Battle class was now in session, every student offering the infamous class were in attendance. Everyone expect Kai and Rebecca, the Little scene this morning was still a hot topic among students. The rumors were no longer just rumors and it was now something that people were witnessing it with their own eyes
A palpable sense of distraction permeated the room. Conversations veered off course. Meanwhile, the instructor Miss Eris, aware of the undercurrent of whispers, tried to regain control.
With a single tap of her Bo staff on the floor, the result rang through the entire room, reverberating of the walls instantly drawing everyone's attention back to her
"Now that I've gotten your attention," she began, her voice steady "let's proceed with today's lesson."
She continued "with your first special exams coming up, I have something very special I would like to teach you all "
Grasping her Bo staff with renewed determination, she closed her eyes, and a serene focus took hold. Moments later, a vibrant blue energy began to course through her veins, traveling from her core to her arms and finally infusing the staff. The staff itself, ornately carved with intricate designs, seemed to awaken, its patterns glowing with the same blue energy, illuminating the room with an ethereal light.
The room fell into a hushed awe as the students watched the spectacle unfold before them, captivated by the mesmerizing display
"Essence," Miss Eris began, her voice carrying a weight of authority and knowledge, "From the moment of your awakening, your bodies began producing this remarkable energy. It's the force behind your increased strength, agility, and resilience. Essence is also the wellspring from which your unique abilities emerge."
Pausing for effect, she continued, "On the other hand, we have curse energy. Every curse user harbors this force within them. Think of essence and curse energy as complementary yet opposing forces, like yin and yang. Together, they form a delicate balance, shaping the very fabric of our world."
Michael's hand shot up, "Miss Eris, if curse users harness curse energy, then why do we refer to essence as... well, essence? Why not simply call it 'gift energy'?"
Miss Eris paused, her brow furrowing in contemplation as she considered Michael's question. After a brief moment of reflection, she chuckled softly before responding
" It's because gift energy sounds stupid "
Her explanation was met with a ripple of laughter from the students, who seemed to appreciate her candid response. Miss Eris flashed a knowing smile before continuing with the lesson.
Michael also laughed since he failed to find any fault with her reasoning
"Now As I was saying, essence and curse energy is what make us who we are. Now imagine if these energies could be passed unto to our weapons? "
Once again, she tapped the floor with the now illuminated bo staff, the impact sending shockwaves rippling through the room. The force was so intense that it caused the ground to tremble violently, catching some students off guard and causing them to lose their balance.
"Oops" Miss Eris quietly muttered under her breath
The tremors subsided as quickly as they had begun, leaving the students wide-eyed and on edge, They could all clearly tell the difference in power between the two occasions the bo staff struck the floor.
"Imbuing your weapon with the essence or curse energy is a technique known as augmentation," Miss Eris explained, her voice steady and authoritative. "Augmentation can greatly enhance the capabilities of your weapons, making them formidable tools in battle."
She paused, allowing her words to sink in before continuing. "Now, I want each of you to practice channeling your essence and curse energy into your respective weapons. Even some of you may already know it" she added as she scanned the room landing her eyes on the likes of Isaiah and Damian
Let's see what we can achieve."
Before long, the students dispersed, each one eager to begin practicing augmentation. Miss Eris instructed them to focus on sensing the condensed energy within their bodies, urging them to become intimately familiar with the sensation coursing through their veins. With mindful concentration, they were then tasked with redirecting this energy, channeling it through their limbs and into their weapons.
Many of their attempts were unsuccessful. Miss Eris provided words of encouragement saying that this wasn't something that could be done instantly. However, amidst the sea of struggling students, one figure stood out. Isaiah, his brow furrowed in concentration, seemed to be making noticeable progress with each attempt.
Approaching Isaiah with purposeful strides, Miss Eris nodded approvingly at his focused demeanor. "Isaiah," she called out
"Impressive progress," she remarked, a hint of admiration coloring her tone. "But remember, control is key. Don't let the energy run wild."
Isaiah nodded, absorbing her guidance with a determined expression. With renewed focus, he adjusted his stance and concentrated on channeling the energy with precision, his movements becoming more deliberate and controlled.
Miss Eris watched closely as Isaiah's efforts yielded noticeable results, the energy pulsating through his veins in a controlled rhythm. She offered him a reassuring smile, her confidence in his abilities evident.
"You're getting the hang of it," she encouraged, her voice laced with pride. "Keep it up"
Isaiah offered a humble nod of gratitude. "Thank you, Miss Eris," he responded earnestly.
Miss Eris observed Isaiah with a knowing smile. His progress didn't come as a surprise to her. Given his background and dedication, it was only natural that he would excel. The gap between him and his peers seemed insurmountable, setting a high standard for others to strive toward.
To her surprise, Miss Eris noticed Damian among the struggling students. Despite possessing similar potential to Isaiah, Damian appeared to be grappling with his own internal struggles. It was as though his mind was somewhere else, not allowing him to focus
"Ah, there we go," Michael exclaimed with a grin of satisfaction
Michael slowly but surely began to make progress with augmentation, he started to feel the flow of curse energy within his body, gradually familiarizing himself with this sensation. He focused intently, allowing the energy to course through him, until...
Kai's tap on the bag interrupted his concentration. "Yo, what did I miss?" pulling Michael out of his focused state.
"Damn it, I was just getting into the hang of it," Michael muttered in frustration, his progress disrupted by the sudden interruption.
"Oh boo hoo," Kai retorted
"What are you doing anyway?"
Before Michael could respond, Miss Eris appeared behind Kai, her presence catching both boys off guard
"You would have known that if you actually came to class earlier, Mr. Blackwell," Miss Eris remarked sternly, her voice carrying a hint of admonishment.
Kai turned around, startled by Miss Eris's sudden appearance. "Miss Eris, pleasure to see you as always," he said, trying to recover from his surprise with a charming smile.
"Flattery wouldn't get you out of this one, young man," Miss Eris replied, her expression firm as she addressed Kai's tardiness.
"Sorry, Miss Eris," Kai apologized "I got caught up in something."
Miss Eris arched an eyebrow, "I hope whatever it was, it was worth missing class for," she remarked.
Kai chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Honestly, I'm not sure how to respond to that," he admitted. "But I'll make sure to catch up."
Miss Eris regarded him for a moment longer before nodding in acceptance. "See that you do," she said firmly, With a subtle gesture, she motioned for Michael to fill Kai in on what he had missed. Satisfied with her decision, she turned away, knowing that her not personally instructing Kai was punishment enough.
Confident in Kai's abilities to catch up, Miss Eris couldn't help but recall the day he defeated Damian, displaying a technique that hinted a deep connection to Azrael immortalia . Since then, Kai had become one of the students she was most intrigued by. However, despite her curiosity, she understood the importance of maintaining boundaries. For now, all she could do was observe him from a distance.
As Kai delved into his practice with Bane, a subtle discomfort in his chest. At first, he dismissed it as a natural response to channeling energy into his weapon. However, as moments passed, the discomfort escalated into a searing pain that clawed at his insides.
The pain grew worse with each passing moment, making it hard for Kai to concentrate. It felt like a twisting snake coiled inside him, squeezing tighter and tighter. Kai could barely catch his breath as the agony overwhelmed him.
Try as he might, Kai couldn't ignore the pain. It clouded his mind and made his movements shaky. He tried to stay in control, but the pain was too much to bear.
"Kai, your eyes!" Michael's voice sounded urgent.
Kai's heart raced as he felt blood dripping from his eyes. He coughed hard, splattering blood on the floor, and his body shook uncontrollably.
Panic surged through him as he collapsed, unable to stop the spasms. Everything blurred as pain overwhelmed him, and he struggled to breathe amidst the blood.
All the students began to gather round, none of them could hide the shock on their faces, unsure of what do. Miss Eris instantly rushed to Kai's side
"Kai, what's happening? Can you speak?" she asked urgently
Kai wanted to speak but the words couldn't come out, she instantly tapped on her watch and alarms began blaring signifying the severity of the situation
Miss Eris continued to assess his condition, her hands moving with precision as she checked his vital signs and attempted to stabilize him.
Finally, the medical team arrived, their arrival accompanied by a flurry of activity as they quickly took over Kai's care. Miss Eris stepped back, her expression tense with worry as she watched them work.
As Kai was carefully loaded onto a stretcher and wheeled out of the room, Miss Eris lingered for a moment, her gaze following him until he disappeared from sight. With a heavy heart, she turned to address the remaining students.
"Class is dismissed for today," she announced, her voice tinged with sadness. "Please return to your dormitories and await further instructions."
Miss Eris fought to keep her composure, but her mind raced, searching for answers amidst the chaos. What had gone wrong?