The skies contained a few shards of sunlight as a huge day began.
The ceremony started in about 4 hours, and it was 5 am right now.
Rather than a listen-to-a-speech kind of ceremony, it was themed as a ball where students would be encouraged to have fun until the principal came in and flexed his presence.
It was to show us that we were no longer under the safety of our parents, guild, etc.
The ball served as not just a celebration for the start of their academic journey but also their start to adulthood.
Everyone was given a watch by the academy, and no artifacts or amour could be bought in.
The watch had an extra function of Lio points (LP) as well as recording your stats.
Weapons from the outside could only be used in missions and not for training or tournament purposes.
I was training right now. After all my warm-up exercises, I took out the two bladeless handles.
Willing Raijin to activate, out of the katana grip, a blade of darkness formed with a white edge. The perfect contrast made my eyes gleam in satisfaction.
It was light and fit well in my hands. Facing the tree, I slashed the trunk, and a deep gash appeared on it.
There were faint traces of black sparks that I didn't know the effects of.
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Raijin (Katana)
Rarity: Mythical
Description: 'Speed is the best offense, but I couldn't escape my shackles.'
A blade formed from only lightning mana in the atmosphere. The color of the lightning is based on the user.
All attacks with Raijin are imbued with lightning.
Rank cap: {C+} can be evolved
Rank: {E+}
Passive: Increased sensitivity to lightning. Unaffected by lightning attacks of the E rank.
Ability 1: Tazer
Your attacks deal paralysis to the enemies depending on rank and Str.
Ability 2: One with lightning
Turn into lightning, Agi+50%. You become intangible. All offensive skills and abilities in this state will inflict lightning with it.
Dependent on Int and Dex.
{???}
{???}
{???}
{???}
___________________________________
'So that's where the sparks are from.'
'Six abilities for only three ranks... powerful. I wonder why my lightning is colored black; I've never been a fan of it.'
I switched my attention to the other bladeless grip.
'Would this be white then?'
Deactivating Raijin, I willed Fujin to form.
A shade of white materialized.
As expected.
The blade was shorter and a bit more heavy than Raijin, but it felt more sturdy.
Repeating the same gesture, I slashed the tree. The cut was far more shallow, and I didn't see any traces of energy like I did with Raijin.
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Fujin (wakizashi)
Rarity: Mythical
Description: 'I defended for too long, till my burdens weighed me down.'
A blade formed from only wind mana in the atmosphere. The color of the wind is based on the user.
All attacks with Fujin are imbued with wind.
Rank cap: {C+} can be evolved
Rank: {E}
Passive: Increased sensitivity to wind. Unaffected by wind attacks of the E rank.
Ability 1: Retribution
Receiving attacks creates a wind that attacks the enemy, half the strength of their attack.
Ability 2: One with the wind (locked)
{???}
{???}
{???}
{???}
___________________________________
'They were unbalanced already?'
I checked the Fate shop.
Fp:2753 (+1000 from the weapons)
'!'
My heart ached after seeing the prices.
'3000 for a MINOR rank upgrade to E+ rank'
I nearly fainted after seeing the shocking prices.
My soul nearly left my body.
I checked again and shook my head in dismay.
If I entered D-rank with uneven weapon strength, I would implode.
They were both linked to my soul, so they had to be in harmony when I ranked up like yin and yang.
Remembering a quote: "The balance and harmony between Yin and Yang are more important than the dominance of one over the other."
It was similar in this case but in terms of offense and defense.
Using one sword-type weapon allowed it to be easier to balance offense and defense with the sword.
Yet two weapons had two separate wills, so they had to maintain balance at all times. That was the reason many gave up dual-wielding.
It was too difficult to keep two weapons happy, and the resources needed were immense.
"Difficult?" I whispered to myself.
.
.
.
After training, there was only half an hour till the ceremony for the first years.
I intended to get there at a reasonable time when it was crowded.
Changing into the suit Fleur bought me, I looked at myself in the mirror.
'This was something I could not stop unless...'
Opening my watch I contacted Lunar Auction's customer service.
Ten seconds later, there was a knock on the door.
Opening the door, I could see the familiar brown eyes and tophat. Moon 433.
"Hello, Mr. Araxys, The higher-ups have deemed you as someone we need to build a close relationship with, so I have been assigned to your call as we are already acquainted. How may we be of service?"
"I am looking for a mask that can change my looks or reduce my charm... which may cause problems."
"Ah, I see. Let's have a look for you."
"I need it immediately as the ceremony is quite soon."
Moon 433 looked at his watch for a while and once again disappeared, being replaced by Moon 7.
"Currently we do not have any for sale, young patron, but I can lend you one for a finite amount of time as long as you owe us a favor, which will not harm you in any way."
I pondered a moment. It would be another shackle but would it be worth it.....
Hiding my looks will help me in the long run in terms of keeping a low profile, but a favor to Lunar Auction seemed risky.
His low voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Rather than a favor, more of a request. Later in the year, you will have a trip, and we have been asked to protect a certain individual in the first years during the trip."
'I already had a faint idea of who it was and what would happen, but I let him continue.'
"We ask you to do it because you seem to have the capabilities to do so, and if you reject, we will have to find another student to do it."
"It is difficult for us to assist as the headmaster does not like political matters within educational grounds."
"I accept."
Fp:2753-->2803 (mission stolen)
Once again, it was free money.
The person I had to 'protect' had already done so by the MC as they were friends by that time.
Moon 7 handed me a half-white, half-black full-face mask and said with slight content, "Thanks for your patronage, young sir," before disappearing.
'Was this area his domain? How could he come and go like that?'
Pushing away the needless thoughts, I looked at the mask and inspected it.
___________________________________
Morpher
Rarity: Epic
Description: Changes based on person
Fear to be me? Seek a crowd;
Though it may not help—it may just be loud;
My gift: your secrets ever kept;
My curse: at your death, no one wept.
What am I?
Rank {B}
Ability: Changes face, but mana, presence, body, and aura are unaffected.
___________________________________
I put the mask on and changed into someone with 'average' looks.
Brown hair, black eyes.
'What am I?'
The answer was loneliness, but was I really? My constraints accompanied me. If I died, the world would follow in tears and death...
'What a stupid riddle.'
Higher ranks would be able to tell I was wearing a mask, but if I ask, I am sure the teachers will be willing to keep it a secret.
It was time I made my way to the academy.
.
.
.
Valencia Nocturna POV
I was bored. Really bored.
This first year would be rather useless to me, as I had already learned all the theory required.
My mother made sure of it.
I was already at the ball, 15 minutes before nine. Not too early.
There were already hundreds of students present, and the chatter was loud, full of an excitement I couldn't feel.
As I walked past, the students who were previously loud and overbearing became quiet and still as I walked over to an area to sit down.
They stared and stared until the effects of my charm and charisma wore off.
It was a usual sight, one I had learned to deal with using the D rank skill: hazy eyes, which made my eyes seem misty, keeping my emotions unseen.
It would usually stop most from approaching, but there were always the few 'brave' ones.
They distanced from me as I took a seat.
Another usual sight.
Now I would wait here till the principal came and delivered his speech.
.
.
.
Since I was sitting at the drinks table, no one took any from there apart from a few other talents I knew.
"Hey Valllllllllll!!! How are you?"
My eyebrows twitched at the dulcet voice.
It was a girl with platinum blonde hair and turquoise eyes that shone like diamonds.
Her smile brought warmth and good intentions, giving her a cheery atmosphere that everyone liked. She too had an enchanting beauty that drew stares.
I stood up to greet her properly.
"Hi, Celeste. My day has been good so far. Once again, please call me by my full first name or Miss Nocturna."
"Ugh, tut... Always so stiff."
My mother often compared me to her.
She was Celeste Edavane.
The only daughter of the rank 2 guild leader of Sacred Syndicate.
When we were younger, her achievements always outshined mine, but recently I had begun to beat her in terms of rank advancement.
Yet I couldn't see the faintest resentment towards me and still acted as she usually did, carefree and smiling.
"It has been a while, Valencia. It's always a pleasure to be graced by your beauty."
Next to Celeste stood a dashing person, the son of the ranked 1 guild leader of Metanoia.
He had sea-blue hair and emerald-green eyes that seemed ethereal.
Adrian Evangeline was said to be the next Sword Saint and Celeste, the next Omni Magus. There was no known Archer in SS rank so I would be the first.
I turned to look at his mesmerizing eyes and greeted him.
"Adrian, you look as dashing as usual. It's lovely to see you again."
We were known as the Godborne Trio, the strongest of our generation.
Whispers and pictures were taken whilst we engaged in our pleasantries.
Another usual sight. When was the principal coming? They too didn't know and continued in their chatter.
After some time, I left the table with the excuse to go to the restroom. I wanted some fresh air.
It was already getting stuffy as the 1200 students came in. The crowd made way for me as I left the hall to go elsewhere.
I wandered around, and anyone who saw me would break eye contact... Another regular sight.
With no destination in mind, I finally reached a secluded place far from the students and people. Roses and tulips surrounded me, and the sweet scent of pollen fluttered past my nose.
I sighed and relaxed my posture—a sight no one had ever seen. Nor would they.
Turning off Hazy Eyes, I was about to sit down on the bench, but I heard someone mumbling.
Seated opposite me was someone with brown hair in a black suit with a grey shirt.
He remained motionless, staring at the white handle in his hand, muttering something about absurd pricing.
Was he poor? I didn't know him, so he may have been.
There was something off though. He had an average face, but his brown hair didn't match his black suit, which was supposed to highlight a person's black hair.
Something about it ticked me off. It was like putting Sadidas and Mike together. It didn't work.
'He probably had bad color coordination'
I didn't know why I did it. Out of impulse, I said
"Excuse me."
He looked up and met my eyes, dazed at the sudden interruption.
'Ah!'
I had forgotten who I was. Expecting him to leave or apologize, he continued to stare at me with his black eyes.
He seemed amused.
We kept staring at each other as if we were fighting. His eyes seemed unnatural and emotionless, but something about it seemed fake.
'Are they fake? His eyes look and feel similar to mine. Is it a skill?'
I often looked myself in the mirror with Hazy Eyes, so I knew a disguise when I saw one.
No ordinary person could stare at me for this long without being affected by my presence.
My curiosity heightened many folds, thinking about who he could be.
The wind picked up as he continued gazing at me. There were no words said.
The sudden increase in wind caused me to blink.
A sudden zap sounded, and when I opened my eyes, a note was on the place he sat.
There were traces of black sparks present, and the mysterious person was not in sight.
His face seemed to drift in and out of my mind as he looked so... normal.
Walking over to the bench, I picked up the note; it read,
'Just some rambling, but I want you to know, Miss Nocturna, that you are never alone. Focus on one thing at a time, and it's okay to take a break in the academy. No one can see you when you 'train'.
P.S. The principal is coming soon, so you should make your way back.'
A fleeting feeling sprouted within me. A feeling I only felt when my father was around.
Warmth and comfort.
Even with Hazy eyes, droplets of tears threatened to fall. The wind dried away the tears just as they wanted to.
'Did the wind have something to do with him?'
I scoffed. Only mages with high affinities of minimum A-rank could do that. I knew from his presence he was still E-rank, but he was hiding something.
'I will find out who he is,' thinking about his 'face'.
'Interesting'
I headed back to the ball after making sure I looked normal. I tensed my back and straightened my shoulders.
'I am not alone?' he says. I looked around me.
Once more, stares came my way, and the crowd gave way to my presence as I neared the hall.
'That is how it should be,' I sighed inwardly with hidden melancholy.
.
.
.
Xavier Granger POV
'I AM GONNA BE SO LATE!!!'
Activating Overtime at 10%, I changed while running at speeds unseen by the naked eye.
10% was my current limit of stat boost, which would not leave me injured but very fatigued.
The principal was coming in 10 seconds. 10 am sharp.
The quest was reaching an end, and the rewards were a whole 30 system points.
'I have to make it.'
My childhood friend left earlier, but I had to finish what I was doing.
The quest to kill the wild animals in West Kony gave me 100 SP.
******************************************
Quest: Urgent
Difficulty: C
Get to the ceremony in time before the principal arrives
Success: 30 system points
Failure: bad impression from the principal and THE trio
Time left 0:05
******************************************
0:04
0:03
0:02
I neared the massive entrance that began closing.
0:01
I entered just as the principal entered.
Sighing in relief, I stood there bent over panting.
I lifted my head, and I was greeted by silence and the stares of hundreds of students.
The principal asked quietly,
"May I begin, Mr. Granger?"
I answered back,
"Yes, sir, sorry, sir."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my childhood friend, Lux Bloodborne, shaking, holding back his laughter.
Scorns and shakes of the head could be seen across the hall before returning their attention to the principal.
I flushed in embarrassment, keeping my head down, not failing to notice the Godborne trio that didn't even consider my presence.
'Thank god'
Each one was an A-rank quest. I had to make them part of my party and become friends with them.
+30 system points
125--->155 SP
Just then the system buzzed and turned a deep red before going back to the regular blue.
___________________________________
New quest issued!
Be careful host!
___________________________________
This was the first time I received a warning from the system.
I opened the quest tab.
******************************************
QUEST: .....no urgency
Difficulty: SSS (will increase as time goes on)
Try to make Aeron Araxys part of your party or form a good relationship.
Do NOT antagonize Aeron Araxys.
Success: +999999 SP + good relationship
Failure: bad relationship + eventual death + faster death of Ashyn
Please be careful host!!!
******************************************
I stood there in shock. Who was this guy? The difficulty was insane and the highest I have ever seen.
And how could there be a rank higher than the SSS?
'+999999 SP. System, you crazy???'
This is the most the system had ever interacted with me. Did he have an SSS-rank cap too?
' WTF '
Was he here in this hall? I could see Lux approaching me, stealthily weaving through the crowd but it did not work with his large build.
I wanted to greet him but deep thoughts churned in my mind.
I would need Lux's help on this.