Opaque walked onto the stage with a broad smile.
"Well I must say, many of you exceeded my expectations." He said. "The point of our little activity was to gouge your cultivation levels, and your ability to think objectively when placed against confounding situations, friends and enemies. While the conditions for every battle were different, the fact that you were asked to battle remained the same."
He waved his hand and behind him multiple screens with what looked like different fights between students appeared in the air, his brown eyes flicked to them for a second before going back to the teenagers before him. With a calm smile he began to speak again.
"Some of you showed us cultivation techniques way beyond your years, and for that we applaud you. However, many of you do not seem very confident in your cultivation. This is a problem."
He stepped off the stage and walked down the five steps leading to where the students stood, placing his arms behind his back
"Initially, we'd assumed that each of you were confident in your abilities, but judging from some of the fights we'd witnessed, many of you rely more on your physical attacks and not cultivation techniques to attack. Why is this?"
He turned in Kol's direction but didn't look at him directly.
"Additionally, even if aggravated, it never does well to fight subjectively. Your cultivation is only as strong as your spiritual power, and while emotions can be good when fighting, being volatile and hotheaded will only make you lose."
Kol avoided his eye contact.
Opaque turned in what seemed to be Calibri's direction, but again didn't single out anyone.
"Conversely, stopping in the middle of a fight even if you're winning is not something that should be done either. Suppose you were fighting a demon, do you think a demon would pause to let you have a monologue? Never. That demon would take the opportunity to take you down and devour your Soul Flare in an instant. Empathy is a beautiful, wholesome aspect of character, but in a battle, it is always best to fight without being wavered by your emotions."
Calibri blinked and glanced at Alexei.
"I believe he is talking about me." He said.
Alexei spoke discreetly. "Do not be affronted, your Majesty, he has not said your name nor has he looked at you."
"Yes my dear Alexei, but he looks in this direction."
"Yes my dearest Calibri, but he's not so cock-eyed as to be looking at you and the others at the same time."
"This is true my dear Alexei, but I did happen to have a moment of weakness during my battle."
"Is that true my dearest Calibri? What weakness did his majesty exhibit?"
"It is true my dear Alexei, and-"
"Ahem, my dear children, concentrate." Gaiya said, looking at them sternly.
The boys winced and looked back at Opaque.
"I also found that some of you do not have a smooth flow of power from your core to the extremities. This means you have not exhaustively trained in the martial arts, or endurance, as you should have. For one to hold the flow of spiritual energy and project it, your body must be trained well enough to accommodate for the strength of your energy. Cultivation is not simply a kind of 'fantastical magic'. No. It is life. It is breathing. It's movement. It's intelligence. It is grace. It's tranquility. It's passion. While we can call it 'Magic' or 'Alchemy', it is so much more than merely casting spells, curses and enchantments. It is an outward projection of your very soul, how you cultivate reveals who you are. How you think. Your values. Your desires. Why do you think the base of your cultivation, your core, is called a Soul Flare? It's because each of us has something burning in our souls, capable of great things, depending on how we choose to use it."
Kol made a face and nudged Haochen.
"You really think that's why it's called a Soul Flare or do you think it's because it looks like a fire when you pull the person's soul out of their body?"
"How do you know it looks like a fire?"
"I mean, 'flare' sounds pretty fiery to me."
"Everything sounds fiery to you." Haochen said, which wasn't wrong. Kol had an obsession with fire-based cultivation.
"It's simple Arigon ,Haochen. 'Flare' definitely means something flamelike."
Haochen suppressed the urge to roll his eyes.
"Why would I not understand the universal language?"
"Here's a better question, why would you two talk to each other during an assembly with the headmaster?" A teacher said from behind them, looking at them with a raised brow. Kol tensed and Haochen politely apologized before looking back at Opaque.
"I understand that this may sound strange to you, as many of you have learned cultivation in theory, but have not had the chance to practice. However, you will have the chance, after we bring everyone up to the same level of understanding."
Opaque let out a knowing grin. "Memorizing your textbooks may have gotten you here, but now that you are here, I would much prefer that you understand comprehensively rather than regurgitate what you have read. For the next few weeks, we will recap what you have learned, and we expect that you take what we say, and internalize it. For now, you all have the rest of the week to familiarize yourself with each other and the school while your superiors discuss the syllabus and strategies on the way forward , now that we've seen what each of your current capabilities are."
He began to walk back to the stage.
"Now, here, you see fifteen different viewing panels. These are the fights that took place this evening. They will remain here tonight, and you may watch the different battles if you wish. If not, please follow Master Mikro towards the healing springs. To those who do not wish to follow now, a glow-path will be set up from the hall and dormitories to the springs for you to follow at your own leisure. I know some of you are in desperate need of medical attention, but please do not be alarmed at your injuries. Enchantments were placed on your battlegrounds to prevent any life-threatening injuries, so you should not find yourself in irreparable condition. At the springs, many physicians are on standby should you need any additional medical attention. With that, I conclude this meeting, and hope all of you have a wonderful week."
The students looked at him distrustfully. Earlier, they'd been tricked, so hearing that they would be allowed a carefree week without work sounded very dodgy. And what about the lecture?
Flora looked at Alexei. "His majesty's eardrums were ruptured. How was that not life threatening? Why does he lie?"
Alexei shrugged delicately and looked over at Calibri. "Are you in pain your Majesty?"
Calibri looked as if he'd been told that he could have all the diamonds in the world. He turned to Alexei. "They have springs!"
"Not to bathe in, your Majesty." Rion said, eyeing Calibri knowingly.
Calibri pouted. "The strange contraptions make me uncomfortable." He said, thinking about the tub he'd been dumped into a few minutes earlier…
"And it's a spring… Most likely a natural spring. It's part of nature. How can they tell me that I cannot bathe in it?" Calibri asked.
Felix patted his hair. "Oh my little one, our rules are different from theirs. Don't do what they dislike."
Calibri sighed and looked across the hall.
"Oh! Haoc-" He started but Cloud suddenly appeared in front of him with narrowed eyed.
"So, where've you been, gorgeous?" He asked, with a raised brow.
Calibri blinked and looked back at the others.
"I…"
"You weren't in your room. Funnily, these two were there, in your room, and you weren't there." Cloud said.
Felix sighed, stepping forward. "It's called teleportation. Calibri can teleport, and they can't." Felix said, crossing his arms behind his back.
"Why teleport when nauseous and lacking energy?" Cloud asked.
Felix shrugged. "Why ask questions that are not your business to ask?"
Cloud smirked.
"Touché your majesty." He said, then looked at Calibri. "Fine, that's your business, but tell me, are you alright? I know I heard you vomiting your guts out."
Calibri's eyes widened. "No, I assure you, my gut is intact."
Cloud tilted his head. "You sure?"
"I am…"
Cloud stared at him for another moment. "Well then, Verbatians don't lie so I have to take your word for it, right?"
Calibri smiled. "Thank you for your concern." He bowed. Cloud laughed. "What are you bowing for? Just looking out for my roommate, can't have you throwing up and ruining the mood."
"The mood for what?" Calibri asked.
Cloud grinned and was about to speak when a foot kicked him on the side of the face, knocking him out of Calibri's way. The Verbatians watched him get kicked away with wide, curious eyes.
"There you are Calibri. I was looking around the hall for you. If you're not watching the fights, then let's go to the springs. I heard this guy-"Haochen glanced towards a sour-faced Kol, staring at Calibri.
"- put a Debilitating talisman on you. It's okay, sometimes my stomach gets weak with those talismans too. The healing springs will make you feel better. I promise. "
Cloud rolled over on the ground and glanced up at Haochen with curious eyes, not worried about the boot mark on his cheek. There the Zhang Prince went again, talking more than normal, giving useful advice to someone he barely knew, in a voice that did not sound like his usual cold, calm voice at all, with a gentle look in his periwinkle eyes.
But why?