In a coffee shop located on academy grounds, Blake was currently enjoying a drink while waiting for his company to show up.
Several days have passed since he gave out the assignment. Thus far, countless attempts have been made, all to no avail.
Even now, Blake noticed several of his students camped outside the shop, waiting for him to leave the shop.
Chuckling to himself, he returned his attention back to the academy newsletter on his terminal.
"In any case, no class has been assigned for today. Why can't they figure out how to relax?"
"Well that's because you gave out such a provoking assignment day one."
A voice answered his musings.
Turning his head, it was Arnold who entered the coffee shop with an exasperated face.
Placing his own order, he then sat across Blake, who was still reading through the newsletter.
"Well, you did say I could do whatever I wanted right?"
"I did say that…" Arnold facepalmed as he recalled what he said. "But what are you going to do once the others return from their trips?"
"Well…" Blake thought for a moment. "Probably the same thing I guess?"
Arnold looked at him like he was crazy.
"Are you sure? The first group to return would be grade 12. These students are already combat tested, in fact they are the ones who managed to cause the most amount of damage amongst the professors."
"And when are these students returning?" Blake asked without looking up from his terminal. "And I'm just responsible for a handful of students right? After grade 9, the students are no longer required to take my classes. Only those who are truly interested in combat."
"They are returning next month." Arnold answered as sipped his piping hot coffee. "And yes, there's only a handful of students who willing take the combat class after grade 9, but there are still a lot of problematic students who sign up for it."
"Well. I have a month to think up a plan then."
"You need to take this a little more seriously. These students don't rely on their backgrounds like the kids you deal with right now. Some of the students are able to overpower professors with their talent alone." Arnold slammed his now empty cup onto the table, attracting some attention from the people around him. "As the students get older, their strength reveals itself and starts condensing. And when they get more support from their families or sponsors, they tend to skyrocket."
"Even better." Blake grinned as he finally put down his terminal and cup of coffee. "What's that one saying? The higher they go, the harder they fall? These are kids, they can't even imagine what real combat is, against fellow humans, let alone mindless beasts in the wilderness."
"Well, if you're that confident, there's nothing much I can do now." Arnold let out a sigh of defeat as he leaned back in his seat. "There's going to be a performance check three weeks from now. The Academy sponsors don't have a lot of confidence in the combat class. Given its track record with your predecessors."
"Let them come, I'm already achieving what you asked me to do." Blake replied without a care in the world. "The kids are working on their teamwork, at the same time they're also being pushed to their physical limits. Next week, I'm going to be pointing out all their weaknesses and what to work on in strengthening their foundations."
"Alright then." Arnold threw his hands into the air. "I did say you could do whatever it took to achieve results, and apparently you are showing results. I have to go, got a meeting to attend. Good luck."
With that, Arnold left the coffee shop while Blake picked up his terminal again and pulled out his work sheet.
[First thing's first, gotta find that spirit princess.] Blake thought as he read through his terminal.
Getting up, he then reapplied the minor illusion spell he showcased on monday and waltzed out the shop.
Looking at the kids focused on the entrance, and how they tense up whenever the door opens. He shook his head as he stood behind them.
"What did I say? Concentrate." He lectured from behind. "All of you, failed."
Startling the kids, causing them to fall to the ground. He shook his head for the nth time and vanished off into the distance.
His new destination? The testing forest, specifically the dungeon tower that resides in it.
—
"Phew, it really does reach for the skies." Blake whistled as he stared up at the imposing tower.
The dungeon tower, a landmark that existed since history started being recorded. The top of the tower vanishing into the clouds.
From the air, the top of the tower has never been spotted, even when diving down into the clouds from above, they would simply emerge next to the tower.
"Right, enough gawking, time to find this missing student." Blake muttered before he stepped forward into the tower.
*Fwoosh!*
Blake felt a brief feeling of freefalling, akin to stepping through certain portals, before a bright light filled his vision.
Taking a few moments for his eyes to adapt to the sudden changes, a vast grassland appeared before him.
Right behind him was a large magic circle, presumably a return portal.
"Well then, this makes things a little more complicated." Blake cursed to himself as he started gathering his own mana.
Once he felt that sufficient mana had been gathered, he muttered his incantation.
"Prode, Avis visus."
A small summoning circle appeared before a light yellow sparrow stepped through.
"I am looking for a large concentration of Spirit Art, Please give me a hand." Blake asked as he offered the sparrow a handful of seeds.
Nibbling a couple seeds, the sparrow let out a small squawk before taking to the sky.
It hovered in place for a few moments, taking in the surrounding mana signatures, before folding its wings and shooting forwards.
"Never mind then, Found you." Blake grinned before he started sprinting after the sparrow.
—
Amongst the forest that surrounded the grassland, a small clearing appeared.
Far above it was the mana sparrow that Blake summoned earlier, currently sharing its vision with him.
However, its sight was different compared to humans.
In its vision was the color of mana streams.
And it was currently staring at a large dark amalgamation covering the clearing.
"Quite honestly, one of the darker shades of spirit mana that I've seen in a long time." Blake commented grimly as he hid amongst the trees, slowly inching closer and closer to the clearing. "No wonder the world calls the dukedom the 'failed users of spirit arts'."
The Morcant Dukedom, a family renowned for its unique heritage with spirit arts. Many have described their magic to be reminiscent of necromancy.
Even their realm is shrouded with the scent of death and decay, though its people don't act like they've been affected by it.
Blake soon neared the clearing, currently disguising himself to avoid detection.
"Hmm?"
Blake noticed another presence not too far from him.
Following his senses, he came across a tree, with the presence he felt above him.
Narrowing his eyes, he noticed a camouflage elf resting amongst its branches.
He described the elf as resting, but it was currently eyeing the sparrow hovering far above them.
[So he noticed my familiar.] Blake noted as he observed the elf.
Short hair, medium to small build. Hair was a deep blue, a color he never saw elves with, unless they dyed their hair. But for this elf, it seemed like his natural hair color.
[I can't tell if the elf is a boy or girl. It's like he's doing it on purpose.] Making more observations, Blake thought back to the profiles provided to him by Arnold.
[Ah, I remember now, Myrin.] It clicked in his head on the identity of this particular elf.
A unique elf that can fit in with both genders. Child of a legendary bowmaster, The Raven Tip.
Not much more information was detailed, but he was amongst the troublesome students to be monitored.
[He should be on a trip right now.] Blake inwardly questioned, he then disconnected his vision from the sparrow and took a good look into the clearing.
There, he saw the Duke's princess, resting, surrounded by her summoned beasts and entities.
[I see now, the Grand Duke has a potential connection with the Ravens Tip.] Blake concluded.
[He was probably tasked to escort the princess, ensuring her safety.]
Blake then took a moment to figure out how to approach them, before throwing away all those half baked ideas and simply dismissed the sparrow.
Myrin's brow shot up in surprise, noticing the sparrow fading away, a sign that its summoner had dismissed it.
Right as he was about to call out to the princess, a cold blade appeared on his neck, followed by a silent command.
"Shh. No noise, wouldn't want the sleeping beauty to wake up now, do we?" Blake asked as he traced his dagger around Myrin's neck.
Cold sweat soaked his body, as he never sensed the person's presence until it was too late. In fact, he still couldn't sense Blake's presence. Even though he felt the cold edge of the dagger he placed upon his neck.
"Now what is a grade 12 student doing here in the dungeon tower? Instead of the last trip required for graduation." Blake asked, shifting his eyes to the sleeping princess.
"Ah, forgot to introduce myself. I am Blake, the new combat instructor and advisor. Your fellow students have made quite the mess for me to clean up."
With that introduction, Myrin felt nothing but dread seep into his body.
Happy with the dread that Myrin was feeling. Blake took out a pair of handcuffs and cuffed Myrin around the tree.
Those specific cuffs were crafted with the powerful in mind. Usually used for high threat prisoners and criminals.
Ensuring that he was secured and wasn't going to run, Blake entered the clearing, removing his camouflage, startling all the summoned beasts guarding the Duke's princess.
"Redi quo venisti." Blake commanded. His eyes emit a faint black glow.
The beasts around the girl back off and melt into her massive shadow, which in turn shrinks back into her actual shadow.
"Ahem." Blake coughed, as the girl continued sleeping. "Princess."
No reaction.
"Princess!"
Still no reaction.
Seeing that, Blake picked up a long stick, aimed it at the sleeping girl, before jabbing it straight into her side.
"Kyah!!!"
A shrill shriek echoed through the clearing, followed by a long sigh.
"Hello Princess Morcant. I am your professor, Blake. It's time for you to take attendance."