Even with the bitter taste of Charles Foix's accident, the vast majority of the first-year students decided to participate in the joint class. Not that they were cold-hearted people who didn't care, but they knew the times they were living in, they knew why they were there, and they had to move forward if they wanted to improve, mature and adapt to the times.
In a training field, tranquility reigned, you could hear murmurs of students waiting patiently for the act to begin, it was not too early, but it was not too late either. If you walked around you could see some of the students yawning.
On the training field were also the first-year teachers, teachers from other departments and a few guards. The students themselves felt uncomfortable seeing how they were surrounded by so much security, and although there was tranquility, if you were in that environment for a moment you would realize that there was also some tension that no one dared to comment on.
It was not a tension of emotion, it was a tension that we could attribute to nervousness, we could even say fear. But fear of what, not that they were in danger, or that their physical or mental integrity was directly in danger, simply fear of the unknown, fear of a reaction that they do not know where it will come from, and that today the heirs, the protagonists of humanity, were meeting again.
But not everyone knew that this tension was partly because they did not know what the heirs were like, how they would behave or what their reaction would be when they met. Some had theories about what might happen next, theories that were partly logical and partly imaginative. Some said that even the IOH could use this moment to eliminate a future problem, but to do that would cause a problem in the present, a much more serious problem, to do that would cause a war.
When the sophomores finally made their appearance along with both directors and a few other teachers the atmosphere became lively, but the director of the combat department did not give time for a ruckus to form and quickly began his speech.
—Thank you very much to those who have come from first even for yesterday's news, let's hope we all have a good day today. As you may have noticed there are a lot of teachers here, exactly a total of 15 teachers, and as you know there are a total of 5 training camps, that is, there will be 3 teachers per training camp accompanied by a guard or some director. Make groups of 10-15 people and go looking for the teachers in the training grounds, which will give you tests to do or mini-games against another group. The goal is to have fun, so don't make a fuss, understood?
—Yes!
All the sophomores responded in unison, an act that surprised the freshmen, and also the teachers, some of whom even smiled at the little show they had put on.
When the sophomores were divided there were some who went with people from the first class, maybe just to make friends or to be a good senior, but for the guards and teachers who were sent to monitor and control that was out of control and could not do anything to avoid it, to some it all seemed like a bad idea from the beginning.
But, to everyone's surprise, the morning passed without any relevant problems. Only the odd case of people from different families hitting each other, or insults of some kind for losing in a mini-game. It could not be denied that even the smallest game was filled with passion and the students put their pride and family pride at stake.
'You certainly can't say they have a bad time.' Brand thought at one point as he watched two students, one from the Ergaster family and one from the King's, stick their faces in a bucket of water to see who could scoop out the most tidbits with their mouths.
To the surprise of many, the morning went smoothly, some of them really brought out the most childish side they had, but it is true that one thing was always true: the sophomores did not lose. Rather, when two sophomores faced each other they relaxed and had fun, but when they faced someone from the first class they showed who was in charge, although it is true that some of the top twenty sophomores defended themselves well.
There was one game that attracted a lot of attention from the students, it was simply a fairly long rope with a loop in the middle. The game was based on one group standing on either side of the rope and pulling with all their might. The objective was to pull the other team to your side while preventing the others from pulling you to your side. It was a rather 'manly' game to say the least.
When lunchtime came and the gymkhana was over, in contrast to the morning, an atmosphere of tranquility and good humor reigned among the students. It was an atmosphere that made you let your guard down, but both the teachers and the guards remained attentive to avoid surprises. They were all experienced people and knew that they could not relax at any time, even if the moment made them feel that way.
During lunch the separation of families became clearer, some sophomores went to look for their future leaders and take the opportunity to talk to them and get to know them. Including Olivia, who, while not the direct heir, was of the main Wolf family.
Arlen took the moment to sit alone, leaning his back against a wall and holding a plate full of barbecue meat in his hands. Arlen was watching the scene from afar when Brand approached him.
—Why aren't you there?
Old Brand's deep voice brought Arlen out of his thoughts and he looked at Brand before answering.
—I'm not used to crowds.
—Isn't this a good time to choose a family?
Arlen looked at Brand in surprise.
—You want me to go to a family instead of staying at IOH?
Arlen's voice was one of sincere doubt. He had always thought Brand would insist he stay at IOH, and besides, Arlen couldn't just leave IOH, his parents were from there, he owed a lot to IOH, and old Brand had yet to tell him the history of his family and the meaning of being a Phoenix.
—No, I don't want you to leave —Brand said with a slight smile—, but I'm surprised you haven't even thought about it.
—Hah —Arlen relaxed when he heard Brand's words—. It's not that I haven't thought about it, but I've been here alone for two weeks now, and you told me something before we started regarding my parents, and I'd like to know the full story at some point.
—Have you told anyone what I told you?
—Well, Olivia may have figured it out, but I doubt she knows.
A silence formed between the two of them. Arlen sat eating his food waiting for an answer from Brand, who was thinking about the best course of action. Ever since Luca and Krist told him the truth he had doubts about what to do. However, before anyone said anything Kevin approached the two.
—Hey, Arlen! They pulled out a rib-eye, come on before it's gone.
Arlen smiled.
—You should go —Brand said—. I'll tell you the story another time. Just enjoy the now.
—If you say so...
Arlen strode confidently toward Kevin. He was no fool and knew that whatever happened must have been something serious, but he had no idea what it was or who it involved. That situation was getting on his nerves, he wanted to know and thought it was his rightful right to know, but he trusted Brand, and at the moment that feeling was heavier than the curiosity inside him.
Brand knew he couldn't keep the secret forever, but he was happy if he could extend the happiness of the child in front of him for at least a few more months or even a year. Because sometimes ignorance is bliss that brings happiness.
When they finally finished eating Caleb and Olivia ran off with Kevin, Laia and Arlen in search of some quiet time, they wanted a break from the crowd and the time after eating was always a good time.
Together they went to the lake where Caleb, Kevin and Arlen were training. The lake was a little cool, which made the temperature around them really pleasant. As soon as they arrived, it didn't take Kevin long to fall asleep, as he always did after lunch. The other four took the opportunity to rest and lie down as well. They commented among themselves how they had experienced the morning or the curiosities that they had seen and that the rest had not noticed.
While they were resting a boy approached them from the road. The boy had seen them leave and decided, as he had commanded, to act at that moment. The objective he had was to isolate a small group of students and attack them, but if a group of their own took the opportunity to leave by skipping the rules they made his job easier. When he got close enough Caleb caught his eye.
—Who are you? What are you doing?
—Oh, the White heir, and that's the Wolf over there. Pardon my intrusion.
The boy approached them with a calm air as if it were the most normal thing in the world, but something seemed strange about his behavior. He was walking with his hands behind his back and seemed to be addressing them directly.
—Stand still —Caleb ordered him—. Tell me what you're doing here.
When he spoke like that he really sounded like an heir. To the rest of the group it was as if they saw two different Caleb's, the one they knew and were friends with, and an heir Caleb, proud and knowledgeable of his position.
—I have come to rest, as you have.
—Show me your hands —Caleb said in a firm, slightly aggressive voice.
When the boy showed his hand there was nothing in them, but it seemed strange to everyone. However, they had nothing more to say to him. Maybe he was telling the truth and wanted to rest.
As he approached he yawned and covered his mouth, but there was something that did not escape the watchful eyes of Arlen and Edgar.
'Did he put something in his mouth?'
"I thought I saw the same thing. It's as if they had suddenly appeared in his hand..."
But before he could continue the boy disappeared in front of them. The four of them got up and woke Kevin to join in.
"Invisibility. It's going to be tricky."
Arlen looked from side to side, as did the rest to find out where the boy they had just seconds ago in front of them had gone.
—What happened?
—A boy put something in his mouth and disappeared on his way to us.
—Invisibility?
—It looked like...
Suddenly the boy appeared in front of Olivia again, plunging a knife into her chest. When Arlen saw that he didn't think twice. He took advantage of the moment to turn on himself and punch the boy with all his might, adding even more force with his skill. From that punch the boy ended up on the ground and was held down by Caleb's ice, who was watching him next to Kevin.
However, Laia and Arlen were taking care of Olivia. The knife had made a deep wound, blood kept pouring out of the wound. Arlen was covering the wound with his shirt and applying pressure as he pulled Olivia's hair out of her face and urged her on.
—Breathe Olivia, breathe. Guys, give me your shirts! Quickly!
Both Kevin and Caleb took off their shirts and tossed them to Arlen, who was trying to stem the blood loss somehow.
—Laia, go call for help, run!
Laia didn't hesitate at Arlen's cry. For a moment Arlen had frightened her and she felt that she had to listen to him. While Arlen continued to take care of Olivia.
—Argh!!!
Olivia was biting her lip to keep from screaming in pain, she was on the verge of tears, she felt that everything around her was blurring, she couldn't hear Arlen clearly or what he was saying to her. She was fighting to stay alive, but she felt it was an impossible fight. The knife in her chest punctured her lung and she was struggling to breathe.
She began to scream in pain when she suddenly saw Arlen's wound stop pressing. Olivia wanted to say something to him, but the words wouldn't come out. However, she saw how around Arlen's right eye orange marks were coming out, and not only her, Caleb, Kevin and the boy looked at Arlen with wide eyes. But Arlen didn't care at all. Tears came out of Arlen's eye, and Olivia cried out from the pain they caused her.
—Hold it. You'll be all right, I promise.
And with those words Olivia lost consciousness.