Seventeen stretched as he walked along the hallway. The fight with Frigus and getting smacked by Vanessa had caused some damage to his body.
Maybe it was the high magia concentration in Mt Raviel or Vanessa's presence, his inbuilt system only started alerting him when he returned to his room.
Maybe the smack that drove his head into the ground messed up the system hence the delayed response.
Seventeen is glad that his system is taking steps to make his body stronger.
(I designed your body so that it improves after every fight. So if you fight the same opponent a second time, you will have a higher chance of victory.)
'Must've been a faff to incorporate that function in me.'
(It was but it was worth it. I won't be there to provide you with maintenance so I created you and your brothers to be an independent existence.)
(Your nanoparticles are designed to be functional all the time. Just like the cells in a human, old nanoparticles are broken down to create new ones.)
'But there is a difference.'
(Yeah. I had studied Eravon's immortality and tried to replicate it. The closest thing I was able to do was use a complex code to make your body immune to time. To put it simply....)
'I am immortal.', Seventeen finished, 'Or should I say the three Guides you created are immortal beings similar to Eravon Lock.'
He smiled, 'I think I know why you did that. You don't want Eravon to be alone.'
(....)
'Looks like I hit the spot.'
(Good deduction. Yes, I made you immortal so that you will give Eravon some company. It was a bit selfish of me but imagine how it felt for that man, to live forever and wander different realities all alone.)
Seventeen rubbed his head, 'Well. I am not mad about that. I already figured out that I am immortal.'
(Oh.)
'But I have to get much stronger. Vanessa showed me the vast difference in our power, which was frightening.'
Despite him being immortal, he experienced death by just a gaze from the Vampire of the Purple Rose.
(It's all good that you are determined to get stronger but don't you and Ruth have to meet Zephyrus today?)
'Ah. Thanks for reminding me.'
The Headmaster had called for them to inform them of something important. He was ready to leave but Ruth was getting late, which was unusual for her. That woman is rarely late.
After waiting for fifteen minutes in the lobby he became impatient and went to the door to her room. Their rooms are on the third floor along with the guest rooms. His was directly opposite Ruth's.
He knocked on her door, "Hey ice queen! Are you ready yet?"
"Hold on. I'm almost ah!", she yelped and Seventeen heard a thud behind the door.
Without thinking, he opened the door, "What happened? Are you alright.", he then saw what happened, "Oh."
Ruth lay on the floor in front of him. From what it looks like. She just got out of the shower and slipped when he called her. She had wrapped herself with her bath towel.
Unfortunately, it unraveled as she fell and the half-elf lay in front of the android, naked.
Her long auburn hair gleamed and her fair skin was unblemished with only a few faint scars from her battles. Her slim yet strong figure was covered in the remaining droplets of water from the shower.
They stared at each other for a minute before Seventeen snapped himself out of the view presented to him. Ruth's face turned bright red and he saw mist forming around them.
"Oops.", Seventeen said and backed away, closing the door.
(Seventeen. Run.)
*******
Arthur sat on his bed and started to meditate. Focusing on the magia coursing through his paths. He visualized his surroundings and focused his mind on the open vial of liquid magia lying nearby.
The glowing blue liquid exited out of the vial smoothly and surrounded him. He slowly opened his eyes and held out his palm. The magia condensed into a perfect sphere and floated above his palm.
He smiled as the sphere turned into a thin needle, pyramid, arrow, dagger, and any shape he thought of in his mind, including his form.
The liquid magia morphed and formed a small and very blue version of Arthur. If he could make the liquid magia look exactly like him, he would have a successful body double.
Just a few more days and he will master liquid magia. Instructors Seventeen and Ruth helped him in the past few days to stabilize the liquid magia he found hard to control.
As he was getting excited to use his new power, the dorm shook with a loud noise. Arthur was knocked off the bed and the liquid magia spilled when he lost focus.
"Ow. What happened?", he rubbed his head as mist entered his room. The temperature had lowered so much that even his breath turned to mist.
He shivered. It was a sunny morning a minute ago. Just what in Arthemia's name happen?
Arthur opened his door and ran into Damien. "Did you do this?", he suddenly asked. "Of course not. It happened on the third floor.", Damien said with a scowl.
They were joined by the others and as they made their way to the third floor they found the path blocked by a huge chunk of ice.
Minerva touched the ice. She turned to Flare, "It is Aeva ice. The Dragnia Flames are effective."
The redheaded Dragnia punched her fist, and flames enveloped her hand, "Alright guys! Step back. I'll clear the way."
"Hold your dragons Flare.", Claire stopped her, "You could just place your hand on the ice and melt it. No need for punching the ice. It's not that thick."
Her sister frowned, "I know that but punching is more satisfying."
Claire raised an eyebrow, "Flare."
She rolled her eyes, "Fine.", placing a hand on the ice, Flare released her flames. The ice started melting and soon enough the hallway was free of ice.
"Ooh. This looks rather interesting.", Vanessa remarked as they took in the scene in front of them. They were surprised by what they saw.
Seventeen was upside down, his body encased in ice stuck to the wall. Ruth, wrapped in a bath towel was holding his head as if trying to pry him from the ice or to do something more intimate.
Probably the former.
Her elven ears were bright red along with her face which became redder when she realized they were being watched.
She dashed back into her room and closed the door with a bang. Arthur and the other guys shook their heads to remove the image of their stunning instructor in a bath towel.
"Morning folks!", Seventeen said nonchalantly from his odd position on the wall. "Are you fine sir?", Gray asked, her face flushed after seeing the two instructors.
"Oh don't worry about me. I'll be out of this in a moment.", he struggled under the ice, "Um. This is a bit tricky.", he surrounded himself with golden flames which started melting the ice but the flames released were weak.
"Hm. It looks like the ice is restricting my magia. Interesting.", Seventeen frowned. He looked at the gathered students, "You guys get started on the training. I and the ice queen have to meet the headmaster."
He looked at the second-year students, "Jason you're in charge."
The young man grinned, "Oh yes. You made the right choice, sir."
"And Kate, you're in charge of Jason.", Seventeen added. "Hey!", Jason protested while Kate smiled, "Sure."
They stood there, watching him melting his way out. "Go on, the Battle Festival is coming fast."
"Alright, guys. Sir said not to worry so let's start training.", Jason clapped his hands ushering everyone downstairs.
Arthur looked back at Seventeen trying to free himself, "Now how do I melt this without burning the whole building down?"
*******
Zephyrus looked between Seventeen and Ruth. The two of them weren't looking at each other and he can feel the awkwardness permeating his office.
He wondered if he should point out the big piece of ice sticking out of Seventeen's head but decided not to. Maybe later.
Of course, he heard what happened and was very amused by the incident, although he didn't show it outside.
'Ah, I miss my younger and more scandalous days.', he thought with a sigh.
"So Headmaster.", Ruth spoke, "What do you think?"
"What do I think? I think the two of you should make it up with each other.", he looked at Seventeen, "You should think twice before barging into a maiden's room."
The android rolled his eyes, "I know. My head was a bit messed up today morning. I fell from the bed right on my head."
Zephyrus can say he was lying. Judging by the look in his eyes the truth had something to do with his nightly ventures to Mt Raviel.
"And you.", he turned to Ruth, "I believe you may have overreacted a bit."
She frowned, "Then how am I supposed to react when a guy saw my bare body?"
"Well. Definitely not by unleashing powerful ice magia on the said guy. It's a good thing that Seventeen is made of stronger stuff otherwise you would have had to deal with something worse than being seen in the nude.", Zephyrus replied.
Ruth became sheepish, "Okay. I may have overdone it a bit."
"A bit?", Seventeen looked at her in disbelief.
"Well. I always wanted to get back at your irritating behavior. So think of it as punishment for annoying me and for seeing me in my vulnerable state.", she replied.
"Hey!"
The Cardinal sighed, "Look. I am again telling you guys to make it up to each other. Something like taking each other out for dinner."
"You mean like a date?", Seventeen asked. Zephyrus shrugged, "Maybe?"
"A date?", Ruth's face turned red.
"I'll just make something good instead. A dinner out sounds expensive considering the money I have left", the android winced, "When am I getting my salary?"
"Soon enough.", Zephyrus shook his head, "Even I don't know the appropriate response to this situation. In my younger days, some of the women I knew were more than happy to bare it all to me."
He suddenly froze and looked at Seventeen and Ruth staring at him, "I said that aloud. Didn't I?"
They nodded. "Ah.", Zephyrus fell back on his chair, red-faced, "Well this is awkward."
Silence prevailed in the room for a moment until the Cardinal cleared his throat.
"Anyway. We will be having special guests today."