"How did you transform him into such a beauty?", Ruth asked Minerva.
Minerva had a proud smile on her face, "Well. It took some clever makeup skills, a new dress, and an Arthur."
"I guess it was a bit challenging to get the latter.", Seventeen noted. Minerva grinned, "Oh that was fairly easy. He was pretty exhausted after hunting and just came back from the infirmary. It was a simple matter of making the other guys get him by a simple threat."
"She threatened you guys?", Seventeen turned to the boys. They shifted uncomfortably, "Well. She threatened to make us wear dresses if we didn't comply.", Damien said, "Besides. It looks good on Arthur. Who could tell the difference?"
"Oh, you traitorous chickens. I'll get you for this.", Arthur cursed at them.
Seventeen ignored Arthur as he turned to Minerva, "But why Arthur?"
Ray stepped forward, "I can explain that sir.", he paused and continued, "This is kind of a tradition since we were kids."
Seventeen was confused, "Crossdressing Arthur is a tradition?"
"Well.", Ray rubbed his head, "When Minerva first met Arthur, she thought he was a girl who liked to dress as a boy."
"Ah.", Seventeen understood where he was getting at.
"Anyway.", he turned to Arthur, "You look really good.", he complimented. Ruth nodded in agreement, "I can see a lot of young men out in the town getting confused.", she remarked.
Arthur sighed, "Not the both of you.", he glared at Minerva, "There. Are you happy? You promised this would be the last time."
Minerva smiled wickedly, "I know. I keep my promises but before that.", she grabbed Arthur's arm and dragged him to the main door, "Let's take a stroll."
"Aw hell no!", Arthur protested as the other girls followed them as Minerva dragged him away.
Seventeen and Ruth chuckled as they disappeared at a corner. "Too bad Gray was the only one who missed the fun.", Ruth said.
"Well. I think she might bump into them. I felt her presence a while ago.", Seventeen replied. He heard a soft cry from outside.
Selene flew into the dorm with a flash of silver. Seventeen held out his arm and she perched on it. He smiled, "Hey girl. Did you have a good time flying around?"
The Moon falcon nodded her head and glared at Ray who backed off a bit with a nervous smile. "Damn. Didn't know you were scared of a falcon.", Damien smirked.
"Oh shut up Sparky. You don't know how sharp that beak is.", Ray grumbled. They all laughed. Seventeen noticed that Oliver had a rather pleasant laugh. Despite his physique and size, Oliver is a kind person who likes to make statuettes of earth.
But this kind demeanor must not be underestimated. His attacks by the double axes deal heavy damage and can shatter rocks. His magia enhancement is impressive. He uses it to harden his skin making it very tough and bolstering his defense.
"I believe you guys had fun dressing up Arthur?", Seventeen asked the guys. They looked sheepishly at each other. "Well it was amusing to see him in a dress.", Damien smirked.
"I'm pretty sure it was.", Seventeen said and both the instructors smiled.
"Excuse me. Instructor Seventeen?", a female voice asked from the doorway. Seventeen turned and saw an elf of his age wearing a business suit. He recognized her as the headmaster's secretary.
"Oh hey there. What is it?", Seventeen asked. "Headmaster Zephyrus wants to meet you in his office.", she politely informed him.
'The headmaster huh?', he thought and nodded, "Very well. I will arrive shortly."
The secretary nodded, "Very well. I shall inform the headmaster.", she bowed and using a teleport stone, disappeared with a pop.
"What does the headmaster need with you now?", Ruth asked. Seventeen shrugged, "No idea. Perhaps he wants to talk about Jason? Speaking of Jason. He wants to spar with you."
Ruth frowned, "Oh. Did he? Well, it would be good practice. Now where to find him?"
The words were barely out of her mouth when a huge explosion boomed across Cardinal Town from the direction of the Lost Woods. Seventeen's eyes twitched.
"Oh, that son of a...."
Ruth massaged her temples and sighed, "Why did I even ask? I feel another paperwork coming. At least I know where he is right now.", she cracked her knuckles and proceeded towards the explosion.
"Make sure to send him to Ascalon.", Seventeen called out to her.
"With pleasure."
Damien looked at Ruth who was walking away, "I believe that was Jason?", he asked. "Oh yeah. You were held back so you would know Jason.", Seventeen said.
Damien winced, "Please don't remind me but yeah, I know Jason. He's a huge pain."
"You can say that again.", Seventeen smiled and turned around, "I'll be going to the academy. You guys better not get in any trouble."
He walked the main street of Cardinal Town, smiling and waving at people, and soon reached an alley between two buildings. He searched along the wall of one of the buildings and found the rune of the secret passage to the academy.
A few minutes later he stood in front of the headmaster's office and knocked. "Come in.", Zephyrus's voice came from behind it.
Seventeen opened the door and saw the headmaster looking at multiple magia screens. "Ah, Seventeen.", he said and removed the screens with a snap of his fingers.
"Is this about Jason?", Seventeen asked anxiously. Zephyrus smiled, "Fortunately no but you have to submit paperwork for the recent explosion."
"Don't worry. The ice queen will handle it. She's on her way to meet him right now.", Seventeen replied. Zephyrus winced.
"I kind of feel bad for young Jason right now. Ruth can be pretty scary."
"You can say that again.", Seventeen chuckled. He sat down on a couch and relaxed, "So I guess it's something else?"
Zephyrus nodded, "Well. The barrier protecting the academy complex detected the opening of multiple spatial rifts at one spot, the roof of the Special class A dorm building."
"Ah.", Seventeen recalled, "I forgot about the barrier. No wonder I found it hard to create a rift to return."
"So it WAS you. What were you doing opening those rifts?", Zephyrus asked.
"Oh. I used them to go to Mt Raviel. I've been sparring with Frigus this week.", Seventeen replied. "You were sparring with the guardian ice dragon?", Zephyrus was surprised.
Seventeen nodded. "He is a shifter dragon and boy, fighting one is a whole other experience."
Zephyrus smiled, "You are probably the only one who can say that with a straight face. Even slayers can only manage one fight against Higher Dragons."
Seventeen was confused, "Why are there dragon slayers? From what I've heard from Frigus, most dragons are friendly."
"Well, there are Lower Dragons. Those wyverns are wild magia beasts and then there are Fallen Dragons which are more powerful, hence the existence of dragon slayers. There are prominent slayers out there. The Dragnias are a family of dragon slayers.", Zephyrus explained.
"Ah. I can imagine Flare raining down hell on some poor dragon.", Seventeen said. Zephyrus laughed. "So how is Frigus as an opponent?", he asked.
"He is really strong and is skilled in hand-to-hand combat in his human form. His magia attacks are powerful, even freezing me at certain times.", Seventeen replied, rubbing his arms as if remembering the cold.
Zephyrus chuckled, "What did you expect? That wyvern is a Higher Dragon with thousands of years of experience."
"But please inform me the next time you are opening a rift. I don't want the warlock looking after the barrier enchantment to start freaking out.", Zephyrus told him.
Seventeen nodded, "Understood headmaster. But surely this was not the only reason you called me here?"
"You are right Seventeen. I have some grave news to tell you.", Zephyrus dropped his jovial manner.
Seventeen turned serious. He leaned forward, "I am listening."
Zephyrus brought up a magia screen, "A week ago, on the day you went to Elvenglade. Jack Raven, the captain of Squad 23 requested assistance in closing a Rupture from the inside. That meant entering Ethereos and facing the many dangers there."
"Lower Arken huh?", Seventeen had only heard of that place but he hadn't entered it yet. Even Frigus said that the place was dangerous despite being a Higher Dragon himself.
Zephyrus nodded, "Yeah. He requested Captain Alice Night of Squad 24 but I had already given her a mission to an island in the east. So instead I sent her brother and vice-captain Allistair Night to assist him."
"They entered Ethereos by the Gateway in the Corvinian Mountains along with Dr. Hauser. Hauser was at the Gateway looking for medicinal plants and tagged along with them."
"Dr. Hauser.", Seventeen thought aloud, "I've heard of that name from somewhere."
"He's the best healer in Arken. Even the Water Cardinal stated that he is superior to her in healing.", Zephyrus said.
"Anyway. Dr. Hauser accompanied Captain Raven and vice-captain Night to Ethereos. They met with a Fallen but Hauser was able to take care of that problem while the other two sealed the Rupture."
"After sealing the Rupture, Jack and Allistair came upon a rather disturbing sight. Hauser was able to recognize it and the three of them immediately informed me. I must say I was shocked at this discovery."
The magia screen glowed and revealed some tents surrounding a single massive object. Seventeen frowned as he focused on the massive object.
"Are there dragons with six eyes?", he asked.
Zephyrus shook his head, "That is no dragon Seventeen. I believe you don't know what this thing is since you are not of this world. Well, I can say the same thing for the creature."
"What do you mean by that?", Seventeen was confused.
(Wait a minute. That skull looks awfully familiar.)
'HUH?'