The following week at Four Stars passed in a blur of duels and noisy crowds. Victories and defeats alike kept the campus buzzing, but between the bouts everyone still had to keep up with their classes.
This semester, there were only four courses nobody could escape from, no matter what path they chose: Weapons with Sensei Pwain, the grizzled swordmaster who could split a tree with his cane; Active Combat and Physicals with Old Man Ye, whose drills left half the class groaning on the floor; Survival and Formations with Keel Kun, a man who spoke as if he were always giving battlefield orders; and finally, Alchemy and Potions under Professor Tedorinzu, whose experiments sometimes shook the glass panes in the library.
Even those planning to be healers or tacticians had to at least survive the basics. That was the academy's philosophy—first-years had no choice but to be well-rounded. Beastology, Heroic History, the groundwork of being an adventurer: it was all packed into their first year. The staff kept a tight leash too—no reckless missions, no solo quests. Dungeon runs? Always under the watchful eyes of a third-year or higher.
But things shifted as students moved up. By second year, the leash loosened. The academy encouraged personal growth, letting them take quests from towns or even entire federations. Classes became more specialized, each one sharpening an individual's strength rather than forcing them all into the same mold. By the time a trainee reached their third or fourth year, there wasn't much left to "teach." Those who stayed usually pursued research, honed rare abilities, or prepared to become the next wave of instructors.
Itekan paused before the notice board where requests for quests fluttered in the breeze. His eyes scanned the parchment slips until he plucked two free.
He turned to his companion, a grin tugging at his mouth.
"What do you think about these?"
One slip crinkled in his hand. "An escort mission—a merchant carriage from the Taltaba Federation."
"We just got into school and you want to head out again?" Itoyea asked Itekan taking the slip from his hand and looking through it.
"Hehe! That's actually true" Itekan giggled.
"Why this one though?" Kutote asks as he peers onto the mission request slip from behind Itoyea's tall frame.
Itekan responded with a wide cynical smile. He points at the location they were supposed to guide the carriages to.
"Spring Mountain?" Itoyea said not following.
"Spring Mountains, that was the capital of one of the former nations that Taltaba cunqoured nearly 200 years ago." Kutote said remembering the fact from one of the books he had read.
"Exactly! Two points to you and why would we go there anyone wanna try?"
"There should be a couple of unexplored ruins around that area"
"Yessss! Go on two more points to the gorgeous emo male over there"
"Gay." Binturu and Avery said
"Not!" Itekan and Kutote shouted back
"Anyways you're saying there aight be treasures over there? But you're forgetting something, we can't go on missions alone"
"Yeah we need at least one senior to follow us an instructor wouldn't let us branch somewhere else after our mission" Binturu said.
"True, I haven't thought of that yet—"
"Wit I know someone who can help us, though let me warn you he's not really the nicest person." Avery Ransthrol said leading them away from the first years block and towards the third years apartments.
A few minutes all five came to stop in front of a door with loud rock being played.
As they stood before the door a wave of threatening SE was unleashed crushing all of them. They couldn't even find the strength to move under the unmeasurable aura. Itekan switched to his shadow almost immediately but before he could move Binturu had already broken free and made his way to the door, knocking twice.
"Hehe—So two of you broke free, that alone is worthy of attention. Come in." A voice said. The suppressing aura stopped immediately and from inside the hard rock previously playing stopped and the door swung open by itself.
Itoyea felt his rage rise fast and he knew them he wouldn't like whoever was beyond the door.
"What can I do for you? Juniors" the voice said from behind them.
Spinning around they saw a tall guy with black hair and single steaks of red right down the centre. He had a strong build and was quite muscular.
'what! is with that speed!! I didn't even see him move!!' Itekan thought his face horror stricken.
Itoyea clapsed his hands on the hilt of his sword ready to strike.
'How did he get there that fast!!' Itoyea thought to himself.
"There was a monster like this in Four Stars!!" Kutote thought to himself as he found himself almost stepping back. Pulling himself back he noticed the stranger had noticed.
'That speed is not something even a hero of the intermediate Blue Eyes Form, don't tell me! T brat is at least Advanced Blue Eyes!'
"Hey!"
"Lille niece!! You didn't tell me you were coming." The stranger said as he pulled Avery in for a pumbling.
"Don't lie, I'm sure you noticed when we left our block." Avery said as he tried pulling himself off his cousin's pumbling.
"Yeah! That true though!"
All four felt the blood chill as they realized they had been watched/sensed since they left their dorms. The ridiculousness of the prospect made them reevaluate the gap between the third stage and a hero of the Blue Eyes Forms.
"You're not going to introduce me to your friends?"
"Ohh sorry, guys this is my cousin, the strongest trainee heroes at Four Stars, Korimer Ransthrol."
All their expressions changed from shock to awe in a flash especially Itekan's and Kutote while Avery stood beside Korimer looking smug.
"Strongest? well if you say so, nice to meet you all, I'm Korimer and you'll are?"
"I'm Itekan Lie!"
"I'm Kutote Tuo!"
The two shouted with enthusiasm.
"Itoyea Pilton"
"Binturu Binturu"
These two said not because they wanted to buy because of pure courtesy, he had told them his name first.
"Nice to meet you then, what can I do for you!"
***
"So you want to take this mission?" Kime asked looking at the skip they had handed in.
"Yes Headmaster!"
"And you're going to supervise them?" Kime then said to Korimer while pointing at the five first years beside him.
"That's what they want."
"Phuhh!!" Kime exhaled and rested his head, "Seriously you three are not going to put me to an early grave!"
"Sorry, hehe!" Itekan giggled, Itoyea and Kutote sweatdropped as Kime looked at them with.
"For an escort missoon it is important to have a healer. All I see are combat specialists, find a healer and I might consider—"
"I had a feeling you might say something like that, I already contacted a healer we know and she's agreed to come as well" Kutote stated.
"And who is that?"
"Rose, she has a couple of healing skills they'd definitely be useful." Kutote continued, Itekan who had started feeling disappointed threw his hands into the air rejoicing.
"Argh! Fine you guys can go for this mission!" Kime finally agreed.
"Nice!" Itekan and the rest cheered.
"Don't worry they'll be safe with me!" Korimer said smug.
"I worry not for them... Remember however, this semester we have visitors from several academics on the continent. They are set for arrivial by the end of this month. I wouldn't want my strongest student away." Kime said rasing his head up.
"Ohh don't worry I'm be back before then." Itekan said, then he noticed everyone staring at him blankly.
"What—"
"He was referring to me." Korimer said with confidence.
"Ohh!" Itekan gasped and everyone buested into laughter.
"Okay okay wrap this up and get out of my office already! You have at most a week to be here and back understood?!"
Itekan felt sweat trickle down his spine, he knew somehow that Headmaster Kime knew what he was up to. He could never hide anything from the man.
They made their exits and Kime looked to his left, kneeling beside him was Keel Kun.
"What's the update on Brandish?"
"They accepted the terms and on the matter concerning the recently escaped Subjects A123p, A201p, A003p and A616p. To I have handed them your message concerning the laboratory near The Dead Men Ship"
"What did they say?" Kime asked.
"With a little persuation the King has decided to shut down the laboratories. All eight laboratories off Brandish had been completely destroyed by the time I left."
"And Enasto?"
"He sent a messenger."
"And what of it?"
"The messenger said: Lord Enasto Ransthrol sees the destruction of several of his factories as a sign of war."
"That's his official statement?"
"Yes."
Kime rested his head on his hands and let out a sigh of exhaustion.
"Leave me." Kime groans and Keel Kun's face softens. He wanted to reach out to help him but this wasn't something he could butt into.
"Yes Master!" Keel Kun disappeared. Kime stood up from his desk and walked to the landscape painting he kept in his office.
"Arrrghhhh!!! Come on Enasto! Don't make me do this!!! We have to many enemies surrounded us we can't be fighting ourselves!!" Kime roared to himself but it worthless. Enasto was too far to hear him and even if he did he was already to deep into his actions to change now.
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Spiritual Energy (SE)
Spiritual Sea (SS)
Spiritual Signature (SST)