In the heart of Britannus Kingdom, the vastness of an open field stretched as far as the eye could see. Gentle breezes played with the swaying grass, setting a serene scene that belied the anticipation in the air.
A group of twenty students, varying in age and appearance, formed a semi-circle around a focal point. Valeria, a woman of authority, stood poised and confident. Her dark hair flowed freely, catching the sunlight. Beside her was an inanimate wooden figure, standing tall, silent, yet imposing.
With a clear voice that echoed throughout the expanse, Valeria began, "Now this technique is generally only used as a last resort for most hosts, as using it incorrectly almost always leads to extreme dehydration and soul burning. I'm sure most of you have heard of it before. It's called, Explosive Vibration."
The crowd emitted a collective gasp, a sound of awe mixed with trepidation. Their attention was rapt.
A youthful voice piped up, filled with eagerness. "Ms Valeria, are you about to teach us how to do it?"
She shot him a sly smile. "Indeed."
A second student, younger and more timid, raised a hand, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "But...but you said it could lead to soul burning! Do you think we should be learning at our age?"
Valeria looked at her, a compassionate glint in her eye. "Well, I doubt any of you will be able to do it anyway as it is an extremely advanced technique. But one day you will find yourself with nothing but Explosive Vibration that may be able to get you what you want. So I believe all hosts need to have the technique at their disposal."
The young girl gulped audibly. "But...but what if one of us actually manages to do it, wouldn't we...die?"
From the back, a scornful voice, dripping with disdain, interrupted. Yohan, a tall, muscular youth, stepped forward, his gaze cold and unforgiving. "Would you please shut up? If you're so afraid of getting hurt, why are you trying to become a Dove officer anyway? In war, the weak are left behind. Remember that, pussy."
Valeria's gaze sharpened, and she sternly interjected, "That's enough, Yohan."
He looked away, a scowl marring his features, his pride wounded.
Returning her attention to the group, Valeria addressed them, her voice now more gentle but still firm. "I will now be demonstrating the technique on this wooden figure. Before I start, do any of you have a question you'd like to ask?"
The verdant field seemed to come alive with the students' anticipation, a current of electricity in the air. When a hand shot up from the group, it was attached to a boy who looked no older than fourteen, his expression earnest.
"Yes?" Valeria's voice was steady, eyes focused on the student.
"Um...where's Mr. Wilson?" the boy hesitated, looking a little apprehensive.
Valeria sighed, a hint of annoyance flashing in her eyes. "Uh, he-he's just a bit late today. He'll be here soon," she responded, her tone strained. "I hope..."
At the back, Yohan's face twisted into an expression of anger and contempt. "That son of a bitch!" he growled.
Quick to deflect the tension, Valeria swiftly clasped her hands together. With a decisive command, "Kalo: Seraphic Marionettes," a life-sized wooden puppet materialized before her, its intricate design immediately captivating the students.
"Pay attention, class," she instructed, drawing them back to the moment. With a fluid motion of her hands, the marionette lunged forward, fist poised and ready to strike the wooden figure.
Valeria's voice rang out clear and authoritative, "The key to Explosive Vibration is completely stopping the flow of your vibration at most 0.4 seconds before impact. This causes massive friction between the heaters within the vibration and thus..."
Her words were punctuated by the marionette's punch connecting solidly with the figure. An earth-shattering explosion followed. Students were sent sprawling, grass and dirt swirling in the turbulent air. The spectacle of the force left a void, where the marionette once was, now vaporized.
As the dust settled, a chorus of amazement filled the air. The students were beside themselves with excitement.
"What the hell!" "Bro, did you see that?" "Oh my God!"
But at the center of it all, Valeria, though visibly drained, remained in control. Sweat plastered her hair to her forehead as she took a moment to regain her composure. "Settle down, settle down," she commanded, her voice raspy but firm.
Rising to her feet, she brushed dirt off her attire. "Even when used correctly, it can still lead to extreme muscle fatigue. But it also increases your attack potency by 120%."
An eager voice piped up, "Do it again!" It soon became a chant as more students joined in, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of excitement.
Valeria held up a hand, "Absolutely not! Using Explosive Vibration twice in the span of a few minutes is a death sentence. Why don't you guys try?"
The enthusiastic clamor died down, replaced by uneasy glances exchanged between the students.
The once vibrant field had transformed into a site of sheer exhaustion. The verdant stretch bore the weight of the students, whose spirits had dampened, their bodies sprawled out in defeated postures. Whispers and sighs of frustration echoed around.
"It's useless," lamented a boy, whose rosy cheeks had lost their vitality.
"Yeah, I give up. It's too hard!" added another, his voice heavy with defeat.
Valeria, standing amidst her fatigued students, couldn't help but chuckle at their plight. "As I predicted," she remarked, her voice tinted with amusement.
Yet, one person stood apart from the defeated crowd—Yohan. Not one to miss an opportunity, a student with a smirk inquired, "Yohan, you haven't tried once." The boy's voice dripped with mischief. "You scared?"
Yohan's sharp gaze landed on him, his face a mask of calm determination. "I've been getting my body used to abruptly turning my vibration off. Now watch and learn, you fucking amateur."
Stepping forward with a distinct swagger, he shot Valeria a challenging look. "Are you finally going to have a go at it, Yohan?" she prodded, her voice a mix of amusement and anticipation.
"Activate your Kalo, Ms. Valeria. Your puppet is going to be my target."
Hesitating for just a split second, Valeria followed his request, the puppet forming before them once again. Without any further ado, Yohan summoned his power.
"Kalo: Yo-yo," he declared, and a silver yoyo appeared in his hand, shimmering mysteriously.
With an intensity that silenced the onlookers, Yohan focused on his target, spinning the yoyo with an elegance that made the simple act seem almost dance-like. Then, without warning, he lunged at the puppet. "Here it goes," he whispered to himself, pulling the yoyo back for the crucial move. In his mind, he replayed the steps: "Shut down the flow of your vibration, and let the heaters do the talking."
Valeria's eyes widened in shock. She could see the minute flickers of fire, a testament to the friction within Yohan's vibration. "No way," she murmured, her voice filled with awe.
However, fate had a different plan. In the heat of the moment, Yohan's foot caught on a camouflaged stone nestled amidst the blades of grass, sending him hurtling face-first to the ground. The very air seemed to hold its breath for a second before the students erupted in laughter, their earlier exhaustion forgotten in the face of this unexpected turn of events.
The scene was set amidst vibrant greenery, where laughter bubbled and danced, fueled by Yohan's unexpected trip. Valeria, ever the composed instructor, stood with her hand against her face, trying to process the unexpected interruption to her lesson. Sighing, she looked up, eyes scanning the students.
Yohan's frustrated voice rang out, "Are you kidding me?" He didn't appreciate becoming the class's momentary jester. His pride wounded, he picked himself up, brushing away the dirt.
Desperate to regain control over the giggling class, Valeria's voice raised a notch, "That's enough, guys!" She hurried to Yohan's side. As the laughter started to die down, she asked with genuine concern, "You okay?"
Yohan's eyes bore into hers, anger and embarrassment intermingling in their depths. As she extended her hand to his shoulder, offering support, he swiftly knocked it away. "I'm fine," he snapped, irritation evident. He took a breath, about to unleash his frustration on her, "You shouldn't be the one teaching us anyway. Where the heck is…"
But his voice trailed off, eyes catching a glimpse of something—or rather, someone—standing at the outskirts of the field. His facial muscles tightened, "…Mr. Wilson…"
Valeria followed his gaze, her sharp eyes catching the sight of the disheveled man. Bevan, with his unruly hair, dark rings under his eyes, and a stained shirt, seemed out of place in the serene setting. He lifted a cup to his lips, the steam rising in tendrils as he took a sip.
She frowned, momentarily forgetting the class's antics, "What? Mr. Wilson?"
Bevan's nonchalance was evident. He seemed to notice neither Valeria's incredulous stare nor Yohan's accusatory one. He simply turned, taking another step away from the class, his posture casual as if he was on a Sunday stroll.
Confusion and irritation surged in Valeria. "What the heck, Bevan? Where do you think you're going?" she demanded. Her call echoed in the stillness, but Bevan kept walking, his silence a deafening rebuke.
"Bevan!" she cried out again, a mixture of concern and frustration evident.
Yohan, his anger now redirected, muttered darkly, eyes never leaving the retreating figure of Bevan, "Why is he doing this?"