Seventeen felt a chill throughout his body. He frowned and ran a self-diagnostics on his thermal sensors. No malfunction was detected.
'Hey, Prime. Is there any undetectable problem with my thermal sensors?', he thought.
(No Seventeen. It could be your soul reacting to something. Your body may be artificial but it is influenced by your soul.)
'Hm. What could influence my soul like this?'
(Anything. But if you want. I can find out.)
'Please do.'
Seventeen turned his attention to the head of the Sylran Family. They were talking for some time now, mostly about the city and the Sylran Family.
Lord Sylran has five children, of which the twins are the third and fourth. His eldest son is a seasoned adventurer and his second son is a squad vice-captain.
His youngest daughter is only 10 years old and has to be the most adorable little elf Seventeen had ever seen.
"So how are Robin and Rhea in the academy?', Castiel Sylran asked.
"They are really good students even though Robin submits his assignments late. Rhea is more responsible than him.", Ruth said.
"Ah. That seemed to be the norm here.", Castiel looked at Robin who took an interest in a painting on the wall.
"Robin?"
"Alright, dad. I'll be more responsible.", Robin sighed.
"We noticed something else. The twins don't use their attributes simultaneously. When Robin uses his attribute, Rhea doesn't use hers.", Seventeen said.
He looked at Castiel, "Does this have something to do with them being in Special class A?"
Castiel nodded sadly, "You are correct, instructor Seventeen.", he glanced at Robin who just shrugged.
"Robin and Rhea cannot use their attributes at the same time. For if they do, a powerful reaction occurs which would injure both of them.", Castiel said.
"I have heard of this. Unstable Resonance of Attributes. It is a rare condition which only affects close siblings or twins.", Ruth said.
Castiel nodded, "You are correct miss Ruth. So for the two years of training after school. Both of them trained hard to coordinate their combat and to prevent simultaneous attribute use."
He shook his head, "I had to put healers on standby as both of them would get at least one major injury every single day."
"Dad! Don't tell that to my instructors", Robin protested, he sounded flustered. Castiel laughed, "Sorry Robin. How about you join your friends as they explore the city?"
Robin frowned, "Uh. Okay, dad. But how do I find them?"
Castiel sighed, "Shadow Tracking Robin. Use it to find them."
"Oh. Yeah. I forgot."
Seventeen sighed, "How many times have I told you that you can track and find the shadows of people you know with that skill."
Robin smiled sheepishly, "My bad sir.", he then closed his eyes and concentrated. Seventeen saw shadowy tendrils flicker around him. Robin opened his eyes, "Found them. They are at the foot of Yggdrasil."
He got up and proceeded to leave, "I'll be going, dad."
"Don't forget to be at the meeting place.", Ruth said. "Sure Miss Ruth.", Robin replied and went out.
Castiel Sylran put down his tea. "I believe both of you know the true objective of Special class A."
Seventeen and Ruth nodded. "Headmaster Zephyrus told us about it. Is this the reason why you asked Robin to leave?", Ruth asked. Castiel nodded.
"Well. It is not time for them to know the real reason why they were put in Special class A.", Seventeen said.
"True.", Castiel said.
"Headmaster Zephyrus told us that Special class A was created to form a 26th squad of the Cardinal Knights.", Ruth said.
Castiel nodded, "Indeed. An independent Cardinal Knight squad, not constrained by the Council of Seventy like the other squads. A special unit consisting of unique individuals."
He sighed, "Unfortunately. Only one batch of Special class A students were able to become the 26th squad. And that was 50 years ago. Since then, none of the students were promising enough."
"That is, until now, Mr. Sylran.", Seventeen said confidently.
"Indeed. I don't mean to boast. But Special class A was created by my mother, Cecilia Sylran.", Castiel said.
"You mean the previous Lightning Cardinal?", Ruth asked. Castiel nodded. "She was the longest-serving Lightning Cardinal, about 80 years, and also the longest-serving headmaster of Cardinal Academy.", he said.
Seventeen whistled, "Damn. Elves do have long lives."
Castiel smiled, "You can say that again. My mother is currently living in our summer house outside the city where it is more peaceful and quiet."
"Anyway. My mother wanted to create a squad that was not under any Cardinal, and hence independent and able to do missions which would normally take a long time due to deliberations."
"So my mother and the chairman of the Council decided to create a special class in the academy. But she had to select students carefully without compromising the strength of the other squads.", Castiel explained.
"So Cecilia Sylran came up with a solution of finding students with flaws but who also had great potential in them, perhaps even greater than the students in S class.", Seventeen interjected.
"And she could help the students overcome their flaws and bring out their hidden potential", Ruth concluded.
Castiel nodded, "You two caught on quickly. No wonder Zephyrus said both of you were the best teachers Special class A ever had."
Ruth blushed while Seventeen just smiled.
Castiel chuckled, "My mother knew Special class A would benefit students with great potential who were shunned due to their flaws."
"So for the last three years of her time as headmaster, my mother began Special class A and appointed a trusted friend as the instructor. It was a success and soon the 26th Cardinal Knight squad was born."
"Unfortunately, her successor was not made aware of the truth of Special class A. He only saw the class as somewhere to put the misfit students.", Castiel said.
Seventeen nodded, "So that was how Special Class A was called the losers class."
Castiel nodded, "Indeed. The class did help the students become Knights in other squads but was not able to form a separate elite squad."
"It stayed like that until Zephyrus became the headmaster five years ago. He heard about the class from my mother and was determined to make it fulfill its true purpose.", Castiel said.
"But it was a hard task. By the time he came, the idea that Special class A is for misfits was already common knowledge. So he had to do something, a new method of evaluation for the entrance examinations."
Castiel continued, "Unlike my mother. Zephyrus discussed with the new Cardinals and came up with a new method of evaluation which included measuring the hidden potential of candidates with certain flaws."
"It took three years of deliberation to be finally approved by the board of elders who fund the academy. And this year was the first time it was used."
He smiled, "And it was a success."
"Indeed Mr. Sylran. My students are pretty amazing.", Seventeen said. "You mean our students?", Ruth glared at him.
Castiel chuckled and glanced at the clock.
"My goodness. I haven't talked this long for some time.", he stood up. Seventeen and Ruth stood up and shook hands with Castiel.
"I presume you will be spending more time in Elvenglade?", Castiel asked.
"Why yes. Also, I was thinking of having an exploration exercise for your son and the other two students who came with us. Do you have any suggestions?", Seventeen asked.
"Hm. A good exploration spot.", Castiel thought, "Oh yes! I know a place."
"Earlier today, an adventurer who was doing some training stumbled across some ancient ruins. He did some poking around and reported to the Adventurers Guild. The Guildmaster informed me about it.", he said.
"Ancient ruins huh?", Seventeen asked.
(Is it a coincidence that some ancient ruins were conveniently found on the day you wanted to do some exploration?)
'Don't know Prime. It could be just a coincidence', Seventeen replied in his mind.
"My oldest son is also an archaeologist. So I sent him to look at the ruins. I will send a message to him about your arrival. Perhaps both of you can help him, Especially you, Ruth Aeva.", Castiel said.
"Me?", Ruth was surprised.
Castiel nodded, "You are extremely smart and have mastered ancient languages. Maybe you can understand any writings found in the ruins."
"Oh. I will try my best Mr. Sylran.", Ruth blushed.
"Words of truth, Mr. Sylran. Ruth is indeed very smart. She was even able to find a Code to remove the curse of the Aevas.", Seventeen said.
Ruth was taken aback, "Wait. What?"
"Really?", Castiel was impressed. He turned to Ruth, "Congratulations, instructor Ruth. It is usually not easy to find a cure for a curse. What you did is impressive."
"Er. Thank you.", Ruth said.
"Then we shall take our leave lord Sylran. We shall report any findings from the ruins. Thank you for your time.", Seventeen bowed.
"You're welcome. I will be waiting to hear your findings.", Castiel nodded. He smiled sheepishly, "Also, can you ask Robin to come here for dinner? His mother is returning by evening."
"Very well. Lady Sylran is a diplomat and she was called to resolve conflicts on an island to the south, right?", Ruth asked.
Castiel nodded, "Indeed. She's a busy elf. The Raven Family in Lunaria just asked her to assist their diplomats on an island to the east. She has to leave tomorrow."
"I read about it in the newsletter. Apparently, the Lightning and Air Cardinals sent one of their squad captains as well.", Ruth said.
Castiel nodded, "We don't know what is in store for us in the future.", he sighed. "Anyway. Have a wonderful time here.", he smiled.
Seventeen and Ruth bowed again and proceeded to leave.
"Mr and Miss instructors!", a childish voice came from the garden. Ten-year-old Faye Sylran ran up to them. She was playing in the garden with one of the maids.
Like her older siblings, Faye had bright blonde hair and fair skin, the only difference was her big eyes which were a pale red.
"Are you leaving?", she asked. Seventeen smiled and knelt at her level, "Why yes. But we will come back and play with you."
"You will?", Faye asked with those big eyes. Seventeen nodded.
"Yay!", she exclaimed happily and ran to her father, "Mr instructor said they will come back!", she told her father who nodded warmly.
Seventeen and Ruth bid farewell and entered the carriage.
*******
Castiel Sylran stood at the door as the carriage passed the gates. Faye went back to playing in the garden.
"What do you think Morpheus?", he asked as a black-clad elf emerged from the shadows.
"Both of them are strong my lord. Especially the young man. Even though he fully suppressed his presence, I had a feeling that even I would not stand a chance against him in a fight.", the Shadow replied.
Castiel was slightly surprised. Morpheus is one of the strongest Shadows. His power is on par with the Firedancer of the Night Family, a formidable Shadow.
"Is that so?", Castiel asked.
"Yes my lord."
"That is good. At least I know my children are in safe hands.", Castiel said in a relieved tone.
He looked at the carriage going farther away, "Just who are you, Seventeen?"