"Dude, I think your girlfriend is here." Tommy whispered.
"She is not my girlfriend." Soren clapped back.
"Then why is she looking at you like you are rat soup?"
Both boys got off each other, rearranging their clothes, and pretending to have been working hard on their assignment.
Ivory's eyes seemed to smile a little.
Clap clap clap—
"I see many of you have aready gotten the technique. That's good. I see this years crop of cadets are truly incredible. " She began, voice light and inviting. "Those of you that have not managed to get the technique, please come together."
Soren turned to Tommy. Both boys nodded.
Tommy gave him a thumbs up for encouragement.
As the cadets gathered, Soren noticed something.
Marcus had indeed been telling the truth.
Talent had truly picked her favourites.
Aside from one C-rank Soulbound warrior, all the others cadets that were unable to perform the technique were D-rank and below.
But of course, he was the only F-rank.
The cadets gathered before Ivory, while the others that had figured how to execute the technique left the training room.
Most to them to their rooms or the cafeteria.
"You all look so... pitiful."
Even though she said this, her eyes were actually still on Soren.
At this point, Soren felt as if every word from this woman's lips were directed at him.
"But don't worry, you will all get the first form technique too.
Unfortunately, many of you believe that there is only one way to get it. I am sure Instructor Marcus taught you the academy standard, 'Steal from the Shade method.' While it is effective. You all must understand that Shades, like us, have their own wills. Some wills are stronger than others, and some, for specific circumstances, are even lazier than others."
Wills huh?
Soren thought to himself, remembering that huge force Chronovore exerted on him, as if to crush him.
It was not physical, but rather in his mind.
Now, it was easy to confirm that it had been the shade's will.
Regardless, that was scary. To have a will strong enough to move from the metaphysical to the physical.
Chronovore was no ordinary Shade. Maybe that was why stealing from it was so hard.
Ivory signalled with a hand, "Now I want you to pair up with someone, anyone of your choice is fine."
As the cadets searched for patners, she lectured. "What I am about to teach you is a bit of an unorthodox method but it does work."
She paced back and forth. "Even more, the beautiful aspect about achieving a technique with your Shade is that once achieved, it is forever yours. Meaning that getting the First Form is the goal. The method of acquisition does not matter."
Soren looked around. His friends were not here. He did not know anybody here.
Why couldn't those two idiots just fail the technique and join me here?
He lamented.
But then he shook his head at the thought. He was always glad for their progress. Even for Pencil, regardless of what he did.
"Hey can I partner with..." Soren asked sheepishly, but the cadets turned away from him.
"How about you. Can I...?" Yet another looked away.
Anywhere he turned, it was the same. It was like the cadets were avoiding him like the flu.
While they were not sure what kind of technique Ivory wanted to teach them, no one wanted to partner with the bottom of the barrel.
There was just this general assumption that an F-rank would not yield good results. This was regardless of Soren's achievement with a Soul Mecha.
Many years of the known 'Norm' could not be simply eliminated because of a 'Fluke'.
Soren sighed. No one wanted to partner with.
"Soren, if you don't have a partner, why don't you partner up with Polystar." Ivory suggested with a smile.
Soren turned. There he was. The boy in glasses—the only C-rank that was yet to learn the technique.
Pill Polystar.
For some reason, he was also an oddball, as no one wanted to partner with him.
However, when he turned to Soren, he snickered—adjusting his glasses.
Did he just look at me with disgust?
Soren was pissed at this.
Ivory might look nice, but she was still an instructor, and it was not wise to disobey or Vex her.
For this reason, Polystar still approached Soren.
Regardless, neither boys looked at each other favorable.
It also did not help that Polystar was a head taller than Soren, pissing him off even more.
"I believe everyone has found a partner?" Ivory asked smilingly. "Hmm... that's good. Now, I want you to take your Glassheart in hand..."
The Cadets did as instructed.
"And now, I want you to hand it over to your partner."
Every paused. Shocked.
What did she say?
All eyes turned to her.
"Yes. You heard me right. For this exercise to work, hand over your Glasshearts to your partners."
"But instructor Ivory, one of the founding rules of soulbound warriors is to never—"
—The cadet swallowed this words when he saw her smile freeze—a silver of malice in her eyes.
He nodded like a pecking chicken. "Yes, instructor."
Soren and polystar begrudgingly did as instructed, handing over the Gassheart to one another.
"Good, very good cadets." Ivory's smile was like that of a caring mother. "Now, a few things to note. If you are able to get back your Glasshearts from your partner, whether, you pass the test or not, I'll add 10 points to your overall grade."
The cadets Gasped.
The assignment to get the first technique was 10 points. What she was saying was this.
'Even if you fail this assignment, I'll still gift you enough points to not make it matter.'
"At the same time..." she continued, her eyes sliting into a mischievous line at the sides, "If your partner retrieves their own Glassheart, you lose 10 points to your overall grade. You are not allowed to use your soul energy to hurt your partner, Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir." They all replied.
"Good. You may proceed."
The cadets all took ready stances.
Soren was lost for words. He really did not understand how this exercise was going to allow them achieve the first form.
In fact, it seemed incredibly ridiculous. But with the bonus 10 points, he could at least have enough qualifications to continue on his path to becoming a Soul Mecha Pilot.
It's just like a game of tag. It must be very easy to—
Whoosh...
Time seemed to slow down.
Soren froze—looking below.
There he was, Polystar. Head first with the base of his palm reaching for Soren's jaw.
Wait a minute. Why is he not reaching for the Glassheart?
CLAP!!!