"Shangri-la?" Azrael repeated, tilting his head to the side.
"Exactly," Nikolai responded with a snap of his finger. "You see we don't really have a lot of students to send for this task for now...but since you're freshmen it should be perfect for you."
"Hold on just a damned minute!" Lucian spoke narrowing his eyes at the senior. "What kind of task are you delegating to us exactly?"
Nikolai stayed quiet for a moment causing a somewhat eerie silence, before he broke it with a nervous chuckle.
"Well, I was honestly hoping you guys wouldn't ask that." he said sheepishly scratching his cheek.
"We're not idiots" Harumi commented, taking a brief glance at Riven, who glanced back as well. "Correction, some of us aren't idiots."
The werewolf sighed with exasperation. "Could you not be so hostile toward me Haru, but, on a serious note...what kind of mission are we going on Nikolai?"
"Well, you see, Shangri-la is a sort of rehab center for us Mythics, those who are trying to recover from trauma, addition or mental illnesses all get sent there.
"And due to the spikes, we've experienced in Hunter activity, Shangri-la has been getting new patients constantly...and thus their workforce is currently thinning out." Nikolai said as he gestured by pretending to stretch a rubber band.
Azrael raised a brow. "So, you're sending us there for support?"
"Bingo."
"Support?! Screw that!" Lucian spat. "Why make us do it then! It's not like we're the only first years in the academy! Get some other guys to do that, not me!"
"Did you really think we had a choice?" Jenna spoke, her voice flat. "Don't get ahead of yourselves thinking that you're qualified for even a mission as simple as this. We simply had no other option.
"Most of the capable students have all been giving their own assignments and thus we've been giving no other choice but to turn to the first years for tasks like these."
"So we're just a last resort thing, huh?" Cyrus sighed.
"Exactly! But don't worry, I'd bet you guys are gonna have lots of fun...they say the staff there are super nice and the food great as well. Nikolai beamed giving a double thumbs up, until a heavy hand knock him right out of it.
Jenna glared menacingly at her President. "Dummy, do I need to remind you of the mountain heap of work you've yet to finish?"
"No...I know, I know." Nikolai mumbled beneath his breath as he rubbed the sore spot on his head before his normal grin popped back in place, looking between all of them. "Alright, I suppose you all agree with this?"
The five all nodded in unison.
"Okay then, it's settled."
"Great, I wanna explore every inch of this new world." Riven responded cracking his knuckles.
"Like hell," Lucian growled. "I ain't going to some damned nurse for some whacked up losers."
"Why am I even surprised?" Cyrus groaned, placing a hand on his forehead.
"Well, wouldn't it be nice knowing you could you could help others?" Nikolai asked.
"Screw that."
"Okay then, if you don't want to go, I won't force you of course." The dark-skinned upperclassman said shrugging. "Since you obviously don't need the extra grades and credits, it's fine."
Lucian visibly stiffened at the comment. "Extra…grades."
"Uh-huh, and judging by your reaction it's obvious you might need some."
"Hold up, missions can boost our grades?!" Riven gaped.
"Of course they can, although since I wouldn't really call this a mission, but you guys still get an increase in your grades…So I'll say it again, do you all agree on this?"
Lucian scowled, crossing his arms. "Don't get the wrong idea, I'm just going there for the extra credit that's all."
"Finally, you're all done." Jenna rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Now, our President here has very important things to do so we'd better going, right Nic?"
"R-Right. You guys will be departing first thing tomorrow morning, also good luck on your first mission." Nikolai said giving a two-finger salute before a hand yanked him by the ear.
"Let's get going already you moron." The moon elf hissed, already heading towards the door. "And you six better get moving as well."
"Ow, ow. Would it kill you to be nicer, Jenna?"
They left the room leaving the six students there in stunned silence.
Azrael gave a slight chuckle, shaking his head. "Well, those two make quite an interesting couple."
"True, but that girl is way too intense." Riven commented to which the two nodded in agreement.
"Hey! What are you guys still doing in there!" Jenna's voice boomed from outside. "Get out of there, right now!"
____
In order to ensure that species are free to interact with the human world, Mythic Island had develop numerous travel routes, all of course undetectable under normal human methods. These routes also serve as the Island's transport routes for their personnel or goods. The Island's most common route of transit, however, is by sea.
"At least that's what Nic told me." Riven pondered to himself as he walked towards the docks, adjusting the duffel bag on his shoulder as the sight of their ferry wasn't too far off. He could see some of the others already on-boarding the boat.
"Oh. Hey, guys, wait up!" The werewolf yelled, flailing his free arm as he sprinted towards them.
"There you are idiot, you might as well waste the whole day as well." Harumi scoldedthe instant the reached the docks.
"Morning to you too Harumi." the other gave a tired smile. "Also It's called being fashionably late.."
"Correction. It's being extremely incompetent." Harumi remarked as she turned towards the ferry that was awaiting them and the others.
"You are too harsh, you know that."
"There you are, You'd better come up with a plausible excuse after wasting my damned time!"
"AGHH!" Riven shrieked as he jumped in fright. "What the hell gives?!"
He whipped his head back ready to lash out at whoever was responsible for giving him a such a scare but the wrath in his eyes instantly died down one he looked up at the figure standing behind him.
"You're late. Explain." Kairo commanded as he crossed his arms, his face carrying it's usual stern expression.
"S-Sure thing..." The werewolf stammered as he took a half step back. "Y-You see, I suddenly got super hungry on my way here, so I decided to get a little breakfast. It's not like it's my fault my appetite decided to triple."
"So you were late because you were hungry?" the man asked, raising a stern brow.
"Exactly."
"That's the most sorry excuse for being late I've ever heard."
"BUT IT'S THE TRUTH!"
"And I could not possibly care...now get in."
Riven sighed in exasperation as his arms went limp by his sides. He knew better than to try an argument with this man. "Fine."
____
"There you are,I was starting to think you'd bail on us." Azrael smirked as soon as he saw Riven board the boat.
"Hah. As if!" the werewolf smirked back as he and the other bumped fists. "So, where's everyone?"
"They're at the deck." the poltergeist said as he pointed behind his back at the stars leading upwards.
"Alright, I'll go drop my stuff and come meet up with you guys then."
"If you say so, try not to waste to much time again."
"Lay off me, will ya?"
———
Now long after the boat had began it's departure for it's destination, the horn blaring off as the ferry left the pier.
After a while, Riven had come up to the deck of the boat after he had explored the place a bit. He walked up to the railings and leaned his arms on them, taking a deep breath and enjoying the vast blue ocean that stretched ahead of him for miles.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" a voice spoke from behind.
"Yeah. It sure is." answered Riven turning his head.
When he did, he met a familiar face smiling sweetly at him as she brushed a strand of loose hair from her face. "I didn't quite take you for the type that liked scenery much."
"R-Runa?!" Riven stammered as his posture stiffened for a fraction of a second before he quickly regained composure, albeit, an awkward one. "I thought you were with the others inside?"
"I was." said Runa, putting both hands behind her hand as he walked up beside Riven. "But Lucian took Cyrus and bailed on us, according to him, he was too busy to deal with us."
"Typical Lucian, always too 'busy'." the young man said making air quotes.
Runa gave a light chuckle. "You know Lucian is that bad."
"You're right. He's the worst."
The young witch sighed deeply, turning her head towards the horizon, as the fresh air blew at her hair.
Riven stared for a long time, observing as her emerald eyes glimmered like the sea and how her hair flew freely in the wind. If he didn't know any better, he'd think she was an angel.
It truly is a beautiful sight.