After accepting the soul contract with Black Salamander I felt something take root within my soul. A rune formed that was dark purple
[You have accepted Black Salamander as your subordinate. You have gained a unique stat 'Shadow Arts']
I decided I would check it out later for now though I placed Black Salamander along my waist before picking up the scroll.
[Air manipulation {Level 5-First Star skill scroll}-Once skill is learned it gives the user the ability to manipulate the air around them for a radius of 10 meters. Consumes 10 mana points upon activation and consumes 5 mana points to maintain it]
The skill was honestly tempting but when I turned around I realized that Lydia didn't have any long range skills and it wasn't like her physique was made for close combat either. Although this skill would possibly increase my strength by a wide margin, I needed my allies to also grow.
"Lydia I think you should learn this skill" I handed the scroll to her
"W-What are you serious?" she stuttered upon seeing the skill description. I chuckled at her expression
"It's alright go on" I encouraged her to do so. She looked towards Rina who just nodded before looking at me with mischievous smile.
"Go ahead and learn it as long as I get to pick the treasure first next time" her mischievous smile was still on her face as said this.
"…Sure" I said bitterly. I knew this was a loss without a doubt but there was nothing I could do about it.
After Lydia learned the skill we stood with our new found treasures. Black Salamander was on my hip, the Aranian Combat Gloves were equipped.
Lydia wore her battle robe while Rina stored away her Agarth dagger. Due to my still injured body I had to be carried by the two of them. We were heading towards the gymnasium. Along the way it started to rain.
The pace of our movement was so slow that by the time we arrived before the gymnasium doors we were completely soaked. The rain did do me justice though because it washed away some of the blood that was clinging to my face.
Rina knocked on the door while shouting "Hello!"
She had already tried the handle but it turns out that the doors were locked
…
Inside the gymnasium
While Jordan, Veronica, Conrad, Mr. Ping who was now known as Grem sat at the table together with two teacher and a the petite girl Melody sat in silence as they were lost in thought a male student came over to make a report.
"Excuse me council president?" the male student who was in the third year stated
"Hm?" Veronica dryly replied
"There appears to be someone knocking at the doors"
"Got it open the doors right away" Veronica stood as she followed after the male who nodded before turning towards the main entrance to the gym. He arrived before a group of four others who were built like tanks standing guard at the door.
"Open the doors"
The gymnasium doors opened to reveal two stunning beauties carrying an injured young man who's face was covered in some grim and rain despite the rain falling on his face.
Veronica was taken aback by their appearance. Not only did they have multiple treasures but the fact that they had managed to make it here despite the eagle's presence really shocked her she had a lot of questions to ask them but before she could.
"Huey?" Jordan muttered in a slightly broken voice. The injured young man who was being carried by the two ladies slowly looked up at him.
"Hey buddy…good to see yo-" before the young man could finish his head slumped downwards as his body fell forward. The two ladies carrying him-who were obviously Lydia and Rina-couldn't handle his weight and threatened to fall over but before that could happen Jordan quickly stepped forward and caught Huey's unconscious body before carrying him into the building and away from the rain.
…
two hours…that was how long Huey had been unconscious. Jordan had laid his body on a clean mat. He had been shocked when Lydia came along later with a towel while Rina Camille who was well known as the school nurse carried a bowl of cold water.
The shock hadn't ended there though, because Lydia soon took off Huey's tattared and bloodstained shirt. Soaking the towel in cold water she had proceeded to clean his chest while paying close attention to his injuries. The long deep cut that ran across his chest and visible bruises, Lydia had handled the injured parts with special care as if she would break him at any mishap.
Though it was a shock to him Jordan didn't say anything about it and Lydia didn't say anything else about it. When she cleaned him Jordan, Rina and Lydia all decided to stay beside him just in case. Jordan didn't trust anyone in this room as of the moment because who knew what these people would be thinking. In his mind he knew that it was during these apocalyptic times that people tended to unleash their darkest and most hideous thoughts.
So looking at these two who were with Huey and the way they took care of him through their actions. Jordan decided that they were good but he didn't fully trust them. They may have been pretty but who could truly say that they knew how a woman thinks?
With that Jordan had taken the time to close his eyes and focus on a certain notification in his eyes.
[Would you like to form a mana core now?]
'Yes' Jordan thought without hesitation and immediately he felt the mana within his soul stir, a warm sensation flowed through his body. The mana moved through his cells, organs, blood and even his brain carrying with is all the impurities that he had in his body, it began to seep out of body through his skin.
The mana that was flowing in the air suddenly swirled towards him. It went straight to his heart where it circulated. It formed a orb like shape before it solidified into a bright core that was surrounded by a single diamond shaped object. Jordan had formed his mana core and first star so he was officially a first star existence.
[Mana core formation successful. You are now in the First star realm]
[Calculating all essence that was absorbed during the advancement to the first star…]
[You have leveled up to level 8. You get 6 stats to distribute freely]
Jordan never felt so refreshed in his life. His stats had risen and even the speed at which he thought had increased a lot. It was only now that he could feel the auras of those around him and he could vaguely sense the levels of people or at the very least differentiate those who were First star or not. He was surprised to see that Lydia was already in the First star realm while Rina just needed to form her mana core.
"You formed your mana core?" Lydia asked with a hint of surprise
"Yeah didn't the system give you that choice?" Jordan asked suspiciously. At this Lydia hesitated before looking at Huey's sleeping form. She had told him that most of the privileged families had known about magic and mana. It was obvious that they had already formed their own mana cores as well as stars. Her family even had several who were at the third star realm her father being one of them.
Just as she was about to say something mana swirled beside her and she knew right away that Rina was also forming her own mana core and stepping into the first star realm. She couldn't help but smile bitterly. She could remember that it had taken her 3 hours to form her core on her own and 2 hours more just to materialize her first star but here these people who had just known about magic and mana were able to form theirs in less than two minutes with the help of the Spirit Record System.
"Phew that's refreshing" Rina said cheerfully with a smile. Due to their sudden appearance as well as the beauty of the two. They had easily caught the attention of most people so Rina's smile mesmerized most of the men who couldn't help but think that Huey was 'lucky' to have such lovely flowers looking after him