Eight years later…
Chief Instructor Turan made his preparations for the new term meeting and left his room. When Dean Noyan came to his room, all the group managers had already arrived for the meeting.
- Welcome Turan. Come… Tell us how your new term preparations are going.
- Yes, Supreme Master.
Chief Instructor Turan came to the place reserved for him and started his speech after greeting everyone,
- As you all know, our virtual war training begins in the eighth grade. For this, we tested our virtual training devices and it turned out that there was a 6.17 second delay in the connection to the main server. Our technical team worked hard to eliminate this delay, but we were not successful.
After various attempts, the best solution our technical team could find was to change the location of the device. In this way, we calculated that our connection latency speed could decrease to 0.03 seconds.
(Turning to Dean Noyan) Supreme Master, if you allow, we would like to move our virtual training devices to our first control and warning base.
- (When the thought of Demir could die, deeply shook Baran, he immediately stood up and objected to this situation.) It is very ridiculous that you want to send the students to an unprotected area. The transfer period is too long. If something goes wrong during the transfer, we won't be able to find a particle of the children. This is very dangerous…
- (Ms. Esin started talking without caring about the two.) Excuse me, I'm interrupting, but I have a question. You know that they will have information about us the moment we connect to the main server, right?
- (Hearing Ms. Esin's voice, Baran calmed down a little.) That issue is not a problem at all. We set up the main server. And naturally we have our own back entrance. No one can follow us while we are connected the main server. The real problem is that Turan wants to use our first base. He wants to send the children to their deaths.
- (Turan) Only two years. Can't a security measure be prepared for these two years?
- I am telling you, "this is very dangerous", you are telling me, "two years". What do you think? What are you trying to do?
- (Dean Noyan slammed his hand on the table, making the tense atmosphere even more tense.) Calm down a bit. Everyone has their own reasons. You can handle it calmly.
(He turned to Chief Baran) Baran, we send a man there every five years to check, right? As far as I know, we have never had any problems with these transfers so far. I don't understand why you are worried now.
- But Supreme Master, you know that we choose those we send there from among those working in the security unit. They are going there by accepting death. They are not like these children who are unaware of anything. They are trained in this regard.
As you know, the transfer time of the portal is very long. It takes about twenty-five days to go there. Of course, this transfer should be an uninterrupted process. Moreover, they will come back.
It seems that we will go through a very dangerous training process. It is not clear how many times they will go and come there. Such uncertainty puts the lives of children in danger.
- (Turan) If you are worried about journey too much, the children can stay there for two years. It would be safer than going and coming back, wouldn't it?
- (Dean Noyan) It seems like a good suggestion. What do you think about this Baran?
- It is true that we will say goodbye to the children in case of a possible interruption during the transfer, but it is more dangerous for the children to stay there for two years.
We will have to set up a camp there. Materials and equipment, employees, security personnel. All of these require a lot of labor and a large area.
The slightest mistake while in the vacuum of space will kill everyone instantly. Even if we think the system is working properly, it is unthinkable for so many people to work flawlessly for two years.
Therefore, I think that the children staying there for a long time is more dangerous than the transfer.
- It seems you're right too. So what are we going to do about this?
- (Turan) Sir, our students have to receive this training. This is the training required for them to internalize all the war and fighting skills they have learned so far and engrave them on their bodies. We cannot skip this. We have to do this.
- I understand what you mean Turan. Although the children reached the mastery level of elemental control, their fighting abilities remained limited. They immediately start using elements even in fights among themselves. I don't see any problem with you choosing virtual training where they can't use any elements at all.
(The atmosphere was quiet for a while and finally Dean Noyan informed his subordinates of the decision he made.) Frankly, since our education department made such a decision for the development of the children, it is our duty to help them.
Baran, prepare all security precautions for the new virtual room to be established. Make sure that no harm comes to our students.
Turan, divide the two-year training into three and prepare tasks accordingly. Have the children come back here after completing their tasks.
(He turned towards Chief Baran.) Baran, when the children return here, you can do the security checks of the base. Security is more important than anything else. The kids won't go there again unless you give your approval.
Now, you don't have a problem with this decision, right?
- Yes sir. We will do as the Supreme Master said.
- Good… Esin, Atay. Arrange a place there for your own section. Don't leave anything out. …
- … … …
While the meeting continued with talks about the new academic year, Demir and Eiderd came together in the coliseum area for a training fight today, as they had done every weekend for three years.
…
Demir, who dodged the fireball that Eiderd sent by jumping to the right, responded with a fireball of the same size. Immediately afterwards, he dashed in the other direction to avoid the attack that might come his way. However, there was another fireball waiting for him there. When he his mana neutralized the fireball at the last moment, Eiderd's laughter was heard.
- Hahahaa... You useless, filthy peasant. You've been doing the same trick for a few times now. This trick of yours won't work on me anymore. Burning to ashes in my fire it is in your destiny. Come and surrender to your destiny.
Eiderd sent another fireball, but it was of no use. He started running towards Demir quickly to prevent him from attacking. At that moment, a long sword suddenly appeared in his hand. The tip of the sword pointed downwards, and Eiderd's running speed increased considerably.
As it approached Demir, the surroundings of the sword began to ignite with red flames. When he got close enough, he swung his burning sword towards Demir, but the curved dagger in Demir's hand stopped the burning sword from advancing further.
- Is the sword new?
- (He responded by bragging about the sword he got after begging Instructor Sarp.) I took it from the master so that I could grill fish from you. (Then he added with a grin.) How? Is the fire setting not good?
- (When Demir hit the sword with the dagger in his other hand, leaving a deep mark on it, he couldn't hold himself back.) Are you going to cut me with this awful sword? I haven't even used my element yet, but that sword you're bragging about is about to break. It looks like your master has tricked you.
- You... You filthy peasant...
When Eiderd got angry, he couldn't control himself and started to attack Demir at random with his burning sword. After defending each attack beautifully, Demir channeled his mana into his daggers. When the edges of his daggers glowed slightly red, he cut Eiderd's sword in two by slashing from top to bottom with the dagger in his right hand.
Looking at his shattered sword and getting even more angry, Eiderd sent his remaining mana to his feet. After a while, the flames that started from the bottom of his feet formed a circle and surrounded Demir and Eiderd. As Eiderd's anger grew, the flames grew in size and gradually increased in temperature. Demir looked away from the flames around him and turned towards Eiderd.
- That's, this is something new. But I can't believe you spent all your remaining mana on this. Now tell me who will save you from my hands.
When the eyes of the two caught each other like a hunter who caught his prey, they suddenly rushed forward and punches and kicks flew in the air. Since Eiderd directed his mana to the fires around them, Demir did not use his mana during the fight. Even though Eiderd's mana, which was about to run out, weakened him, he could still keep up with Demir.
The two of them struggled for a while, but no one could gain the upper hand over the other. But as time went by, Eidred's mana began to decrease and the flames he ignited began to shrink. And eventually, inevitably, Demir gained the upper hand...
After dodging punch to his jaw by slightly ducking, he took a half step forward and landed a good punch to Eiderd right rib. Eiderd, who was writhing in pain, suddenly found himself lying on the ground while waiting for another punch.
Demir's kick from below had knocked him off his feet. As Eiderd fell to the ground, his mana was completely exhausted and he was extinguished in the flames he created around him. Demir, who was now staring at Eiderd lying on the ground for a while, approached him and reached out his hand and lifted him off the ground.
- Do you think it's right to ignite a flame that consumes so much mana in the middle of a fight?
- What do you say? My sword is broken. What will I tell the master now?
- Leave that awful sword. If it was something good, Instructor Sarp wouldn't have given it to you.
- Is gone my beautiful sword…
While Eiderd was thinking about how she would tell Instructor Sarp that the sword was broken, Demir extended the beautiful and long sword that appeared in her hand towards Eiderd.
- Happy birthday... Your great majesty, it is not worthy of you, but I would be very happy if you accept this gift of mine.
Eiderd's eyes filled with tears as he looked at the sword and Demir in surprise. But he wasn't going to cry now. He reached out and took the sword. He looked at its weight and length. He swung it a few times. He examined its shape and finally turned to Demir, satisfied.
- You dirty peasant. You know how to make your king happy…
The two shook hands and hugged each other. A little later, as Eiderd's happiness decreased and his pain increased, he started to hold his ribs.
- Do you want me to heal you, birthday boy?
- I don't want to. Then you're going to show off by telling everyone "I beat him, then I healed him, then I beat him again", aren't you?
You haven't said this yet, but I'm getting really annoyed with you. You filthy peasant, now take me home. Your king needs some rest.
Smiling slightly, Demir supported Eiderd and took him home so that he could receive medical care as soon as possible...