(A/N Big thanks to everyone for the Power stones and Golden tickets, they mean a lot. As usual, please don't hesitate to comment or drop a review. ENJOY)

(Sorry, couldn't edit it properly, didn't have enough time.)

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Orion snapped out of his trance.

"I don't really think that matters. How old are you." Orion couldn't help but blurt out.

The girl immediately frowned, her body taking on an offensive posture.

'Ok that definitely pissed her off.' Orion thought,

He activated protocol, already closing his eyes, if she was 15 she'd definitely be formidable although that raised questions about her methods but he chose to ignore it for now.

But surprisingly, no movement came.

He opened his eyes fully and stared at the girl.

She was hesitating, her body language screamed she wanted to bash Orion's head in but protocol showed she wasn't moving anytime soon.

Orion dropped his guard and stared into her eyes.

"You're scared," Orion stated directly, somewhat puzzled.

He doubted she knew who he was, and even if she did, most people would want to go down fighting, but she was genuinely scared of attacking.

"Shut up!!, I'm not scared. I'm simply analyzing you and preparing." She quipped back.

Orion tilted his head, amused.

"Someone who analyses would never admit he/she's analysing," Orion said, moving closer.

She flinched back.

"No, you're not analyzing, you're genuinely scared. That would explain, the trap setting." Orion said with a sigh, somewhat disappointed.

"I was genuinely intrigued when I found out about the trap, I thought I'd discovered someone interesting." He continued.

"You look interesting but I'm guessing that's where it ends." Orion said, willing his mana, preparing to finish this charade and continue.

The girl noticed, panic colouring her face.

"No wait, please wait!!" She shouted, her earlier bravado vanishing.

"Listen, if you're so scared of fighting, why did you enter the academy in the first place?" Orion asked, his patience wearing off.

"I…I…" The girl stammered, her eyes crinkling in frustration.

Orion just stared at her.

"You what?" He asked.

She stayed silent, her eyes betraying her frustration.

"Are you going to talk or not, I don't have all day." Orion said.

He didn't even know why he was indulging her, whether because of her already obvious grief or because of his entertainment. At the end of the day, he still had to get her sigil stone, he wouldn't have mercy on someone incompetent.

"I don't want to remain in that place, I promised them I'd be somebody better, this is my last chance to get into the academy, I have to get in!!" She declared, her voice rising with each word.

He could see the determination in her eyes and the way her fist clenched.

Orion liked determination, it should promise, it showed grit and overall, it showed challenge but-

He took another step and her earlier bravado vanished.

'-when the subject of the determination keeps getting overwhelmed by fear, it's no longer determination' He thought, exasperated.

"That's all fine and good, but it doesn't really concern me, from what you've said, I'm guessing this isn't your first trial, and I doubt it's your second. If after all those trials and practice, you don't feel confident enough in yourself, I don't think you were meant to enrol in the academy." Orion explained.

She frowned, probably offended by his words.

"Easy for you to say," She muttered.

"Your talent with mana is probably very high and you have no problem defeating other opponents." She said, with poorly disguised envy.

"This is my fourth trial and I've been defeated in all the one's before, I trained and trained but a single enforcement with mana and I'd be overwhelmed by their strength." She continued, her frown turning solemn.

"So, I decided to change my approach this time, it was working, I'd already taken out a lot of people before me, then you came along." She said, her tone bitter and her fist clenched.

That explained her fear for direct combat or head on clash, she was scared of getting knocked out as this was her last chance to get what she wanted.

The trap method was her only means of making it past the trial, if it failed she was done.

Orion went silent for a second, her story was sad but it still didn't change what he'd said earlier, she still wasn't fit for the academy, talent wise.

But that begged the question, why did the academy allow someone with terrible affinity for mana and subpar talent enrol or take the trial.

Maybe they wanted her in, surely one way or the other, after numerous trials, even the mediocre would find a way in but she was incredibly unlucky.

Orion decided to use ETF to confirm if there was truly anything special about her.

--------------------------------

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STATUS

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NAME: Margaret Chronos

AGE: 15

GENDER: Female

RACE: HUMAN

ATTRIBUTES:

--------------------------------

STRENGTH:100

AGILITY: 90

ENDURANCE: 100

VITALITY: 150

INTELLIGENCE:70

MANA: 5

CHARM: 80

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RANK: (Peak) ACOLYTE RANK

TALENT: ???

BLOODLINE: Entropy

AFFINITY: Space, ???

ABILITIES:

-----------------------------

Innate Skills:-

-------------------------------------

Trained skills:

------------------------------------

Acquired skills:-

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Orion's eyes widened.

This was the second time he'd seen a question mark in a fully opened status screen, the first was his of course.

'System?' Orion sought the system's advice.

[Try it again.]

Orion tried it again.

--------------------------------

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STATUS

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NAME: Margaret Chronos

AGE: 15

GENDER: Female

RACE: HUMAN

ATTRIBUTES:

--------------------------------

STRENGTH:110

AGILITY: 80

ENDURANCE: 150

VITALITY: 100

INTELLIGENCE:80

MANA: 4

CHARM: 60

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RANK: (Mid) ACOLYTE RANK

TALENT: ???

BLOODLINE: Entropy

AFFINITY: Space, ???

ABILITIES:

-----------------------------

Innate Skills:-

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Trained skills:

*Kairos step (High proficiency)

Acts at the perfect momeeeeeent, improving dodges and counterattacks.

*Aether Step (High proficiency)

Short-range teleportation (≤ 10 meters).

*Nova Spark (Mid proficiency)

Compress a marble-sized pocket of distorted space, then release it in a small, concentrated burst.

------------------------------------

Acquired skills:-

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'Okay that is definitely freaky' Orion thought.

'Her stats are changing,' Orion thought.

[It most likely has to do with her bloodline]

"Entropy" Orion muttered.

'Disorderliness or randomness.' He thought.

'Wait does that mean her stats are just random' Orion thought with alarm.

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