Sophia moved to another screen, accessing information. The other ladies were still asleep in their beds. Sophia got a big fright as Ethan hugged her from the back.
"Alas, you almost scared me to death."
Ethan turned her around, kissed her, and held her tightly. The ladies were tucked in just before he fell asleep, tired from the evening's activities.
Ethan felt his robe move. He looked down; Zelda and Mei were on their knees. Lilly pulled his head sideways with her hand, kissing him.
"Alas, good morning. Did you sleep well?"
"Alas, yes and you, Lilly. I wish we could all be together in one place. I want everyone with me."
Sophia held Mei's head, pushing it backwards and forwards.
"Alas, we cannot calculate when the upgrade will be finished."
Lilly held Zelda's hair out of her face.
Ethan nodded, unable to speak at that moment.
The three women were busy getting dressed in their room; their needs had been satiated. Wendy and Lucy stayed by Ethan's side as he slept. The three waved to them as they left the room to prepare for the day. Maple had to collect her potions, and Grace had guild business. Lara wanted to help Maple gather her medical bag, as her students might need her help today.
Ethan felt kisses on his lips, and it was Lucy. He had returned to the inn from the mountain.
"Squee, now it's my turn to go first."
Ethan sat next to Miley, sitting on books with a pillow. Her porridge bowl and mug of milk were placed before her. Miley looked up at Ethan, pursing her lips together for a kiss. He kissed her forehead gently, and the little catkin happily ate her porridge. How she got her face and forearms covered in porridge baffled him. Melisa came by frequently wiping the little face and hands. Melisa loved her little sister dearly.
As their breakfast arrived, Bridget and Astrid walked in wearing their uniforms. Penny greeted them at the door and rushed to the kitchen.
"Good morning, team." They said in unison as they seated themselves across from the three of them.
"Alas, good morning. What brings you to the inn?"
"We heard that they were serving roe deer for breakfast. We love roe deer meat." Bridget said.
Penny placed two bowls down before the lieutenants with a pitcher of milk and two mugs.
"You can pay for our meal today. You have seen up our skirts many times. Pay up, man." Astrid said with a smile.
Ethan sighed.
"Alas, your skirts are very short, and yes, I saw."
After four minutes of silence, Bridget placed a file on the table where she had kept it was everyone's guess.
"Forensics revealed that both the explosions contained everyday gardening ingredients," Bridget said.
Wendy pointed with her spoon stew splattered on the opposite chair.
"Hail, that little bugger, he was the one who tried to kill me. He is a dead man."
Lucy stared in disbelief.
"Squee, he looked so tame and defenceless, the scoundrel."
"When you get the chance, ask Earl which nursery got the contract for the academy. We are getting our swat team ready. We should be prepared by eleven today. Go to do your training as scheduled. We do not want to alert the bad guys that you will investigate the dungeon."
Bridget and Astrid stood after finishing their stew. Their skirts had ridden up their thighs. Wendy and Ethan struggled to tear their eyes away from the pink underwear with orange butterflies. Bridget laughed.
"Looks like we will get another meal from you two." Bridget pulled her skirt down.
Astrid waited a bit, then pulled her skirt down.
"We deserve a meal and spiced wine now, right," Astrid said, smiling.
"Hail, you can bet on it." Wendy wiped drool from the corner of her mouth.
They blew kisses as they left the inn.
"Squee, they just tricked you two into another meal."
Lucy shook her head, looking at them disapprovingly.
"Squee, your behaviour and lude actions will keep us needing to quest for more coins at this rate."
"Hail, it is in my nature to love Ethan and beautiful women."
Ethan paid Shaw the money for the two lieutenants' meals. Maple and Lara waited for them outside the inn. They left for the portal, joking and talking about their dreams for the future. He followed them, deep in thought. The roses were a clue, and he had dismissed it. The Skinwalker appeared not to be his enemy, which led to other questions: why did he kill the emperor of his sector, and why did he flee to this realm?
As they appeared in the academy, the demi-humans were waiting for them. Kuno had their equipment ready.
"Growl, good morning. We will show them today. Thank you for bringing Maple the herbalist."
Kuno and the other demi-humans lowered their heads in respect to the herbalist who had treated them. The walk to the training grounds took five minutes. The human students waited for them, ready and geared up. They had smug looks on their faces. Lara pulled Ethan down by the collar of his robe, staring at the students. She whispered, not to be heard by the professors or students.
"They think this will be easy like the previous years."
Ethan did not recognise any of the professors.
"T-T-T They are professional trainers looking at the badges on their shirts," Maple said, grinding her teeth.
Lara looked down at her feet.
"Those bloody corrupt nobles will do anything to stop us,"
Ethan could see that she was losing hope.
"Alas, that will not save them today. Remember that Maple is here to keep the human students alive."
Lara touched his arm gently, placing her head against his chest. A professor walked forward, his stride wide. His face had a permanent sneer as he looked at the demi-humans.
"Archers and magus to the side and follow me. Fighting classes will remain here. This test will determine if you are suitable for the dungeon."
Ethan walked backwards, holding Lara and Maple's hands. There was a fallen tree, and they sat down on it to watch the contest. Kuno volunteered to fight the first battle. He pulled a knife, the blade blunt, and the tip had a stopper attached.
"What, no spear today, grunt." The student facing him said arrogantly, waving his short sword before him.
The professor dropped the white cloth, and the fight ended in seconds. The human student limped to the side, and his right arm was numb. The demi-humans won in every instance, and finally, it was Wendy's turn. Lara and Maple cheered the high elf. She faced off against the same student who had previously injured her. Two minutes into the fight, Maple ran to the young man, his life energy flowing into Wendy. She gave him two potions, and the colour returned to his face.
The medics carried him off the field. The young man could not walk, his knees and elbows swollen the size of pomegranates. Lucy faced off against the same young man who had injured and backhanded her the last time. The fight ended in seconds as she hit him with the shield on the jaw, and he fell like a fallen tree. Lucy retreated, standing far from the student, her golden mist flowing around her.
Maple held a vial under the student's nose, and he came to. He complained about his jaw, a dark purple swelling forming where her shield had struck. Lucy's opponent came off the lightest; her small heart could not bring her to injure the young man too much. That could not be said of the other students.
Three professors came walking back from the archers and magus area, their faces cast in anger.
"The demi-humans outperformed the human students by miles. Even the two body-enhanced human students were better than our students." The professor complained.
Ethan could see he was the leader of this farce. They thought they would injure the demi-humans, forcing them out of the dungeon, thus securing the dungeon for their human students. Many copper plate adventurers made good money in the dungeon. Kuno and his girlfriend waved at Ethan with big grins on their faces.
Earl, the dean, floated down on a carpet.
"Well done, everyone. Your performance today makes me proud."
He walks over to Ethan, grabs his hand, shaking it.
"Well done, Ethan. Your training has raised your students' proficiency far beyond my expectations."
Earl had placed a piece of paper in his hand. He turned and spoke to the humans and their professors. Ethan gave Wendy the piece of paper. She turned her back on the students, opened the paper and read the message.
Ethan bowed down as Wendy motioned for him.
"Hail, we have the address. Thompson said we should leave immediately."