Lucius returned to his dorm, feeling slightly better than before. Bathing with the whip marks was torture, but he was able to pull through it.
Ding!
Lucius looked at his phone with a frown etched on his face, it was a message from Ralph, and he felt tempted to ignore it. After a few seconds of contemplation to have a look at it.
{Hey, I didn't see you today, hope you are well?}
{Anyways, I'm texting you for two reasons. The first is the Thirtieth Global Guardian Student Olympics, which is coming up in the next three months. Miss Joanne announced the names of those representing our country in class today, and you made the list!}
{Each country has eight representatives, that's four heroes and four sidekicks. This year's event will be taking place in Africa, sweet right?}
{The second reason is Maya's fourteenth birthday is coming up next month, so we are planning to throw her a big surprise party. Why don't you meet up and help us with the planning?}
Lucius read the texts with a blank expression as he walked out of the bedroom, with his towel wrapped around his waist. He tossed his phone on the bed and walked into the changing room where he put on his nightwear.
"Do you know anything about the Global Guardian Student Olympics?" he asked.
[The competition starts at the continental level. Countries within each continent compete amongst themselves to determine who will represent the continent. The winning teams will then face off against each other on the global stage.] Lyxor explained.
Lucius nodded silently as he checked the time and frowned when he found out it was only 8:20 pm. He was waiting for people in the cafeteria to clear out before going down.
"What kinds of events are involved in the competition?" Lucius jumped on his bed and picked up his phone with a dull face.
[To be honest, I don't know. I only pick up information here and there, so all I know is that it varies and changes with each year.] Lyxor sighed
"I see…" Lucius muttered and began using his phone.
[What are you looking for?] Lyxor asked.
"I wanna find out more about academic life for guardians and when it ends." Lucius responded dryly.
[Hahaha. You only started school, and you are tired of it. ] Lyxor chuckled.
"This place is restricting me from achieving my goals and there are too many distractions." Lucius shrugged as he clicked on a link.
Soon, Lucius realized that they only had a year to stay in the academy, even though the guardian academy program was a four-year program. During the first year, they are given lessons with a few internships, the Global Guardian Student Olympics for the top students and finally the Guardian license exam.
After this, the next three years are spent in service of the country at random locations. While some are lucky enough to be retained in New York, where it's relatively safe. Most are deployed to all parts of the world where the United States is on peacekeeping missions.
They can be redeployed to different locations anytime during their service. Once the three years of service are over, students become full-fledged guardians and choose their career paths as heroes or scavenger guardians.
"Interesting… So how long has the session been on?"
[A month before your arrival. A week spent before Fort Aegis, A week spent in Fort Aegis, A month spent recovering from your injuries, and a two-week break given to you and your friends. That's three months in total.] Lyxor said.
"And we have another three months before the Global Guardian Student Olympics…" Lucius muttered.
[That alone will require two to three months. Your first year in the academy will be finished before you know it.] Lyxor chuckled.
Huff!
Lucius exhaled with a small smile playing on his lips. Knowing time was moving so fast gave him some joy, soon would be rid of this environment and all the unwanted influence.
[So what do you plan to do after the academy?] Lyxor asked.
"I earn a hundred thousand dollars a month just for being a viscount and ten thousand dollars every month as a D-rated guardian. I have three million in my account and my future heroic actions will earn me some quick cash here and there, just enough to buy a territory." Lucius said.
[Most yellow territories have been taken up already… You will have to go for more dangerous places like Brown territories, but that will require sufficient strength. You can't tap into the resources in those places if you are not capable of dealing with the beast inhabitants.] Lyxor warned.
"Don't be so negative… Look at how much progress I made in a few months. I'm certain in four years, I will be able to handle Tiger threat level beasts." Lucius shrugged.
"As for manpower and security, that's where Sergeant Skull will come in." Lucius said with a cruel grin.
[You do know he and his troops are currently affiliated with an agency?] Lyxor asked.
"Hmph! I am certain he will give it all up to work for me. I am a future SS rated guardian, in my presence his loyalty to others won't matter. Humans love associating themselves with greatness. As long as I keep achieving and making that greatness a reality, he will beg to follow me." Lucius chuckled.
[True. That's why there are very few great men in human history.] Lyxor agreed.
"Yep… The reality is, most people don't want to be great, or at least they are not willing to do what it takes to be great. They are satisfied attaching to greatness. That's why leaders will always have fanatical followers because they are living the life their followers can only dream of. Only by attaching to them can these followers have a glimpse of that life." Lucius added.
[And yet you say humans are superior to Xenovians.] Lyxor sneered.
"Xenovians are just extremely smart wild animals. Humans, on the other hand, are unique beings." Lucius nodded.
[You know that's racist, right?]