that you even have Neural Paths available to us? Cornelia raised her hand and asked.


    Templar Vena nodded. " Of course, we do if you are compatible with them.”


    “What exactly are Neural Paths? Is That the same as Psionic techniques?” Cyril asked.


    “ That’s a good question, Cadet Cyril. Neural Paths are specific brain cells activated by Ruah that could potentially give a Sentient a specific affinity. While Psionic techniques are something only Sentient beings with the same affinity can imitate.” Templar Vena explained.


    “I still don’t understand,” Cole said.


    “I''ll explain it like this, and I''ll use you as an example, Cadet Cole. You are a newly awakened Sentient and don''t have an affinity yet. A Neural Path could give you an affinity, and then you could use a Psionic technique once you gain an affinity.”


    “Oh, I see, but isn''t my Superior ability of heat vision considered an affinity for fire?” he responded.


    “Not necessarily; in our country, we are backward. Traditionally, you would get an affinity rather than a Superior ability. But in your case, once you get a Neural path, your ability will change, and it should also grow stronger.”


    “What do you mean by affinity? Cyril raised his hand and asked.


    “That''s another good question. While it may seem like common knowledge to some of you, given your background, remember that we have to be all on the same page.”


    “To answer your question, Cadet Cyril, I''ll use myself as an example. Originally, my ability was Invisibility, but after I awaken and gain a Neural Path, I gain a Mist affinity.” She says, demonstrating. She raises her, and mist covers it, then completely disappears.


    “Affinities are aspects of reality that typically come in the form of Elements, but our knowledge of this area is still lacking. The most important thing to remember is that when choosing a Neural Path, it should complement your Superior ability. Not doing so can result in you being stunted at your Meditation Realm.”


    “So my Neral Path was already built into the Archive system, and that''s why I got the Augmentations. It would also explain why only Superiors Sentient have augmented abilities.” Kenan concluded.


    “With these resources that the Shepherds provide you as officers, we expect loyalty in its height form for the cause of the Shepherds. Tell me, what is that cause?!” Templar Vena steeled.


    Everyone, in unison, spoke. “To Provide Absolute Safety to the Flock”


    “Correct, you now wear a symbol that protects Humanity! Forget the money, forget the power, forget fame. The Shepherd''s care for nothing of the sort is the primary mission of the survival of humanity!”


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Everyone replied. “Yes, Templar!” With a standing salute.


    “This is another reason I joined the Shepherds. This is my mother''s and father''s legacy to defend those who can''t defend themselves. “Those who bully the weak represent the evil in this world, and they must not go unpunished.” Kenan wasn’t sure if his father or mother first said those words, but they would always say them. It sounded cheesy when he first heard it, but it is one of the realest things he’s ever heard.


    “Now, let''s get down to official business. It doesn''t just take a great ability to become an officer of the Shepherds. We need officers to be equipped Mentally and Physically. This means that as soon as you run out of psionic energy, you can''t gather. Ruah, what do you do?”


    Kenan answered. “Rely on the strength of your mind and the strength of your hands .”


    ***


    Later that afternoon.


    Tactics: That was the first paper test the cadets took on their first day. Vena had to admit that this year''s batch of cadets differed from previous ones. Besides, half of them were from the Elder families, which wasn''t the only anomaly. Their test scores were astonishing the more she sat at her desk and graded them.


    Nearly all of them, including the ones from seemingly normal backgrounds, answered above average.


    “Marshall Solomon did say he felt like this class was going to be different, but I thought he was referring to the influence of the Elder families,” Vena said, talking to herself.


    She looked down at three tests in front of her. Edith Gardner, Cyril Nomad, and Kenan Ogun are tactical geniuses. “All the answers they gave I would expect senior Officers to give. Commanding troops is no easy task, especially within the shepherds, as everyone has superior abilities. Each used their squad''s max utilization to back their reasoning.”


    “If we can get them to apply this on the battlefield, they will be amazing assets to the future of the Shepherds.”


    ***


    Right after the test


    After taking the test, they were free to leave the classroom and would be done for the day.


    Kenan didn''t mind; he didn''t want to speak to his cousins again after class. So, he rushed through the test and continued his day. He felt like the test was simple enough. He and his mom would play tactical games like that all the time, especially whenever she was hospitalized. She would always win, but Kenan started to think that Aunt Aria gave her some cheat codes since she was the one who designed the game.


    Before he reached his dorm room, he got a notification from his NCD


    Edith: Would you like to visit the library to help me choose a Neural Path?


    Kenan smiled at the message. He wanted to spend time with Edith, just the two of them. She was amazingly pretty and smart, too. “Just relax, don''t, and don''t say anything stupid,” he told himself.


    Kenan: Yeah, I''ll meet you there. He replied.


    The library wasn''t a traditional one because books were rare. Everything was digital, so there were massive storage drives the size of cars within the library. When Kenan walked in, he could see his breath because it was cold. He instantly spotted Edith as she was speaking to one of the Library attendees.


    When she saw him, she gave Kenan a warm smile, which made him almost trip when he approached her. Luckily, he had the balance of a Sentient, or we would have landed on his face.


    “She said we can find the Neural Paths for mimicry abilities here,” Edith said, walking and pointing in a particular direction. On the way there she asked Kenan a question. “So wh, what did you think of the test?”


    “It was easy enough. I was rushing through it because I didn''t want to run into any of my cousins,” he sighed.


    “Is it that bad between you all? I can''t believe you''re a part of the Ogun family.” Edith says as they stop in front of a Storage Server.


    “I''m not; I''ve disowned them; they might as well be strangers with the same last name as me,” Kenan says in a low voice.


    Edith looks at Kenan and can see the pain along with the hurt. Being an orphan, she always longed to have a family. She never thought anyone who didn’t want theirs was simply ungrateful. But she recognized the eyes too well—the eyes of someone who had been abandoned.


    She quickly tries to focus her attention back on the task at hand and Starts scrolling through the options on the tablet screen in front of the Storage Server.


    “Your Diamond ability is considered earth, right? So, is that the type of Neural Path you will choose?” Kenan asked.


    “I''m not entirely sure yet if I was being honest with you, which is why I wanted your help. I already put in my Superior ability, and these are the options they gave me.


    Neural Path Archive: Diamond Mimicry


    Available Neural Path Options:


    Earth Elemental Augmentation


    Light Elemental Augmentation


    Heat Augmentation


    “Great, so I only have three options,” Edith said, rolling her eyes.


    Kenan lightly laughed. “I wouldn''t worry too much about it since you already have an Elemental ability. I think Templar Vena spoke to people whose abilities don''t have an affinity yet, like Cole''s or Cyril''s.”


    “Yeah, I know. I want to get as much of an advantage as I can. I don''t have the resources like other people here may have. . .” She trailed off.


    “And that''s ok because you have friends right?” Kenan gave a warm smile. He may have been seeing things but he was sure that she blushed when he said that.


    “Let''s think of what these Neural Paths would do to your ability if you choose them. Earth Elemental Augmentation would Essentially leave your ability being the same. Just strengthen in some sort of way.”


    “A Heat Augmentation would give your diamond form a heat effect. Is that something you would be interested in?”


    “I don’t think so, I feel like if I went this route then I could eventually learn Fire Psionic techniques and burning things to a crisp is not really my style. Plus I know I wouldn''t like the smell.” She replied


    “Light Augmentation sounds interesting though, It sounds like it will give me a long range ability.”


    “I was thinking about that as well and I doubt it would change your ability too much from what it is now. With a Mimicry ability like ours, long range attacks honestly wasn''t an option.” Kenan mentioned.


    They both looked at e


    achother once they realized what he just said. “Light Elemental Augmentation it is.” They both said in unison