"Sky-link will be the star of the future. Think of the possibilities." Professor Elheart continued. Gesticulating wildly. "Academics sharing discoveries in real-time. Merchants connecting with suppliers globally. Military coordinating strategies across vast distances...."
He concluded. "It will rapidly share information, accelerate innovation, and unite our disparate cities into a true nation, a true world community!" He beamed. Clearly enjoying the flurry of pens scribbling notes.
The moderator eventually had to gently interject to redirect questions. But Elheart's enthusiasm had already electrified the room.
Finally, the questions turned to Jester and Vale. A female reporter from Sherra Standard asked. "Young gentlemen, your research has been called a game-changer. What inspired you to pursue this path, to systematize Soulheart Awakening?"
Jester leaned into the microphone. His usual easy smile was in place. Though a little less broad than usual.
"Honestly? I just don't like depending on luck." He stated plainly. "My luck has always been pretty bad. Relying on it for something as important as my future just seemed like a terrible idea. So, I just told my friend here, 'There has to be another way.' And we started looking for it."
He paused. A slight shrug. "It wasn't an instant success. We experimented. A lot. Trying to figure out the patterns. The underlying mechanics. We ran through hundreds of theories, thousands of trials. We failed countless times."
Vale then added. His voice was soft but distinct. "The universe, even one touched by the mystical, adheres to principles. Our goal was simply to uncover a small portion of those principles. To make them accessible."
Another reporter, a grizzled veteran with a skeptical gaze, raised his hand. "Mr. Eventide, Mr. Bardean, you speak of extensive experimentation. What if your research had failed? What would you have done then, with a zero-star Soulheart Gear? Having gambled on a hypothesis?"
Jester's smile didn't waver. He simply shrugged one shoulder. A gesture that seemed almost dismissive. "If this specific research had failed? No big deal. We had plenty of other hypotheses. This wasn't our only idea."
He coughed a little and continued. "We had at least twenty other research pathways sketched out for empowering zero-star Soulheart Gears. Or even for finding alternative power sources if we want to ditch the gears completely."
He leaned back slightly. "You fail, you learn. Then you try the next idea. That's how research works, right? If the first batch of experiments didn't yield high-star Gears, we'd have moved on to the next set of ideas. Zero-star gears aren't the end of the world, just a different starting point."
A ripple of murmurs went through the assembled reporters. They exchanged glances, surprised by the bluntness. The utter lack of dramatic tension in his answer.
They expected he would speak of existential dread, of crushing disappointment. Jester spoke of it like a minor inconvenience, a mere detour.
From the corner of his eye, Jester saw Professor Elheart, who had been listening intently, straighten up. The Professor's eyes, magnified behind his thick glasses, were wide. Gleaming with an almost feverish excitement.
He wasn't shocked like the reporters. He looked like he had found a kindred spirit. A fellow traveler in the relentless, unyielding pursuit of knowledge. Regardless of setbacks.
A small, almost conspiratorial smile touched the Professor's lips.
Meanwhile, the grizzled reporter scribbled furiously. His pen moved accurately like a surgeon's scalpel.
Jester's casual dismissal of failure. His nonchalant mention of 'plenty of other hypotheses' and 'at least twenty other research pathways'.... Those had injected a new energy into the press conference.
The room had previously been buzzing with polite curiosity. It now hummed with a noticeable sense of hope.
For so many people, low-star Soulheart Gears weren't just a disappointment. They were a dead end. A symbol of unfulfilled potential in a world that constantly demanded strength. Jester's words offered a crack in that wall of despair.
"Mr. Eventide!" The reporter pressed. His voice was a gravelly rasp. "you mentioned twenty other research pathways. Can you elaborate? Many of us, and indeed many citizens across the nation, possess so-called 'zero-star' Soulheart Gears. Your insights could be invaluable."
Jester didn't flinch. He met the reporter's skeptical gaze with a smile that was more of genuine amusement than his usual prankster grin.
"Invaluable, maybe. Hypotheses, definitely." He clarified. Emphasizing the latter. "We currently don't have the resources, or frankly, the time to test all of them. But the concepts have their own reasoning. Some are more… not-so-conventional than others."
He scanned the faces of the reporters. Quickly noticing the ones with the most eager expressions. The ones who looked like they carried the weight of their own low-star Gears.
"One avenue we explored was behavioral conditioning." Jester began. His tone shifted to a more methodical delivery. "The idea is that the power of a Soulheart Gear might be low because of it was incompatible with the host's personality. It might resonate more deeply with its wielder if the wielder's own internal state is optimized."
He paused and elaborated further. "It was based on the facts that there are cases of power drop for Transcenders with psychological trauma. As for how to do behavioral conditioning? Think… intensive hypnosis therapy. Training the mind to achieve a specific mental frequency that aligns perfectly with the gear's essence. A mental 'tune-up', if you will, to coax more power out of it."
A few reporters scribbled. Their brows furrowed in concentration. Hypnosis? It sounded far-fetched. Perhaps even bordering on charlatanism. But coming from the boy who had just revolutionized Soulheart Gear acquisition, it was worth considering.
"Then there's the more hands-on approach." Jester continued, ticking off points on his fingers. "Manual remodeling."
Looking at the confused crowd, he continued. "For those with artistic, or metallurgical, or carving skills... Why not physically alter the gear itself? Re-forge it. Imbue it with new materials. Carve runes or patterns that might resonate with specific energies. It's essentially giving the gear a makeover. Hoping it opens up new potentials."
This elicited more enthusiastic scribbling. The idea of physically altering their Soulheart Gear, of making it uniquely their own through craft, was a tangible and empowering concept.
"Another angle was environmental exposure." Jester said. Warming to his topic. "We theorized that placing a gear in specific environments for extended periods might trigger certain latent abilities."
"Specific environments? Can you give examples?" A reporter asked.
"Imagine exposing a gear to the oppressive stillness of a deep cave. Or the biting cold of a glacial peak. Or the vibrant chaos of a tropical jungle. Each environment has its own unique energetic signature. Perhaps the gear could absorb or adapt to these energies. Thus... evolving its star power."
He paused. Letting the ideas sink in. The reporters were a hive of activity. Their pens were scratching against paper. Even Sergeant Blade, who had been stoically answering questions about strategic dungeon raids, seemed to be listening with a flicker of interest.
"And for those who don't have the skills for forging or carving, or the inclination for extreme environmental tourism..." Jester added with a sly grin. "We considered external stimulation. This is where it gets a bit more… collaborative."
Jester elaborated further more. "The concept is to have compatible high-star gear holders actively use their own gears in proximity to a lower-star gear. Think of it as a 'power-up' session. A form of energetic induction, where the latent potential within the low-star gear is coaxed awake by the superior power of a high-star one. It's like... adult whispering encouragement to a shy child."
The room buzzed. This was groundbreaking. People often felt isolated with their low-star gears. A constant reminder of their perceived inadequacy. The idea of a communal approach. Of using the strength of the powerful to uplift the less fortunate. It resonated deeply.
It was then that Vale, who had been quietly observing, decided to chime in. His usually distant gaze was now sharp and focused. He moved closer to the microphone. His voice was calm but carrying an undeniable weight.
"The conventional approaches are, of course, theoretically valid." Vale began. His white hair caught the light. "But Jester and I... We don't always operate within the conventional. We considered… more direct interventions."
A collective intake of breath swept through the room. The reporters looked at Vale. Then at Jester. Sensing a shift in the tone.
"One hypothesis involved the host's own biological essence." Vale continued. His expression was serious. "We have the idea of bathing the gear in the blood of its wielder."
He quickly added. "Not in some barbaric or demonic ritual, of course. But as a controlled process. A deep infusion of the wielder's life force into the gear's matrix. It's a risky proposition. Requiring precise control and understanding of blood compatibility."
The reporters visibly paled. Blood baths? This was a far cry from hypnosis and environmental exposure. Some scribbling ceased entirely. Replaced by wide-eyed stares.
"And then..." Vale added. His green eyes were locking with Jester's. A silent understanding passed between them. "There was the surgical approach. The direct implantation of the gear into the host's body. Not merely worn, but integrated."
Jester added. "It should be quite achievable for small-sized Soulheart Gears. Surgically fusing them with the host should allow them to gain a more immediate and intimate connection. Imagine the potential energy transfer. Of course, we couldn't deny that the anatomical and physiological challenges are immense."
The silence that followed the two teens pronouncements was deafening. The reporters looked utterly dumbfounded. Their carefully prepared questions were momentarily forgotten.
Blood baths and surgical implantation? It sounded less like research and more like mad science. Some looked horrified. Others were intrigued by the sheer audacity.
It was at this moment that Professor Elheart, who had been listening with an almost religious fervor, could no longer contain himself. He practically leaped to his feet. His glasses were askew. His eyes were shining with an intensity that bordered on manic.
"Fascinating! Simply fascinating!" He exclaimed. His voice was ringing through the hall. He strode towards Jester and Vale. Ignoring the bewildered reporters. "Mr. Eventide! Mr. Bardean! Your mindsets are… remarkable. The sheer breadth of your theoretical explorations is astounding!"
He turned to Jester. "The behavioral conditioning. The environmental immersion. The collaborative stimulation... These are all avenues that warrant rigorous investigation. But your colleague's suggestions..." He gestured towards Vale. A wide grin spreading across his face.
"While perhaps requiring a more cautious approach, they are undeniably thought-provoking. The integration of the gear directly into the host's physiology… The implications for energy transfer are staggering!"
The Professor clasped his hands together. "I must ask, gentlemen. I am Alchryst Elheart. The Head of Esoteric Sciences at the Royal Academy of Misterra. Would you… would you consider allowing me to take over some of these experimental pathways? My lab possesses resources, both financial and in terms of specialized personnel. We could… we could explore these hypotheses with the rigor they deserve."
Jester glanced at Vale, who gave him a slight nod. Jester's usual easygoing smile returned.
"Professor!" He said. His tone was respectful but still carrying that hint of a smartass comedian he was. "We're just a couple of teenagers with wild ideas. You want to run some of our wilder ideas? Be my guest."
He looked at the professor directly. "Honestly, we've got a mountain of notes. Probably disorganized to the point of being unintelligible to anyone but us. If you can make sense of it and actually get something done, more power to you."
Vale chimed in. "We'll send you everything. All our research logs, our theoretical models, our scribbled diagrams. Consider it a contribution to Sherran science."
"We're pretty swamped with school." Jester added. "And… well, with developing our own Soulheart Gears and Power Classes. Trying to experiment with blood baths and surgery on top of that? Might be a bit much for our current schedule."
Vale echoed Jester's sentiment. "Indeed. We have limited time, and the demands of our transcendent training are substantial. Any assistance that allows these ideas to progress is most welcome."
The reporters were initially stunned into silence. They now erupted into a fresh wave of excited chatter. This was more than just a feel-good story about heroism and research. This was a potential revolution.
And it was not just for the elite few with high-star Gears. But for the vast majority. Those who had resigned themselves to mediocrity.
So far, Jester and Vale had not only shown them how to make their children get good Soulheart Gears, but also this. They were now actively paving the way for them to improve their existing, less-than-stellar gears. The political implications were immense, the economic implications even greater.
Headlines were already forming in the minds of the journalists. 'Teenagers Offer Hope to Zero-Star Gear Wielders'. 'Radical Research Pathways Unveiled for Soulheart Enhancement'. 'Presidential Palace Becomes Launchpad for Scientific Breakthroughs!'