Time, as it was, seemed to grind to a halt for everyone present. No one had expected the near emotionless instructor to comfort the panicking individuals.
It only took a few moments longer for Jax'in to start calming down. The first indication that the group noticed was his breathing. He was taking deeper and deeper breathes as he calmed down.
"What exactly happened?" Instructor Kubo questioned
"hic... We were getting... hic... dressed and I... I..."Vera sobbed.
"What happened?" He asked with finality
"I'm the girl... It's me, I'm the one chased by the Beast in his vision." she muttered just loud enough for Kubo to hear.
"Is that it?" he questioned in a deadpan voice.
"Sniff... what?"
"You scared everyone. For that."
"B-but..."
SMACK
The frown returned to Instructor Kubo's face as his hands struck both Vera and Jax'in, eliciting a startled gasp from Jax'in.
"I think I've just put you all in danger..." he finally managed to voice.
Like a ripple passing along a pond on a clear night. The expressions on every student changed from shock, to derision, and finally to respect.
No one moved from where they stood, until Dartl came forward and offered a hand, helping him to his feet.
"Sorry for trying to kill you earlier..." he said sheepishly
"It's fine..."
"No, don't bother finishing that sentence Your Highness." He bowed low.
"Ok.... than can you explain why you all thought I was an assassin?"
"We can," Instructor Kubo agreed while eyeing him and Vera "but first we should get moving, we've already wasted an hour because of you two."
Both blushed as Vera's tail silently wrapped itself around Jax'ins wrist as they waited for the single to move. A few of the the others that saw this began nudging eyeing the two in jealousy.
"Dartl."
"Yes, Master?"
"You and Vera shall inform Jax'in about the significance of the Moonsilver class from your historical records classes." Kubo ordered.
"Yes." they both agreed in unison.
As instructor Kubo gave the order to move, Jax'in scooped Vera up into his arms. Everyone rolled their eyes as she wrapped her arms around his neck and started purring.
"Well... I guess I'll start," Dartl sighed "as everyone knows, we Nekarians are a nomadic people, but that wasn't always the case."
"During the beginning of the Age of Magic, our ancestors had built expansive cities in the desert. All Nekarians lived a life of luxury, with no need to travel the desert to become strong."
"And that was when the Royal Family discovered the Mana Oasis," Vera chimed in with a purr "and with the discovery of the Mana Oasis they spent hundreds of years developing the Truesource meditation methods."
"At that time they weren't considered a national secret, but you need permission from the King or Queen to be allowed to study them."
"But the other races kept trying to steal the methods only to create the different National methods of each countries military." Dartl picked up
"The Solarian Elves created the Vulcana's Breathe method, Peranians developed the Beast Manual, and Humans created the Magister's Grimoire..."
"What about my people?" Jax'in asked in confusion.
Neither Vera, nor Dartl would look him in the eyes at his question. He could tell by the grim expressions they bore that it wasn't a good part of history for them.
"Dartl?"
"W-well..."
"Vera?"
At her name she looked him in the eyes, and she couldn't hold it in anymore.
"The Killer's Tongue."
Her eyes lowered at her words, as if the mere mentioning was a harsh slap from Instructor Kubo.
"It wasn't a cultivation manual like the other races..."
"What do you mean?"
"She means that all the other Races techniques required being in a certain environment, or bonding with a magical beast."
"The Lunar Elves of that time..."
"They created a technique that required the death as the catalyst for cultivation."
"They ended up becoming assassins known as Moonsilver..." Vera barely squeaked out.
"So, why did that nearly get me killed back there?"
"Because about 1300 AoM, thirteen Moonsilver assassins infiltrated the Royal Palace and slaughtered everyone present." Dartl spat
"The Royal lineage would have been wiped out that night if the Twelfth Prince hadn't been visiting another city at the time."
"Although no one is certain about it, but most Nekarian Historians believe that the Royal Family wasn't actually a target that night."
"Why do they believe that?"
"Because the Royal Library was ransacked that night as well, and the only thing missing was a small black book with a silver clasp."
Jax'in nearly tripped as his eyes widened from the description Dartl provided.
"Do your historians know the significance of the book?"
"No," Vera perked up "but the Royal Librarians might, I can ask my Dad to let you in if you'd like?"
Her offer seemed like a beacon in the shadows of uncertainty that his life had become. He gave Vera a quick kiss and a smile.
"That'd be amazing."
The three hadn't noticed the entire time they spoke that the others had all gathered closer. Listening with intense looks in their eyes as they crested one dune after another.
They traveled in the intense silence for several hours before the silence was finally broken by a loud screech. It came from behind them. Before anyone else could react, Instructor Kubo threw up a wall of solid wind blocking what appeared to be a forty meter long worm with thousands of teeth.
"Fracture Worm!"
Dartl began rallying the others as cracks started forming in the wall of air. Vera had wasted no time, rolling out of Jax'ins arms and drew her cutlass with a graceful flourish.
"Spears!" called Dartl as he and the others formed a wedge just behind the wall.
It was damn impressive. Jax'in could tell that Dartl had the potential to be quite powerful in the future.
He finally drew his own blade as the wall shattered. The line of students thrust their spears up into the worms body. Leaving four deep gashes that leaked green mucus-like blood in the worms wake.
In the same instance Vera and the last remaining student leapt up onto the worm. The both of them slashing their blades across its body, opening wounds all across its long body.
"You should go join those two on top of the worm." Kubo instructed him with a curious glint in his eyes.
Jax'in simply nodded and gave a running leap into the air. He raised his sword up over his head, activating his Moon Cleaver ability. Dartl and the spear wielders were the first to notice the silver glow enveloping his sword just before he swung.
He hadn't expected the outcome that followed his swing. The iron longsword shattered after striking the worms leathery skin.
-Strength has exceeded weapons limits, User is recommended to change weapons-
Vera had heard his sword shatter, rushing headlong towards him. Jax'in had no clue she had drawn within earshot before calling out.
"System, equip Steel Longsword from inventory."
In he moments following his call, she bore witness to what she could only call a miracle. A second sword materialized inside his sheath. She only had a moment to gaze at the man before her.
Outlined in the light of the moon, drawing a sword from a previously empty sheath. Only to bring the blade over his head, once more encasing his sword in the silver light of the Moon Cleaver skill.
"HAH!"
He roared as he swung with every ounce of strength his body could muster. The sword dug nearly to the hilt as it sheared through the beasts skin. A cold smile appeared on his lips as an idea formed in his head.
-Windwalk and Sprint activated-
-User Agility increased to 120-
Treating the notification as the beginning of some race, Jax'in took his sword and sprinted down the worms back. Before even a single drop of blood was released from the wound he had already landed in the sand behind the beast.
-User has slain level 8 Fracture Worm, 450 exp gained, 4 pieces of hardened beast leather obtained-
-Exp: 2050/2100-
No one moved, Even the great worm had stopped moving in that moment, only for the green ooze-like blood to shoot out its back in sticky globs. All Instructor Kubo could do was stare at Jax'in with a admiring smile as the worm lay still before the group.
Impressive.
That's what was on all but one persons mind, as they watched the sticky green blood slowly ooze into the sand. Vera, having heard what he said on top of the worm, walked over to Jax'in and asked only one thing.
"What's this 'System' you called out to up there?"
Shock spread across his face, only to be saved from giving an explanation by Kubo ordering everyone to continue towards the city.
"It's two more hours until we reach the city. We should arrive just before midmorning."
Everyone ran in silence, not wanting to make any excess noise. The sun had just barely cleared the horizon when a giant structure appeared in the distance. He shaded his eyes to get a better look only to feel an insistent tug at his shirt.
He looked down at Vera as she tugged at his chainmail once more. Her eyes told him everything he need to know.
"I promise I'll explain it all to you once we reach the city."
"Fine..."