~~~~
*Earth*
*Center Region*
*Arcane Citadel Academy*
*Colosseum*
They were almost leaning completely back as they pulled with all their might, Navir's group wasn't backing down either pulling back with even greater force.
Navir as he pull had some flashbacks of his time in the military, this was apart of his training back then also, his team would always wins somehow, it was a glorious feeling.
.""Navir!"".
."Huh?."Navir snapped back to reality realizing he was just standing their dazing off into blank space, he tightened his grip on the rope and gave up one big tug.
*Wisp*!
.""Ahhh!!!"".
That single tug was almost like being pulled by a vehicle for the other group, they flew forward falling to the ground violently.
."Group 1 wins."James said giving his fair judgement, he took out a small device from his pockets, looking down at it he saw an image of each student as he swiped.
It listed their possible potential, their height, strength, etc, at the bottom it had rope sensory connections, meaning the device was connected to the rope and was a tool to measure attributes.
."Alright everyone, some of you may be wondering why we at the Arcane Citadel Academy is taking this so seriously, you might be like, it's just a game."James spoke calmly but clearly, he contemplated a bit."All I can say, is that expect the unexpected, as the bridge between reality and fiction can crumble at a moments notice."
A few students squint their eyes at that, all Navir knew was that it sounded ominous, Illise glanced at Navir with a hesitation.'Should I maybe tell him.'She thought with a great struggle in the face of oath and her savior.
Over the course of the next 9 hours the 200 Arcane Citadel Academy students year 3910 were placed through a variety of intense and harsh test and exercises made to break them down and build them back up.
Now it was almost 5am and the group was fagged out as some of them sat out of breath, laying down falling asleep and many others too busy hyperventilating.
.""*Wheeze* Si-sir *Wheeze* I can't *wheeze* can't keep on going Haaaaaa"".
.""Yeah Haa this is haa too much"".
Instructor James had a great smile on his face as he marveled in the euphoria of the suffering of other's."Can't is a man that never tried, but I do suppose you deserve a break."He said with disappointment looking at his watch."Alright, 10am group D, 4pm group C, 10pm group B and 4am group A, that will be the official schedule."
Group D could almost cry, that means they will bearly get some rest, when they wake up in the morning they have to go back to training again.
."Oh God in the sea of stars, please save your helpless lamb."Arrilie said as she layed out flat with exhaustion, she glanced over to Navir who was sitting up completely fine."Huh, how on earth!?".
Navir who was supposed to be tired and dried up like everyone else was infact the only person who was completely fine, Maria, her bodyguards, Illise and even Leon was down for the count.
."That's so manly, I knew it, only you could be my rival."Leon said as his face was blue from lack of oxygen to his brain, yeah rival might be bit of a stretch for him right now.
Maria smirked as she sat up with sweat all over her body causing her clothes to stick and insinuate her assets putting them on display."That's only to be expected of him, anything else would be disappointing."She said muttering under her breath.
Navir looked over to them."I trained harder than this, I am still not at full strength, this is nothing to what I've already done, days spent fighting with no breaks or rest, sleepless for 30 days straight, this is nothing."He said as his eyes began to shaking, the scenery around him warped and changed.
Illise who was keeping a close eye on him noticed that something was wrong."Navir, are you ok?."She asked with an odd expression, she took a step towards him but was stopped by a hand.
."Don't go to him yet, wait, something isn't right."Maria said seriously as she held Illise shoulder, she looked into Navir's eyes an her own eyes widened in shock."What the fuck, they didn't give him the..."
Maria broke out into a cold sweat, she glanced over to instructor James sitting a bit away from them fiddling with his device, she hesitated for a moment then she grit her teeth.
."Dammit, hand me the thing."Maria said ordering her bodyguards who looked like they want to cry, but they still did as told.
Maria took a small bottle from one of her bodyguards 9but she squeezed it tightly hiding the label, she opened it and took out a blood red pill, without hesitation she quickly placed the bottle back in the bag.
."Now, Navir, just quietly take this medicine."Maria said solemnly as she moved to Navir slowly, she didn't want to alert Navir, the students or instructor James.
As she got right up behind him, she jumped at him trying to wrap her arms around his neck but he moved with flexibility as he twisted his body in a weird way, luckily for her Leon had seen what she was trying to do.
.""Aghhh"".
Before Navir could run Leon had caught him in a bear hugged that he can't possibly get free from, Leon is after all far physically superior to Navir especially when he is not in his right might.
Using that chance Maria punched Navir in his stomach and threw the pill down his throat so he didn't have time to spit it out, Navir struggled for a bit but in seconds he stopped and just looked around at everyone.
."Hmm, what are you all doing to me, I don't like this at all."Navir said calmly looking down at Leon's arms hugging him and Maria hand feeling up his abs.
Maria continued to feel them up with a smile on her face."Very firm, but I deserve this feel, I just gave you one of my extremely precious lives after all."She said feeling a heat in her stomach.
."Lives?."Navir asked confused of what she meant by that, he glanced back."Leon could you release me please, this is not manly."
Leon slowly released him as he wiped a tear from his eyes, he turned putting his hands on his waist gazing off into the distance."Helping a brother is always manly, no such thing as unmanly help."He said with fiery passion and honor.
Illise chuckled awkwardly, she came up and pat Navir's back, he glanced at her pointing at Leon."You really weren't kidding, this guy is a mess."He said shaking his head with exasperation.
."Yeah, I told you the heart family are a good peoples but sometimes they can just be a bit much, you haven't seen anything yet, his older sister is worse than him."Illise said as she rolled her eyes also in exasperation as she sighed.
Navir face turned a bit white as he imagined Leon's sister and a large muscular woman popped into his mind."Oh, I see..*Ahem*.."He said clearing his throat.
.""Alright everyone, I've given you a bit of time to catch your breaths, now be gone to your room, I can't leave you out here"".
Instructor James spoke as he clapped his hands to wake up whoever was sleeping."Help each other, if your roommate is asleep carry them, anyone here in the next 4 seconds runs 500 laps around the academy."He said with a sadist smiled.
*Shhhh*!!!
He didn't have to say it twice, like sparkling stars everyone disappeared into the distance, some of them running speeds they didn't know they could.
."Hahaha, those kids have some ability."James said as he laughed shaking his head as he left also, recruitment time is his favorite time of the year.
~~
Walking down a dark hallway was Ophelia, her expression was serious but elegant as her beautiful green eyes gradually focused in the darkness.
."Why am I the messenger, I have better things to do dammit."Ophelia said cursing at her life, but she can't do anything about it."*Sigh* They are lucky I owe them my life, bastards."
She continued down before stopping infront of a door, titled the door marked 9Ether, glancing left to right Ophelia entered the room closing it behind her.
In the room there was nothing but a large circle on both the ground and the ceiling, the walls had lanterns shining a small amount of light on the circles and giving a feeling of the room stretching.
Ophelia walked into the circle before taking out her phone which was the small triangular device that all students got on their first day."Computer, connect me to 9Ether."She said reluctantly.
[*Pingu* Processing order..10%.20%..50%..80%..100% Processing complete]
[*Pingu* Connecting to Pixel Element..20%...60%...90%...100%..connection complete]
[*Pingu* Connecting to Physical Virtuality 9Ether realm..1%....]
Ophelia stared at the triangular device for a bit before a tic appeared on her forehead and she smacked it."You choose to stick now, hurry up, I'm not in the mood for your games."She said irritated.
[...*Pingu* 100% Connection to 9Ether realm complete]
[*Pingu*Transporting to 9Ether..hope to not see you again]
.""Fuck off-Kyaaaa!"".
Ophelia was flipped upside down before she was turned into a stream of light and sucked into the triangular disk, the disk then trembled before fading away.
~~
*Next Day*
While the dreaded morning had arrived and group D had to go suffer so soon already Navir and Leon were in their beds, Leon's feet were hanging off the bed and his sheet was on the ground as he snored loudly.
Navir on the other hand was once again rolled up in his blankets like a delicious sushi roll also snoring loudly but his was drown out by Leon's.
.""Zzz *snort* evil demon how dare you stand before a manly man such as myself..I shall goble you up inside my...Zzzz"".
Navir snapped open an eyeball and peeked over at Leon."Sleep talking to demons, he just gets worse over time."He said as he shook his head closing his eyes again.
*Knock*
*Knock*
*Knock*
.""*Groan*"".
*Knock*
*Knock*
*Knock*
.""*Groan louder*"".
*Knock*!
*Knock*!
*Knock*!
."*Groan* ok no sleep."Navir said listlessly as he rolled off the bed bouncing in his sushi roll, hitting the ground it unfolded as he got up walking to the door.
*Squeak*!!
.""Heya Navir, hope you are having a God blessed morning"".
.""Goodmorning sir Navir, how do you do"".
.""Hi Navir"".
Greeting him at the door with smiles was Illise, Maria and Arrilie, they were dressed down from head to toe even Arrilie who wore the male uniform before looked all feminine.
."Huh, where are you three going, you can't leave the academy, can you?."Navir said raising an eyebrow seeing them look like they were going out.
Maria chuckled at that as though hearing the funniest thing."Me wearing this outside, that's a good joke, these are my around the house clothes, just the rules here caught me off guard so I had no choice."She said looking down at herself.
."Same for me, seems like we all had the same thoughts."Illise said as she sighed, but there wasn't anything she could do about it now, rules were rules.
Arrilie nodded."Yeah, we were planning to go to the library and place some games."She said as she opened her handbag revealing two bottles of alcohol from inside as she smiled."Let's go have some fun."
Navir saw it, he looked at Illise before looking back at Leon still sleeping for a moment."Um, ok I'm going."He said closing the door ready to run from Leon's sleep talking.
."*Ahem* Navir shouldn't you put on some clothes first, I don't mind but maybe for decency."Arrilie said as her face held a red hue glancing down at his boxer and abs.
Navir looked down realizing this, he opened the door going in the room for a few seconds then returning fully dressed."Let us be off then."He said walking pass them.
The girls followed after him with Maria and Illise chuckling knowing very well that Navir had no idea where he was going.
After letting Navir lead the way for 10 minutes one of the other's took over and brought them to the library, it was a gigantic building appearing to be ancient of sorts.
Inside was filled with rows and rows of wheeled bookshelves reaching high into the ceiling bringing grandeur to the library, it was even bigger than the public library.
Besides Navir, Illise, Maria and Arrilie two or three other people were in the library as well, mostly just the nerds.
."Books, yay, ah-i mean look books."Maria said then realized what she said becoming embarrassed, she cleared her throat.
Arrilie chuckled."You don't have to be embarrassed, I like books as well, I know you don't want to be called a nerd but it's fine sometimes."She said taking up a random book.
."I don't."Navir said casually as he continued to walk along, he just never had the time to read, from his birth to 12 years old he was under training to join the war in his parent's place.
Then after that he spent the next 9 years in the hospital broken and listless, he of course has basic knowledge that was impossible not to know and from some things he saw and Whitney told him but besides that he never touched a book.
Maria gained a complicated expression, her eyes held a great pity and hurt as she looked at Navir walking away.'*Sigh* I should've gone to fine you, it's my fault, I'm sorry Navir.'She thought as her eyes became damp but she quickly wiped it away.
.""Come on let's go play, we'll have to find a little corner"".
Eventually the group settled down in a dimly lit corner of the library between a few bookshelves where no one else could see them easily.
They sat in a circle, an empty bottle infront of them, two full bottles, several small glasses and a black bowl with sticks in it could be seen.
.""Alright, we're playing Spin The Bottle, rules are simple, one of us will spin the bottle, if the tip lands on you then you have to accept a dare or a truth"".
.""The other's will put there hands in this black bowl where there are five pieces of stick one marked winner, whoever gets that one will get to ask the dare or truth"".
."If the person who got it refuses it then they have to take a shot of this alcohol, so it's a simple concept, no one can cheat."Arrilie said with a smile as she explained the rules, her eyes sparkled as she looked at Illise and Maria.
Maria grinned."Oh I like this game already, let's start."She said getting a little excited, she already knew what she was going to dare Navir, it's going to be so fun.
."Ok....."Navir said nodding his head, even he understood it easily, but he could feel that it's going to become troublesome, especially feeling the three gazes printed onto his skin right now.
.""Spin"".
*Shh*
Arrilie spun the wine bottle as it became see-through for just a moment before gradually slowing back down and coming to a stop pointed at Maria.
.""Maria has to take a dare or truth"".
."Huh, me?."Maria was a bit surprised that she was first, that was not supposed to happen, it was nothing like her fantasy, it was to stop on Navir first.
Navir, Arrilie and Illise put their hands in the black bowl at the same time pulling out, in Illise's hand was the winner stick, her lips curled up into a smile as she glanced at Maria who gained a sweat.
."Hehehe hahaha HAHAHA."Illise cackled and laughed like a mad woman imaging all the wicked things she will have her do.
.""HEY, QUIET DOWN OVER THERE JACKASS, THIS IS A LIBRARY, dammit, loud bitch!"".
Illise placed her hand on her mouth as her face turned bright red."..Sorry..."She said to whoever screamed feeling both first and second hand embarrassment especially hearing Maria and Arrilie snickering.
."Hurry up with it would you."Maria said rolling her eyes at the girl out to get her for whatever reason she didn't know."Also I choose dare."
Illise put her finger on her lip in thought."Mm, just an easy one to start we, I dare you to scream at the top of your lungs, you like to eat the hair from your drain."She said with a grin.
."Ew, how could you even think of that."Arrilie said feeling a bitterness in her own mouth.
Maria rolled her eyes."You're really looking down on me, do you think I am easily embarrassed, I LIKE TO EAT THE HAIR IN MY DRAIN..."She said loudly but then her face became pale as she held her mouth."Oh shit, I got the visual Agh."
.""HEY, DO I HAVE TO COME OVER THERE, CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND ENGLISH, SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!"".
Illise broke out into a quiet evil chuckled as Navir laughed at this also as he shook his head, he didn't even understand what hair in the drain meant yet it caused so much mental damage.
."Alright time to spin the bottle again."Arrilie said excitedly spinning it, it spun till it stopped on Illise who stopped laughing.
.""Fuck me!"".
Maria grinned."What were you laughing at before big forehead girl, guess who's laughing now, ahahahaha."She said cackling quietly.
Drawing the stick Maria smiled widely as she got the winner stick this time, Illise had sweat running down her face as she nibbled on her fingernails."I choose umm truth, I choose truth."She said choosing the best option.
."Oh alright then, what is the biggest lie you ever told in your life."Maria whispered with a smile on her face staring directly into Illise's eyes.
Illise's body trembled for an instant as her eyes grew wide, she stared at Maria for a bit before looking down, without saying anything she poured a shot of alcohol and down it in one gulp.
."So you don't want to say it, alright I understand."Maria said casually as she chuckled, she reached over and pat her shoulder gently."Come on, this is just a game."
Illise gritted her teeth and brush off Maria hand before looking at Navir and sighing deeply."Let's continue."She said.
Resuming the game as if nothing happened the small tension that built up immediately disappeared, when it was all over, Illise was drunk and naked, Arrilie was drunk but had on her panties, Maria was naked also but she wasn't drunk.
Navir on the other hand had passed out in his boxer not having told them that this was infact only the second time he had consumed any alcohol at all in his entire life.
Maria held her head as her eyes blurred a bit, she was just a bit tipsy, she glanced at Arrilie and Illise falling all over themselves.
She looked at Navir and crawled over to him, she curled into his lap as she embrace him with her entire body hugging him.'I'll just blame it on the alcohol.'She thought as she looked down at him and took his lips for herself.
~~~~×Chapter 9×VR-MMORPG:To The 9Ether Realm
*Earth*(Year 3910)
*Center Region*
*Arcane Citadel Academy*
*Two Weeks Later*