Instructor Drupesch hushed everyone before their chatter at her threat turned into resistance.
"Now, now. You're first years, and this is your first practical lesson. I've done this more than a couple of times by now, so I know what you're thinking. There's no way I would actually put you all in danger, right?" Drupesch took charge of the class with a calm but strong voice, forcing everyone to listen to her.
"Wrong!" The instructor took a quick pause for dramatic effect before continuing.
"You see, in any given situation, a person has a set of tools they can use to solve the problem in front of them. Your skills are tools like that, but so is your knowledge, any previous training you might have, or simple talent. However, unlike everything else, your contract skills are new additions that are sometimes rather complex to use.
"As with everything related to summoning, it varies from person to person. But one thing that remains constant is the fact that when you empty out your toolbag, you have no choice but to learn how to use the difficult tools.
"That's why mine and the other instructors' lessons will mostly revolve around putting you all in positions where everything but your summoning, whether it be your familiars, contract skills, or cooperation is useless. Unfortunately for you, that means danger."
Although her words were ominous, Drupesch had a friendly smile as she looked at Zach and the other new students, most of whom had expected an ordinary student life during the academy, filled with studying, tests, bullying, young romance, and friendship.
Instead, if they were to assume based on Drupesch's words and the picture she painted, it would be a school life filled with danger, danger, and more danger.
Dukiel nervously raised a hand. Drupesch pointed at him.
"Instructor, when you say danger, what kind of danger are you talking about?"
"All kinds. The life of a summoner isn't necessarily as peaceful as some make it seem. And while some of you will actually never have to risk your lives after graduating, it's better to know how to survive in dangerous situations, no matter what they might be. That is, after all, what we're doing here. We're preparing you for a life as a summoner."
Another student raised their hand.
"Can you give us some examples, Instructor? So we know what to expect."
"The point is that you're going to be facing the unexpected, but sure." Drupesch thought for a moment as she crossed her arms. She uncrossed her arms and looked at the student who asked and then glanced at the others.
"Direct combat, both in group and duels. Ambushes. Wilderness survival. Poison. Natural disasters. Sieges, where you will be doing the sieging and defending. Guarding a stationary or moving target. Self-defense. Defending against wild monsters. This is only for those who go all four years, but warfare. I guess that's the gist of it. But as I said, if you can prepare for it, it won't be a good lesson."
The students' faces paled as Drupesch continued listing various sources of trouble and danger where they would have to rely on nothing but their summoning abilities to survive and perform.
Weren't they at the Academy to summon cute beasts to feed and play with until they became bigger cute beasts? What was all this about things that sounded more like tasks from a military academy?
Most importantly, why hadn't they been told about this before they entered the academy?
Drupesch smiled as if she could read the students' minds.
"I can see that it's the first time hearing about all of this for many of you. Let me ask you this. Would you have applied for the Academy if you knew what it entailed? No? Understandable. Now then, let's get started. All of you can take a few moments to double-check your contract skills and try to feel what it can do. After that, we'll get started."
Zach had a bad feeling about Drupesch's last sentence. For some reason, he didn't think that they would get started with something unrelated to what Drupesch had just warned them about.
Still, he couldn't do anything but prepare. Fortunately, it seemed he had a relatively useful skill. He glanced at Yanael before taking up the summoning interface.
[Zacharia Evandiel]
[Level 1 Summoner]
[Innate Skill: Divine Luck]
[Contract Skill: Blessed Defense]
[Contracts: Yanael]
[Yanael – S-Class Angel *Battle Maid Variant]
Unsurprisingly, nothing had changed. He narrowed his eyes as he looked at the line with his contract skill, wondering if he could get some more information. Alas, it was a failure.
Since he hadn't been in a position to spectate and admire his skill in action when the chandelier almost dropped on him, he wanted to know more about what it did and how it worked. Maybe if he could activate it again, he wouldn't have to go through Drupesch's promised suffering.
It didn't look like that was happening. But maybe he could delay it. He raised a hand.
"Yes, Zacharia."
"What about innate skills?" Zach asked innocently.
Drupesch stiffened for a moment as she gave Zach a proper look.
"You have one? Well, since you asked, it's obvious you do. Uh…That's not my area of expertise. I don't think it's anyone's, actually. But innate skills are, as their names indicate, innate. They most likely had an effect before you got the summoning interface, though, it's likely the interface will make them more active, I guess you can say.
"Oh, and you should keep them secret. You don't get anything from telling anyone about it. All you do is reveal private information that can lead to others finding your openings or weaknesses. Just…Yeah, just treat it like a decoration for now."
"Okay…"
'Well, she answered my question at least.'
Drupesh had been pretty short about it, so it wasn't the great delay Zach had hoped for. But he at least learned something new. He turned to look at his classmates.
"I didn't ask because I have an innate skill if that's what you're all thinking. I asked because I heard someone else talk about it."
A few of his classmates looked at Zach before looking away and focusing on their own interfaces or familiars to try and figure out what their skills did.
Before long, it was time to get started, not that Drupesch was going to tell them that.