…
Kael and Lirien trudged through the hallway, their footsteps echoing of the walls. Their usual banter and jokes were absent, replaced by heavy expressions and worried glances. Aria's unconsciousness weighed heavily on their minds, and they couldn't shake off the feeling of helplessness.
Yesterday, after Aria had collapsed, Lirien immediately rushed in the arena and grabbed him, while Kael entered and grabbed Sheila. They rushed them to the infirmary to get checked. The nurses were able to heal Sheila, but they had detected nothing wrong with Aria. He was simply unconscious, and all they could do was wait for him to wake up.
As they approached Lirien's classroom, they slowed their pace. Lirien turned to Kael, his eyes searching for reassurance. "He's gonna be alright, right?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kael nodded silently, unable to voice his own fears. He didn't want to acknowledge the possibility that Aria might not wake up, that he might not recover. The thought sent a chill down his spine, and he pushed it aside, focusing on the hope that Aria would pull through.
Lirien held his gaze for a moment, then nodded slightly, seeming to understand Kael's unspoken concerns. Without another word, he turned and entered his classroom, leaving Kael to continue to his own class.
Kael watched him go, feeling a pang of loneliness. They had always been able to rely on each other, to talk through their problems and come out stronger on the other side during the past week. But this time, it felt like they were facing something too big, too daunting, to conquer alone.
He took a deep breath, and continued to his class, his mind still reeling with worries about Aria. The hallways seemed to stretch on forever, the doors to his classroom feeling like a gateway to an unknown fate.
As he entered the classroom, the chatter and laughter of his classmates enveloped him, a stark contrast to the somber mood he and Lirien had shared just moments before. Kael took his seat, his eyes scanning the room without really seeing anything, his mind still trapped in darkness of his own fears.
Slumped in his seat, Kael eyes were fixed on Aria's empty seat. The teacher droned on about the history of Croatatia, but Kael's mind wandered, consumed by worries about his friend. He couldn't care less about the ancient civilizations or the planets geological formation. All he wanted was for Aria to wake up, to be back to his usual self, even if that meant tolerating his indifference and doll like expressions.
The female students in the class, who had always adored Aria, now cast saddened glances at Kael, their eyes filled with pity. They knew how close Kael and Aria were, despite Aria's attempts to hide it. Kael felt a pang of gratitude towards them, but it was overshadowed by his concern for Aria.
The male students, meanwhile, had annoyed expressions on their faces, as they saw the female student's expressions.
"Even when he is not around, he still causes problems for us" One of the male students whispered, veins popping on his forehead.
The lessons dragged on, each one feeling like an eternity. Kael's mind was elsewhere, replaying memories of Aria, wandering if he would ever see that annoying expression that he always puts on his face. A silent chuckle escaped from his lips as he remembered ho annoying it was to talk to the guy. He never cared, every discussion they had ever had with Aria and Lirien always ended up badly. Aria seemed to love insulting them, in an overly exaggerated sarcastic tone.
When the lesson ended, Kael breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, 'Finally! My heard hurts, what a stressful day.'
As he left the classroom, he headed towards Lirien's class, planning to meet up with him and head to the dorms together. But just as he turned a corner, the intercom crackled to life. "All Students in the top ten Ranking are to head over to Councilor Kaida's office at once.
"Kael's heart sank, his mind racing with possibilities. 'What the hell is all this about?'
He sighed and changed direction, heading towards the office. He was going to see Lirien there anyway. As he walked, he couldn't shake of the feeling that something was off, that their lives were about to change in ways they can't imagine.
Councilor Kaida was the one who over saw al affairs concerning the first year students. The fact that she called only the top ten students meant that the announcement was of great importance.
Upon arriving at the door of the office, Kael entered the office, his eyes scanning the room. Familiar faces like Lirien, Kai, Elara, and Sheila greeted him. His mouth gaped open as he saw another face he had recognized, Eryndor was here as well. He hadn't seen the quiet boy for a while. He glanced at Lirien and saw that he was as surprised as him.
He could also see new faces as well. Kai's amused expression caught his attention, and Kael's eyes narrowed. "What's so funny, Kai?" he asked, his voice low.
Just enjoying the show," Kai replied, his grin widening.
Kael hissed, his patience wearing thin. He joined the line, as he was actually the last to come, standing beside Elara. They had lined up according to their ranks, with Kai first and Eryndor last. They numbered nine, with the absence of Aria that is.
Councilor Kaida beamed at them, her eyes shining with pride. "Your strength and growth during this past week have been impressive, rivaling even that of your upper classmen. Because of your strength, the Council of Ten has decided to assign you to missions, just like your seniors."
"You are the first set we are actually applying this to, but I know you won't disappoint us."
The room buzzed with excitement and apprehension. Kaida continued, "You will be divided into groups of five. The first group will be Kai Gravitas, Lirien, Eryndor, Phoebe, and Monica. The Second group will be Kael Pyrox, Elara Khaos, Aria Reid, Sheila, and Cristina."
As she announced the groups, Kael's mind raced with questions. What kind of missions would they be assigned? Would they be dangerous? He was excited, finally, something to enlighten him and bring about excitement, staying in this academy and attending lessons was boring actually. He glanced at Elara, who seemed focused, her eyes fixed on Councilor Kaida.
With the groups formed, Councilor Kaida explained the mission system and army points. "Each group will carry out different missions, and with every mission you complete, you will earn army points. These points will enable you to rise up the army ranks in the academy. For the Impact each person makes in each mission, points will be rewarded to you based on those impact."
Kael's heart raced as Councilor Kaida asked, "Are you ready to hear about your missions?"
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