*Bzzzzzt* *bzzzzzt* *bzzzzzt*
*slap*
A half asleep white haired teenager smacked an alarm that had been sounding for minutes already. Although the girl wanted to sleep a bit more, getting late for classes would be detrimental to their education. Today was also a very important day for their class.
She went to the bed beside hers and shook her still sleeping friend,
"Come on Vell, Wake up. I told you not to study so late *yawn* we need to get prepared" She rubbed her eyelids while using her other hand to peel the blanket off her friend.
Her efforts were recognized as a buggy eyed Vell sat her body up with her eyelids threatening to fall.
She was a studious girl and slept late in preparation for today. She yawned and asked the girl wearing pajamas beside her bed,
"It's the first time you actually woke up before me. What time is it?"
The girl named Alluna actually fell asleep while standing and was reawakened by her friends voice. In response to her friends question she looked at a device in the wall and said out loud,
"6:49..... now its 6:50"
"Ahhhh 6:50…..."
Almost as if sharing the same brain, both girls quickly channeled ethero through their bodies while rushing for a change of clothes. They both looked at the time and saw that 5 minutes have passed so they grabbed nutrition bars made of compressed calories and dashed outside their dorm room.
They were running faster due to the ethero supporting their bodily functions but they were unsure if they would arrive in time.
In a wide field were students perfectly lined up with a teacher looking at the timer, his back facing the students.
Aidam Brit was nervously waiting for his friends. They weren't known for being late especially during important moments like these. He was standing at the back with two spaces on his left that he reserved, worried that his friends would recieve a punishment for being late. Thankfully just as the timer turned 6:59:58 his two friends arrived and imitated their classmates posture with their hand behind their back.
The two new additions didn't have a speck of sweat on their foreheads and their breathing wasn't rushed.
When the teacher turned around and checked the students's faces only one was sweating. He took a mental note in his head,
'it seems that Aidam rushed here, sweating like that early in the morning. Tsk tsk I'll have to teach him a thing or two about punctuality' He shook his head after breaking eye contact with Aidam.
Aidam knew his teacher misunderstood something. He was a prolific sweater whenever he gets nervous and his teacher probably took it the wrong way. He shouldn't have worried about his friends beside him, he got in potential trouble because of it.
"Yesterday I asked you to come here in the field before 7:00 for your practical exams!" The teacher spoke, His voice was amplified by the ethero.
"Today we will be travelling to the neighboring kingdom of Highlenberg. Specifically their naval territories to fight giant level sea creatures"
Multiple gasps sounded across the students. They were just 14 years old, was it ok to do this? The sea was filled with undiscovered sealife, there was a reason why Daemos had failed to conquer the ocean and humans not bothering to check it for survivors.
The ocean contained beasts capable of changing the weather in the area. Some species, when reaching adulthood, could form massive whirpools and suck in ships. There are even schools of fish that can electrify the water and shock everything within kilometers. There even exists a crustacean that could snap its claws at such a high speed that the friction between its claw and sorrounding water would reach a theoretical temperature similar to the sun's core. It was a complete battlefield of monsters within the depths.
It was natural for the students to be afraid of their destination
A certain Black haired girl's pupils shrank and her body stiffened at the teachers words. Her friend beside her noticed her reaction but couldn't assure her since they weren't dismissed yet.
"Quiet! this was the official order of the dean, rest assured gargant class barriers will be deployed to protect you in the vessel we will be riding and master class ethero users will accompany us" The teacher reassured his students. If even one of them got incapacitated he would be roasted on stick personally by the dean.
The students were significantly calmed down and even excited at the thought of interacting with a master so paid more attention to their teacher.
"This exam's purpose is not to get kills but to get used to the feeling of taking a life. You will learn cooperation and strategies against different kinds of enemies. You must learn as much as you can during this three month exam. Before I dissmiss you, you must form a small group of three with classmates you aren't friends with."
The students were sad that they couldn't be with their friends. Aidam was especially affected by this, he was just a nobody in their class. It was a miracle that he had managed to make friends and now he couldn't even be with them. He was gonna say goodby to the two on his left and go socialize with the others when heard Alluna say,
"Ah! we don't seem to be aquainted. Such a blunder on my part despite us being classmates for quite some time~ it is a pleasant day to meet a STRANGER of your stature and grace.."
followed by vell,
"It appears so indeed, it is such a wonderful day for destiny and fate to allow us complete STRANGERS to meet in these conditions. For me to not be able to be aquainted with such beauty, Such an unforgivable sin, ohohoho"
"hohoho, we should be happy for this ACCIDENT and I completly forgive you for not knowing me. I would like to formally introduce myself as Lady Alluna Grent"
"*gasp* Could it be the lady Alluna herself!? daughter of Lord Hardy himself!? and the untouchable beauty of the Academy of Sardonis herself! I have truly sinned for not knowing you... As compensation I introduce myself as Miss Vell Murdic"
*gasp*"Could it be Miss Vell of the Highest honors!? The great conqueror of exams!? The knowledgable beauty of the Academy of Sardonis! I have deprived myself of happiness for not knowing of your appearance. Miss Vell, would you like to form a trio with me for this upcoming exam?"
"Though we have only met a while ago it appears that we have similar thoughts"
The two shameless girls shook hands while laughing in pretentious tone. Aidam was watching this farce and realised what they were doing so he decided to join in himself,
"h-hey, I accidentally heard your conversation and I would like to join in with you I am Aida-" His speech was stopped by Alluna who suddenly said without holding back,
"Its ok Aidam you can join us, it's not like anyone thinks you have friends in the class"
Aidam was crying in his head. She was right, he always kept to himself and was afraid to socialize with others. His roomate was just like him and the had never talked to each other despite sharing a room for 7 months now. He was the type of guy who had difficulties in making friends and pass it off a something bothersome and yet secretly curse at people having fun with their friends. He had never been more offended by something he completely agreed with.
The other students heard the conversation between the two girls and soon enough everyone suddenly had the accent and tone of a stereotypical highborn. Everyone was shamelessly introducing themselves to their friends that they apparently have never met their whole life.
The teacher was watching in amusement at the antics of his students. He didn't really care who went with who. Everyone would work together in the end.
After a few minutes of pointless mingling the teacher dissmised the class.
___________________________________________________
Back in their dorm room, Vell and Alluna were packing their clothes and and writing letters to their loved ones. Alluna was already done and was sitting in her bed while watching Vell. She opened her mouth to speak but seemed hesitant and doubtful of her approach.
Vell noticed that her friend was imitating a new born baby chick, Opening and closing her mouth in intervals.
"What's wrong?" Vell asked.
"ummm.. I noticed that you got tense when teacher said Highlenberg, Are you ok?" Alluna was a bit surprised when her friend addressed her but she managed to stitch up her replies.
"Im ok, I already told you about my past. I just didn't expect to go back there so soon" Vell replied as she wrote on the letter.
"Do you want to talk about it? your Father he-"
"He did what he had to do and failed. I will find the truth to the matter one day, not now" She interrupted her friend. She folded the letter sent it outside the window as it twisted onto itself and dissapeared. Vell put her hand on her chest as she felt the necklace her mother gave her. She was informed of how her father died and personally studied the recording in the pendant. She knew someone sent her father to die and she intended to make that person suffer when she finds them.
Alluna didn't speak, her friend told her about her past in full confidence and trust. She didn't rat her out to the immigration and borders authority since her grandfather taught her to nurture relationships. Also, she was just a nice person overall.
It was quiet in the room until a device started making buzzing sounds.
"well its time to go I guess" Vell stood up from her chair and carried her anti-weight bag while Alluna walked at her side.
__________________________________________________
John was sitting on his huge black horse wearing his armour that he had made a few changes over time. His helmet had a spike in front that extended towards the sky and on both sides of the helmet had horns that did the same. He added the spike and horns to resemble a crown to complete his Darklord aesthetic. He didn't expect his roleplaying to actually come true.
Tall burly men and toned women wearing simple clothes were kneeling in the village entrance facing John. The situation was bizzare, He discovered the village but didn't approach to close in case the villagers were hostile. He didn't expect to be seen by a child and be put in this position.
"HMMM!!" the villagers shouted.
Under John's helmet was a lowered jaw that expressed his shock. He didn't what to make of his situation and what to do next.
____________________________________________________
The Academy of Sardonis - the most praised academy in The kingdom of Bacaly. It was established Marcus Sardonis after the 2nd daemos invasion to raise capable people for society that can also fight back the tides. The academy has produced uncountable master class ethero manipulators during it's time and is arguably the best in the whole continent. Unfortunately, only citizens are allowed to be admitted.
The Academy of Sardonis issues uniforms based on a students grade level free of charge. It is composed of a heat resistant long sleeved button shirt made from ethero manipulated spider silk, A dark blue vest made from steel bull leather, A slim but flexible trousers that are water and mud resistant, and finally nonslip waterproof boots. Other uniforms include battlewears that are metal plated jackets and pants.
Anti-weight bags - Bags containing circuits that negate electromagnetic forces of gravity when activated. It requires a person channeling ethero to it to activate otherwise it is just a normal bag.
The instant travel letter - an invention that allows instant communication within long distances. Channeling ethero through the inscription in the letter converts its physical matter into a signal that travels towards a reciever's device where it reassembles itself into its original form.