"Y'know? I never got to thank you Azzy."
Aziroth was sitting quietly on the sofa. Reading a book on the history of Dalsinor and magic, it wasn't until Donovan walked up to him did he pulled himself out of the immersion of the book, "For what?"
"For...Lying. I really didn't know what to say to her." Which Donovan admits, was the first time that happened.
"It wasn't really a lie though." Aziroth slid a bookmark on his page and placed it down on the table.
"What do you mean?"
"There are actual transfers from other schools. They do actually exist. And the part of Elyssia having no information about them is accurate. No one transferred to the S-class. And that's where I lied." Aziroth stood up, stretching his pale arms upwards, "I'm taking a guess and assuming that those two people are not from the school. And part of your organization? Soldiers of Hanlerk"
"Yes. You're right on that part."
"And what are their names?"
Donovan hesitated on answering, but the fact that Aziroth helped cover for them, and is already aware of what they do, why is he stopping himself, "The Japanese crow boy is Karasu. The British healer is Aurora."
"Huh...A Crow and Raven on the security force. That won't end well."
"My thoughts exactly."
Donovan still wondered how Karasu would interact with Rovanne. He would constantly express his distaste for ravens and claim crows are the superior animals. He couldn't care less about it. However, the style Karasu has regarding crows was what was interesting.
"When will they arrive? It's been about three days." Aziroth glanced at the calendar, "I'm shocked at the fact that there are already two doors waiting for them."
That seemed to get Donovan's attention, "Really? Let me see..." He slowly limped towards the hall door, his injuries slowly healing, but still not fully healed. Aziroth opened the door for the both of them and couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"There's more...?"
Ten more to be precise. Instead of two doors waiting for their owners, it was twelve in total. Did the room malfunction? Surely they should only be two? Donovan had no words on what he was seeing. That was until the two of them heard a few footsteps walking towards them from behind, "It seems like I haven't told the both of you."
"Madhav? Mind explaining this to us?"
He held onto a clipboard, writing something down as he approached them, "Guess the room knew what we were doing...It forms new doors whenever there will be new members joining the team."
"Wait, new members? Not just the transfers?" Donovan asked.
"Yep. Ever since what Matthew did, Elyssia, Rovanne, pretty much everyone here in the tournament inspired a few people. In a few, I meant about twenty. Twenty students want to join the security force. Whether it is to have extra privilege-"
"They'll be sorely mistaken." Donovan chuckled.
"I agree. Or there's a chance that they want to get STRONGER. And with a noble intention of protecting the school." Madhav tried to make a point.
Donovan rolled his eyes in amusement, "Doubt it. But keep going."
"Don't play with me. I know you joined with an ulterior motive. But I'm not questioning it all the time." Madhav mentioned, "I'm not that dumb."
"Mhm. Just continue on." Donovan brushed him off. He doesn't fear Madhav that much. Aziroth did pick up on this however but remained silent.
"Anyways, this afternoon. At four PM. There would be a trial this time. Sort of test about their strength, and intellect, see if they're capable. All that stuff. Then we'll bring them into the doors. See if they're accepted or not." Madhav wrote more info down, "We are asking you two, Gary, and Samuel to join us. And help us out."
Donovan went over his options for a second before sighing, "Alright. I'll go. What about you Azzy?"
Aziroth shrugged, "I don't see any problems. Sure."
"Alright...It's around two right now. So you got two hours. Do whatever but meet up with the others at the courtyard near the gymnasium." Madhav quickly made his way to the file room.
"And where are YOU going?"
Before Madhav completely disappeared into the room, he took a cup of chai from the counter, "I'll be watching from the computer. And going over their history."
"That's..." He wants to say creepy, but Donovan has done this before, he has no room to judge at all, "Y'know what? Nevermind. You do you I guess."
"Great! See you there!"
***
As the sun hung loosely above the clouds. The smell of nature settled in everyone's nostrils. Tinged with the smell of fresh-cut grass and dew. The air soothed the student's bodies with its warm and perfect levels of humidity. In the large spot of land, numerous students hung around the benches and trees.
The area was vibrant with conversations as each group of students stayed with each other, talking about random topics that popped into their heads. Some were even talking about the events of the tournament.
"They still talk about it..."
"Can you blame them, Yuri? It's definitely going down in history as a huge incident. Experiencing it is a whole other thing."
Yuri turned to her right. Carmilo's voice was the most recognizable from everybody else. The accent and the way he pronounces things were unique to say the least, "Alright Inigo Montoya-"
"Stop calling me that!" His voice turned into a whine.
Yuri chuckled at his reaction, before promptly grabbing the the back of his shirt and lifting him up from the ground, "Whatever y'say. Shortee."
"Don't call me short! I'm above average in my country!"
"And you are short."
"Says the over six-foot bear!" Carmilo tried to wriggle Yuri's grip off of him.
Two sets of footsteps appeared from behind the two of them, Carmilo immediately knew who they were, "Put Carmilo down Yuri. It's almost time."
"But you must agree with me." Yuri grabbed hold of Carmilo's face and squeezed it, "His face is adorable, isn't it Enzo? Zhu?"
"Cute?!"
"Yes yes. He's very adorable." Zhu ran up to Carmilo and squished his face, "But put him down. The security force would be here any time soon."
Yuri shrugged before reluctantly putting Carmilo down. He's adorable when he's acting like a puppy. Enzo finally caught up to the group and placed down some water bottles on the nearby bench.
"I'm still surprised Zhu, out of all people wants to join the security force." Enzo mentioned, "You sure you don't want to participate in a dance club, or the festival club, Zhu?"
"Nope! That motivation has changed!" Zhu placed her hands on her hip as she stretched her body, "After seeing how the security force fought at the incident, how expertly they worked together, and how strong they were, I decided that I want to be like them!"
"Oh really?" Carmilo raised an eyebrow.
"Yep! I want to be strong like them. Compared to me and them, I have a long way to go to reach their level."
"To the level of Matthew and Madhav, you probably reached a higher level than them." Enzo chuckled.
"But what about Elyssia? And Rovanne?" Yuri mentioned.
"Definitely not them. But I want to in the future."
Yuri couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. Zhu was always the cheerful one. The moment anyone sees her in solemn or despair, then that's a dead giveaway that all is lost. Yuri can bet that when everything is on fire, Zhu will still have an ambitious and confident smile on her face.
As the three conversed with each other, Carmilo leaned on a tree as his ears unintentionally overheard the conversations of other students. He could see a few recognizable faces. Mary Sachiel. The phoenix flame girl seemed to be talking with Arthur Silbrook, Anna Becker, Nicola Iyesil, and Prince Mudenda. He heard that after their temporary alliance, they decided to stick together now and from the looks of it, become friends.
Carmilo then turned to eavesdropping;
"If a tree falls and no one is around to hear it, did it really fall?" Not this one. What kind of question was that? Teenagers are weird. Carmilo shouldn't be thinking that, he's a teenager as well after all.
"I'm telling you! It was bigger than last year!" He's not even going to listen to the next foul words that come out from them.
"I heard that an Oni-level monster was killed in the incident three days ago!" Now this interested Carmilo. He focused his attention on their conversation, "Are you kidding me? Oni-level's should be handled by teachers no?"
"Yes, of course! That makes it all the more crazier!" A boy shouted.
"So who killed it? Mister Kiro? His wife? They're Heiulbearers no?"
"They were. But they weren't the ones who killed it. Believe it or not, but it was said that it happened INSIDE the arena!"
Inside? This can't be true. If it did, then Carmilo would've known. Everybody would have known, "What?! That's impossible! I would have known it! Because I was there myself!" Exactly Carmilo's point.
"Can't speak for anyone. I'm a second-year after all. But who knows?"
"Is there any more info on that?" The third voice asked.
"I don't know if it's true 'cause it sounds ridiculous. But it's said that three first years were the ones who killed it."
"HUH?!"
"Huh?" Carmilo couldn't believe what he just heard. Three first years? Killing an Oni-level monster? The first thing that came to mind was the trio. Donovan, Gary, and Samuel.
He remembered the damages Yuri had been inflicted with by Gary, and the fight with Samuel that Carmilo himself had. He still couldn't shake off the chills he had when Samuel gazed into his soul like a demon. No, like an angel from above judging his past sins. He could vividly remember seeing multiple pupils and eyes around the attacker's face. But part of his brain refused to give the full picture.
Before he could gather his thoughts, he heard a sharp whiz flying past his face. He cocked his head up and turned his gaze towards a small green orb with wings flapping in front of him, before zooming towards his friends. Garnering their attention and flying towards the other groups of students.
After a solid minute, everyone had their gaze on the orb as it flew high up in the sky, and plummeted towards someone's hand. As their attention shifted towards her, she crushed the orb in her hand, releasing a bright flash that blinded everyone for a single second.
"Good afternoon everyone. I need everyone to line up." Her voice commanded with authority. As soon as the figure spoke, everyone knew who it was and promptly stood in a single line. Carmilo and his friends doing the same thing.
"Wonderful. That's what I like to see." Everyone focused on the figure talking to them. The tall Greek girl with emerald green eyes stood with her back straight, and a greatsword strapped on her back. Carmilo immediately recognized who it was, "My name is Elyssia Sanghur. I'm the leader of the security force, and your invigilator for today."
Seemingly stepping out from behind her, two other figure appeared. A girl with black hair and purple eyes. And a boy with brown hair and a confident face. Rovanne Nicolu and Matthew Halcom.
"And these two will be assisting me." Elyssia explained, "Now, I hope you know why you're all here. To join the security force. And work with my team to keep this school a safer place."
As she walked around with her hands behind her back, she continued to speak. But Enzo grabbed Carmilo's attention, "Wooh. Pretty girl don't you think?"
"Is that really what you're thinking of right now?" Zhu kicked him in the shin.
"Ow-! Sorry, Just had to point it out."
"What about the other two?" Yuri mentioned.
"Oh? Matthew and Rovanne? Uh, they're both alright. I can see it if people call them attractive." Enzo said, "I ain't gay but Matthew looks scrumptious. I mean, look at that one man..."
"Good lord Enzo..."
Elyssia cleared her throat, Enzo hoped she didn't hear what he said, "Hopefully you all had registered. And I will-"
A set of footsteps alerted her immediately. She dropped her sentence and turned around with her greatsword in hand. Every other candidate suddenly tensed up with her. Holding on to their weapons, going into a stance, and readying their magic. The same occurred to Enzo and his friends.
Rovanne and Matthew tried to look around, to see who was here. But they found nothing. And the set of footsteps were nowhere to be seen. Elyssia snapped her body around, trying to find the source of the footsteps. Ever since the incident, she was always on guard.
Then the source of the noise appeared beside Elyssia, "Top o' the evenin' to ye!"
"Gah-! Fuck...Donovan!" Elyssia nearly swung at him. But managed to stop herself midway, "Damn it Donovan! Don't sneak up on us like that-!"
"What~? It's fun."
Rovanne and Matthew seemed to calm down. But the other participants didn't. The same thought ran through their mind, 'Donovan? As in the same Donovan that came three months late into the S-rank? The same boy who was part of the four that won and survived the tournament?'
Zhu and Enzo still remembered Donovan. The mere sight of him and his recognizable hat alone made them see his actions toward the two in the tournament. They were aware of the rumor that Carmilo just told them about the Oni-Level monster that appeared. Zhu was able to confirm that Donovan, was one of the people who defeated it.
Some of the students were dazzled momentarily from the sight of his face. His chiseled jawline, striking blue eyes, long brown hair that was tied into a messy bun, with strands of hair falling down his neck. His skin was clearer than most, and that smile, that bloody pearly white smile. Just radiates confidence, it's like he knew he was attractive.
It was best not to become too lost in his visage. That's how the devil tricks people.
Everyone was still aware of his skills. They had acknowledged his skills with hand-to-hand combat, and unusual way of fighting. But also his prowess in magic. Even until now, there is no data about his magic path.
He turned to the Candidates with a certain mischievous glint in his eyes. Causing them to tense up even more, "Ahh...So these are the candidates? For the team?"
"Yes. These are all of them. Why are you here?"
"Madhav asked me to help in this recruitment activity. Surely I must help, since I'm a member as well~" A light sparked in his head, "Co-leader-"
"Oh shut it, Donovan." Elyssia pushed her hand on his mouth. And nudged him away.
Hold up, did they hear it correctly? Donovan's in the security force? How did they not know? They didn't even see him that much with a badge, ring, or anything. In fact, they only saw him like once or twice the weeks before the tournament.
"Sooo~ I see all of you want to join us!" Donovan walked around with the help of a cane. A few asked 'why a cane?' He said 'Why not? It's pretty cool'
"Yes. In fact, we were about to do a sort of role call-"
"Fuck that! That's boring. Too orderly. I have a plan in mind!" Those words further heightened the Candidate's worries. Elyssia tried to object, but with the arrival of Aziroth and his convincing, she gave up in the end, "Sooo...Usually, we would test your power, magic prowess, all that shenanigans but that would take way too long to complete. And we have a better and faster way to do this."
He pointed at Yuri, he acknowledged who she was before moving his finger horizontally, going through everyone, "I know you all are wondering what it is, but it's very simple!" He slammed his cane on the ground, "You all will take turns fighting us!"
That seemed to bring them to the edge. Donovan could see that none of them wanted to be fighting him, "Fear not everyone! I am injured and unable to fight properly. So you won't be fighting me." with a few words, everyone seemed to calm themselves and relax their shoulders.
"But you will be fighting someone else!" And they swapped back to being tense, "Come on out Gary!"