After class, Lucius and Ralph left the class under the shocked and envious gaze of other students. These students assumed Ralph's involvement with Lucius back at the combat class was a mistake but seeing them sit together and leave class together made them realize this was not a mistake.
Why would that useless D-rated sidekick have the opportunity to befriend him when there were others far better than him?
In their opinion, Lucius and Ralph's relationship was akin to a gold bar placed next to a pile of shit, they could only ponder ways of separating the two in silence.
"I know people didn't like me, but they have never hated me this much." Ralph tugged Lucius's shirt while following him closely. The weight of the malicious gazes was getting to him.
Lucius was lost in thought, unaware of what was happening around them. After the class, he realized the dog beast he killed was only a level three monster, and this left him wondering what his limit was.
He knew that his ability proficiency was still low, as well as his combat experience, he had so much space to improve. For now, Lucius believed he would be at the level of a peak D-rated or a beginner-level C-rated guardian at best.
Against a wolf threat-level beast, even with all his power and strength, Lucius was sure he would be killed.
"What class do we have next?" Lucius asked his question, causing Ralph to look at him strangely.
"Every room in the dormitory has a copy of the daily academic activities. Don't tell me you haven't bothered to look at it?" Ralph asked in disbelief, and Lucius just nodded shamelessly.
"Well, there is always a single mandatory class per day and a second optional class. But most people don't get involved in the optional classes." Ralph explained.
"Interesting." Lucius's eyes lit up as he rubbed his chin. "What's the optional class for today?"
"Martial class…"
Buzz!
Lucius's eyes lit up as he stopped walking abruptly, causing Ralph to bump into him.
"Ouch!" Ralph groaned while massaging his nose.
"Take me to the class!" Lucius demanded.
"I have no interest in the martial class, I would rather go to the gym and lose some weight." Ralph shook his head. "Don't tell me you didn't check the school map on your room desk?"
"I didn't." Lucius responded shamelessly.
[You know, I feel kind of embarrassed I know you right now.] Lyxor commented.
Ralph sighed before searching through his backpack. He pulled out a neatly wrapped map and handed it over to Lucius with a stern look on his face.
"Return it later in good condition, or I'm taking yours!" He threatened, but Lucius just nodded absentmindedly as he took the map.
Lucius unfolded the map and saw a detailed, yet colorful layout of the academy. He quickly turned around and began walking away, leaving Ralph stunned.
"It wouldn't hurt to say bye!" Ralph yelled, but Lucius wasn't paying attention to him anymore.
"Damn, I feel used." Ralph couldn't help but mutter.
...
Twenty minutes later, Lucius approached an ancient Chinese building nestled at the edge of a lush bamboo forest in the academy. He was genuinely stunned to see how much effort the country put into the learning environment of this academy but failed to give slaves outside the city the bare minimum.
The building was an architectural marvel, embodying centuries of tradition and craftsmanship. Its sweeping, upturned eaves were adorned with carvings of mythical creatures—dragons, phoenixes, and qilins. The roof tiles were a deep, glazed blue that shimmered in the sunlight, and the corners of the roof were capped with ornate figures that seemed to watch over the grounds below.
The entrance to the building was marked by a pair of imposing wooden doors, lacquered in a rich, deep red and bound with iron. On each door, brass knockers in the shape of snarling lion heads gleamed, their eyes seeming to follow Lucius as he approached.
Above the doors, a horizontal plaque bore elegant calligraphy in gold, proclaiming the name of the martial arts school: "Temple of the Jade Tiger."
[Quite impressive…] Lyxor couldn't help but comment.
Lucius was dumbstruck by the beauty of the structure. He was born at a time when everything had fallen into chaos and the majority of the human race were slaves. How could he know of the beautiful tradition of Great China?
Pushing open the heavy doors, Lucius stepped into a spacious courtyard, the heart of the building. The courtyard was paved with large, worn stones, and in the center stood a grand bronze statue of a tiger, its muscles rippling and eyes fierce.
Surrounding the courtyard were the main training halls, their sliding wooden doors open to let in the fresh air. Each hall was supported by sturdy wooden pillars, painted red and adorned with gold leaf patterns. The pillars supported latticed windows covered in translucent rice paper, allowing soft, diffused light to filter into the interior spaces.
Clank!
A door swung open, startling Lucius, and a figure walked out, it was the guardian of the martial class, Master Zhang.
Master Zhang possessed long, silver hair tied back in a neat ponytail, and his beard flowed gracefully over his chest. He wore a simple but elegant robe of deep blue, embroidered with silver threads that caught the light with every movement. His eyes, sharp and discerning, stabbed at Lucius as if it could see through all his secrets.
"Name and potential rating." Master Zhang asked directly.
"Lucius Blackwater, S-rated." Lucius responded sharply, leaving the man stunned.
He looked at Lucius with disbelief, since most high-rated students don't bother with martial arts since they can completely depend on their abilities.
"If you have an S-rated ability, why bother with martial arts?" Master Zhang asked with a look of interest blazing in his dull eyes.
In response, Lucius lowered himself and touched the ground, absorbing the properties of the stones below.
"Ooh?" Master Zhang's eyes lit up as he saw this.
"Alongside this, I have superior strength potential rated A. But I lack finesse in combat, speed, and flexibility in battle, that is why I am here." Lucius explained.