Walking through the rice field, mother and son felt the gentle caress of the wind even as the grass swayed to the flow of its rhythm.
Holding each other's hands, they felt at peace with the world.
"You said it's till your 5th year before you'll be allowed on holidays again?"
"Yes". Ramon nodded as he skipped happily in the wind.
"By then, you'll be 15". She looked up and chuckled. "You'll be a big boy then".
"Not boy, man!" Ramon complained.
Emiliana smiled. "No matter how big you become, you'll always be my boy".
Ramon pouted.
She laughed, then she looked ahead at the expansive rice field all around them. "During the past 2 months, you told me a lot of stories about your 1st year in the academy and there is one pattern that I noticed".
"You spoke a lot about your achievements, about how much effort you're putting into training, but you never spoke about friends". She looked at him. "You don't have any friends?"
Ramon froze. "Umm, Elmas is my friend".
"You only spoke to him one night".
"T-then Aegon is my friend".
Emiliana smiled. "You have a lot to improve on to be real friends, at the moment, the both of you are just casual acquaintances".
"As you return to school, I have one advise for you".
She looked down at him with affection. "Don't be a hermit…, make friends".
"Have a tight circle of friends and keep them close".
"They're the ones who'll help you up when you fall".
"But I don't fall".
Emiliana smiled. "People always fall," She looked ahead. "It may not be now, but its human nature to fall, what matters is if we can rise back up after we fall".
"As you go back to the academy, even as you give all your time to training and cultivating, I also want you to give a little time to making friends".
"It won't hurt and you'll learn to appreciate it later".
Emiliana looked at her son, admiring his black hair that looked so much like her own. "Promise me that you'll make friends".
"Umm…"
Bonk!
"Ouch, I promise". Ramon rubbed his head grievously.
So, there they stood, mom and son, admiring the expansive rice field for about 5 minutes before she finally spoke again. "Go, they're waiting for you".
"I'll meet you again when you're 15".
Ramon grinned. "Promise?"
"Promise". She smiled.
Hugging his mom one last time, Ramon finally ran away with his sword and backpack towards the gate where Shaggy and Frank waited for him.
As he ran away, he heard his mom's voice echoing. "Next month is your birthday, make sure you celebrate it with a friend!"
"I will!" He yelled back.
Ramon finally left the Brenden family manor again.
"Boy, you sure took your time, now it's time to go back to the academy". Shaggy smiled and gestured for him to climb the free Hound's back.
"Hey," Frank called. "Umm, can you tell me now?"
"Huh? Tell you what?"
"The normal, the size of your…"
Bonk!
"Ouch…, Shaggy!"
And off they went to Centerpoint Astral Academy.
…
Centerpoint City remained unchanged on Ramon's return, the same for the academy as he easily integrated back like it was just yesterday that he left.
The difference was that in the 2nd year, their numbers were half of what they were in the 1st year and the courses that they were offering were different.
Another difference was the presence of new freshers, new students that just got admitted to Centerpoint Astral Academy. Like Ramon's batch of yesteryear, these new students excited and full of vigor went about their classes excitedly.
They still had that early excitement and thrill of just being exposed to the astral world, it was a feeling that Ramon missed.
Ramon met Aegon first, a coincidence.
"You're back". Aegon greeted as arrogantly as usual.
"Haha, this year, get ready for your defeat". He wiped his nose arrogantly. "During the holiday, I honed my skills and I'm now confident in defeating you".
"Really?" Ramon was hyped. "Let's fight!"
"Huh? Here? Now?"
"Why not?"
The curious freshers were attracted to the duel between their 2 seniors. It was intense, far more intense than ever before but there was one winner like usual.
"Nooo…! You cheated!"
"Hehe," Ramon chuckled. "Join my crew".
"No!"
The first thing to do after resuming was to check for his new room. This was unlike his first year, this time, Ramon would have roommates.
Going to the official in charge of rooms though alongside Aegon, Ramon was shocked. The young lady presented him and Aegon with their room papers.
>Room 49<
>Room 49<
Ramon and Aegon looked at each other at the same time, their eyes widened.
"You're my roommate?!"
"Impossible!"
Despite protesting the decision, there was nothing they could do. The 2 defeated second year students went to their room but on getting there, they met someone interesting arriving at the same time.
Elmas looked at their room papers that was on their hand, then he grimaced.
"We're roommates?!" Aegon roared.
Ramon's eyes narrowed. "What the f*ck!"
Settling into their rooms, there was a lot of tension in the air but somehow, they didn't clash as they divided the room into 3 equal territories.
With each person taking their personal space, they cultivated.
Their first class for the semester was another wildlife department class. An hour before the class, Ramon left his room, going to the library.
There, he presented his student I.D which activated his special voucher.
The familiar blonde-haired lady was surprised. "Ramon Brenden?"
"Yes ma".
"The one who doesn't know his affinity?"
Ramon scratched his head awkwardly and chuckled. "Yes".
Her eyes widened. "You're the best student of last year's freshers?!"
"Umm, yes".
"Ok, here's your voucher ticket". She presented the ticket to him.
Ramon read. "Voucher Ticket- Level 2 defensive astral technique".
'A defensive technique?' Ramon felt a bit disappointed; he wanted an offensive technique but considering that he didn't pay for it since level 2 techniques were outrageously expensive, he accepted it.
With a grin on his face, he turned around and swaggered away.
As he left, the blonde-haired lady stole a glance at him. 'That foolish brat was the best fresher last year? Damn, you don't really judge a book by its cover'.
Going to the section of the library for astral techniques, Ramon went straight to the level 2 section to the specific technique that his voucher was bound to.
Ramon looked at the piece of wooden tablet holding the technique.
>Kenjutsu Sword Technique: Mountain Block<
>Cost: 710 contribution points<
>Author: The Immovable Mountain Swordsman<
[This is a simple sword move made special through astral energy application.]
[This is a basic vertical sword block aimed at attacks coming from the front.]
[Following the astral energy movement pattern developed by the Immovable Mountain Swordsman, you are able to coat your sword with a heavy energy that mimics traits of the Earth affinity, forming a defense made out of pure energy that expands, shielding your whole body from the front.]
[When activated, apart from the energy defense, your sword gains the defensive prowess of a giant broad sword, temporarily gaining properties of a heavy broad sword.]
…
[NOTE: This technique can only be used by Evolvers.]
[NOTE: This sword technique can be used alongside the Mountain Thrust, another technique developed by the Immovable Mountain Swordsman to complete an incredible combo move.]
Ramon never intended for a defensive technique from the beginning but reading through this technique's usage, he was fascinated by it.
His eyes turned into stars. "Awesome!"
Grabbing his reward excitedly, he finally went for his first class.