Next morning I get up before Nathan and put on my uniform.
Knowing that no one would be awake at this hour, I void step outside the DC meeting room.
"Whoa!" I hear someone exclaim.
Turning back I see Arthur seconds from running into me.
"Be careful with that! You almost gave me a heart attack!" He says, placing an arm over his chest.
"Yeah, yeah. It will take much more than that to give you a heart attack. Now stop being a big baby and come on."
I open the door to see the rest of the DC already sitting there with grim looks on their faces.
Feyrith was gritting his teeth, Curtis had a nasty snarl on his face and Kathylns face was hidden by her hair.
Instantly my good mood vanishes, replaced by a rare serious one.
"What is it?" I ask.
"Its Marcois." Claire speaks.
"Yeah what of the li-" I stop myself from saying 'little shit', "What of him?"
"Last night, he died."
"Was he killed or was it the runes he had on his spine?" My voice showed no sympathy for the death of a fellow student.
"He was leaking mana even in unconsciousness, the medics and artificers couldn't stop it. We believe it was due to the runes." Claire answers.
"I see, anything else?" I speak as I take a seat beside Theodore.
"Not much, and even that, they're not disclosing."
"Even their parents refuse to disclose anything to them at this point." Kai speaks up.
Theodore slams his fist to the table, "WHAT THE HELL IS THE POINT OF HAVING THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE IF THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP US OUT OF ANYTHING REMOTELY IMPORTANT?!"
"Calm down Theodore, raging about our circumstances, as frustrating as they may be, won't help us in the slightest."
"Calm? CALM?! HOW CAN I BE CALM WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS?! DO YOU NOT FEEL THE SLIGHTEST BIT ANGRY FOR THE STUDENT WHO DIED?!"
"Theodore that's enough!" Claire interrupts but I hold a hand up.
"I'm sorry if I'm not the most empathetic person around, but I simply find it illogical to grieve for someone I don't even know, let alone one who assaulted my brother." I say that, even though I don't sound the least bit sorry.
Theodore doesn't find a rebuke to that as his face turns red in anger.
"Alright, that's enough! We need to reorganize and strengthen our patrol schedules."
________________________________________________________________________________
In the end it was decided that I would be patrolling the entire academy, tailing the other teams one by one.
Seriously? Just because I can move around undetected doesn't mean it doesn't tire me out.
"I was pretty surprised these daggers were actually communication devices," Feyrith spoke.
The daggers would also act as a beacon if someone is in danger, emitting a different coloured light for different members.
Claire – Pink
Kai – Silver
Theodore – Yellow
Feyrith – Green
Doradrea – Dark Red
Curtis – Red
Kathyln – Blue
Arthur – Purple
Fayden - Black
At first I whined saying something along the lines of 'Aw come on! Again!'
But I soon accepted my fate of being associated with the color black.
...does this make them racist?
"Same I thought they were just for show," Arthur interrupted my line of thought.
"I didn't," I comment offhandedly.
Arthur rose an eyebrow.
"Why do you think the Director gave me this ring?" I hold up my arm, displaying the silver accessory.
"So that the other DC members can know that you are a part of them?" Arthur replies.
"Do you really think she would've done that just to let them know I'm a member? Come on she didn't even give you anything to prove your status as professor." I fire back
"Alright that's reasonable."
"I'm more surprised that Kai was the one to volunteer by himself. That too a pretty large portion of the campus." Kathyln speaks.
"Huh?"
She doesn't look surprised at all.
"I heard from Curtis that Kai is rather notorious for avoiding work." Feyrith comments.
"He might've just gotten tired of patrolling with Theodore." Arthur said.
"Can't say I blame him," I mutter.
"Theodore is not usually like that. He was always short tempered, and our situation didn't help him." Feyrith defends Theodore.
I shrug in response, "He was over reacting to it, I mean I would've understood if he was friends with him. But he isn't is he?"
"Just give him another chance."
"You are strangely solemn today Feyrith."
"What do you mean by that!"
Arthur chuckles at us, before opening the door, "See you in class, my students."
I roll my eyes before muttering, "Yeah sure 'Professor'"
I find Nathan in the class this time and make my way towards him.
"Sup," I greet.
"Good to see you too Fayden,"
"So, did everyone have a chance to think about the question I posed yesterday?" Arthur spoke.
Nathan looks confused.
"I'll explain later."
"Is the color of a mages mana core a truly accurate way of measuring their level?" Arthur repeats.
"Isn't it?" Nathan whispers.
"Nope, just listen."
Feyrith stands up, "I believe the mana core is an excellent way to accurately measure the level of a mages power! Not only does he correlate with how much effort and time the mage has spent refining their core, it also speaks volumes of their potential as-"
"Wrong!" Arthur interrupt.
Looking at Feyrith's gob smacked face I chuckle.
Meanwhile Nathan just looks confused at the whole thing.
"Using the mana core as a gauge discounts every other factor that makes up a mage. IT doesn't take into consideration their wits, reaction speed, battle sense, knowledge of spells, etc. Like judging a warriors combat ability by the size of their muscles. We can deduce that he's certainly strong, but someone with lesser muscles might be a better fighter."
"Then what would be the best way to judge your opponents magical abilities?" A student asked.
"You don't" Arthur replied, eliciting a chorus of 'Eh?!'s from the students.
"The only thing you can do is assume. Assume your opponent is stronger than you. Think of it this way, even if sensing someone's mana core could accurately gauge their fighting strength. What are you going to do if their strength is lesser than yours? Go easy on them? Or will you pick on them while gloating your superiority?" He simplifies.
"In such a situation where you are forced to battle, assuming that your opponent is stronger than you will keep your carelessness in control." He continues, "Enough of that, let's try the exercise we did yesterday again."
_______________________________________________________________________________
Not a single person could pull it off by the end of todays class.
Sigh.
I guess they don't really use their grey matter very much.
At least Nathan was close, once I finished explaining it to him.
Ah well whatever.
I need to get to my next class.
Team fighting mechanics.
I was paired with Curtis and a brown haired senior year student.
Who introduced him as Brayden Deepwing.
We were doing the same thing as last time.
War and Conquest was it?
Curtis was chosen to take the position of 'King'.
And we had to cover him at all costs.
Suddenly Arthur runs into the field, "Sorry I'm late professor. I'll get dressed now."
Professor Glory takes one look at him before pushing him away, "Oh no you don't! I'm not going to risk having you out here until you're fully healed. So go sit on the stands."
The same stands where Tessia was sitting.
You better make up now brother.
As we get into position I notice Arthur sitting beside Tessia.
"Begin." Professor bellows.
And we did exactly that.
Curtis seems to be familiar with Brayden.
Their teamwork is pretty good.
Curtis manifest flames as Brayden amplifies it with his wind magic.
Meanwhile I'm raising random pieces of earth which serve as a nuisance to them.
Before I got an interesting idea to say the least.
Focusing all my will on earth attribute mana I flatten their side of the field.
They look at me confused, even my allies look at me skeptically.
O ye of little faith.
I roll my eyes.
Before releasing an ice spell, freezing the floor underneath them.
And now they cant move without slipping.
As such they are incapacitated.
Curtis gives me an impressed look.
Even Professor Glory looks intrigued.
Turns out one of them is a water deviant, and has fashioned an impromptu ice skate for himself.
Coincidentally he's also their king.
I duck just in time to dodge an incoming spell.
Is he just going to attack us from there?
Seems like it.
And neither Curtis, nor Brayden can move in there.
Fine then.
I'll do it myself.
After signaling my allies to stay back, I rush in towards the ice covered portion of the battlefield.
Ice skates huh?
Two can play at that game.
Jumping up I form my own skates mid-air.
After I finish forming them I notice a water ball coming my way.
Shit!
I quickly form an ice halo over my forearm, before filling the circular hole with solid rock. (Captain Dicathen!)
Bringing it in front of my body I manage to parry it in time.
Before I spin around in mid air and throw the shield like a fris-bee.
It hits him right in the head, knocking him unconscious.
And declaring us the winners of this match.
Medical staff immediately come to help the injured student.
Eh, he'll get a mild concussion at worst.
As I land on the ice it cracks and splinters around me.
...
Good thing I didn't try skating then.
Moving towards my team I notice Curtis' raised arm and reciprocate the gesture, resulting in a hi-five.
"That was ingenious!" He exclaims.
"How did you think of something like that?" Brayden spoke.
"I would like to know that as well." Professor Glory comes down from her hawk.
"What? Is it really that surprising?"
A deadpan stare is all I get.
"The idea just came to me." I shrug.
"Really? That's it?" Brayden seems unconvinced.
"Yep."
"Fine, we won't pry." Curtis said.
Professor sighs in disappointment before clapping her hands, "Alright, next group!"
_______________________________________________________________________________
As the next group comes, I enter the stands.
Just in time to see Arthur retreating from directly in front if Tessia, with his lips puckered and his hand holding Tessias hair up.
He kissed her didn't he?
More teasing material in my long term memory.
"Well this is a sight for sore eyes." I announce my presence.
Immediately they drift apart frm each other.
Tessia hiding her face in embarrassment and Arthur lookibg away from my general direction.
Suddenly Tessia froze, before turning towards me.
And bowing down.
"I'm so sorry for lashing out on you Fay-"
"Calm down Tess," she visibly grimaced at me calling her 'Tess' and not 'sis', "It was this dumbasses fault for making fun of your painfully obvious crush on him. Good thing I beat some sense into him, or he would never have even considered having a relationship with you."
"What do you mean by 'beat some sense into him'?"
"...I love how you ignore the rest of that sentence and focus on that one part." I smile nervously.
"Fayden..." she warns.
"Ihealedhimafterwardspleasedon'tkillmeI'mtooyoungtodie!" I let all that out in one breath.
Seeing her relax I add "Aw is little sis worried for Arthur? Don't worry I left his more...important organs intact, he can still reproduce."
She blushes wildy before stomping on my foot.
"Ow ow ow ow ow ow!" I exclaim, hopping on one foot.
Tess takes this chance to rush away quickly.
Okay maybe I teased her a little too much.
Nah, no amount of teasing is too much.
Looking at Arthur I see him with a poker face and a far away look in his eyes.
Getting in front of him I mimick typing on a keyboard, "Control, alt, del."
He doesn't respond.
"Seems like he broke himself, Sylvie."
"Kyu?"
_______________________________________________________________________________
Later that night I begin preparing for my so called patrol.
I open my shadow storage and take out a cloak with black wisps coming out of it.
Seems like the nightmare fox cloaks were enhanced by nacht as well.
I put it on as I exit my room, sticking to the shadows making me virtually invisible.
Let's see if one of those rune bearing students make an appearance tonight.
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