Chapter 14: A Trip to Disaster II
Helia — State: Aetheris.
Time: 8:30 AM.
The continent of Helia, the third largest landmass in the world, was divided into seven sprawling regions.
Among them was Aetheris, home to Yosen College and the Creed family.
Aside from its institutions, Aetheris houses a mega infrastructure called Second Float.
Second Float—an economic mega-infrastructure that only three of them exists in the world.
One at Helia—Aetheris.
While the remaining two are built on other continents near Aetheris: Central Helia and Eugrish.
These three continents—Helia, Central Helia, and Eugrish—are sister continents, their borders intertwined.
Central Helia, however, serves as the administrative center, overseeing various sectors across the trio.
From commerce to economy and to other fields, all matters are handled by its authorities, including the Central Awakened Association, which regulates gates and oversees awakeners throughout the three Continents.
But of course, Aetheris has its own branch—the Aetheris Awakened Association—to manage local gates, Awakeners and it's operations.
Branch — Aetheris Awakened Association.
Shane sat with a bored expression, his head propped against the window. "So, this is where we're stopping first?"
"Yeah," Celeste Blackwood, seated beside him, crossed her legs and blew out a lazy plume of smoke. "We need to register with the association before anything else."
"Yeah," Celeste Blackwood, seated beside him, crossed her legs and blew out a lazy plume of smoke. "We need to register with the association before anything else."
Shane clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Might as well go back home instead."
"What was that?" Celeste asked, her gaze locking onto him. However, "nothing," Shane muttered, shaking his head.
Time: 11:45 AM.
After three hours and fifteen minutes on the road, the buses finally arrived at the Aetheris Awakened Association. Most students had fallen asleep, save for a few who remained awake.
Some A-class students had been assigned to other buses: Enma rode with Class B.
Damian took the Class C bus. Kaiden with Class D.
Ayaka and Gregory Beastfallen were sent to the Class E and F buses, respectively.
"Alright, Shane, time to get off." Celeste nudged him as the buses pulled into the parking lot.
Aetheris Awakened Association —
A grand, multi-story building that spirals up. Even for a branch, its grandeur speaks volume. One could only imagine how central it looks if its branch were this grand.
"Wow. How amazing," Shane muttered sarcastically, glancing at his brothers and a few instructors from other classes approaching.
"While we get things sorted inside, let the students head to the mall across. Keep an eye on them."
She flicked her cigarette away and gestured toward the shopping complex adjacent to the association building. It might have been labelled a "mini-mall," but it was big enough to be considered a major shopping centre.
"Student council members, disciplinary committee, and instructors—keep them in line. We won't be long."
Celeste added, giving a light wave, dragging Shane with her as she walked toward the association entrance.
Aetheris Awakened Association — Reception Desk.
Celeste and Shane entered the building, heading straight to the front desk.
In addition to the reception desk, there were two staircases on the left and right. Additional offices are located in the ground floor halls.
The reception area was bustling with activity, with people moving between offices and holding hurried conversations.
"I just got the news. Another gate opened at Hudson."
"Vorneillia's association has dispatched its awakeners."
"Has Central provided any update?"
"A new mutation-type monster has just been discovered."
The hum of conversation filled the room as Celeste and Shane approached the reception desk.
"Yo," Celeste greeted casually, raising a hand to the receptionist.
The woman behind the desk looked up from her paperwork and blinked in recognition. "Lady Blackwood! What a surprise."
She smiled warmly, standing a little straighter. "How's life as an instructor? I assume you're here for permission to access the dungeon?"
"Yeah, yeah," Celeste said, waving off the pleasantries.
As the receptionist scurried off to retrieve the necessary forms, Shane gave Celeste a sidelong glance, his expression one of mild amusement.
"What's with that look?" Celeste frowned.
"I never pegged you as someone important enough for an association receptionist to recognize."
Shane said, spreading his arms dramatically as he didn't bother hiding his judgemental stares.
In response, Celeste's face twitched. "I'll have you know I was once one of the top Enlightened–above class Awakeners close to a Saint, you know."
"Is that so?" Shane's eyes widened in feigned surprise.
Celeste shot him a glare. "Watch it."
Outside — Parking lot.
While Celeste and Shane handled the paperwork, the students eagerly streamed toward the mall, grateful for the break from the long ride. Damian, trailing behind a group of Class C girls, sighed heavily.
"Babysitting. What have I become?" he muttered to himself, his hands stuffed into his pockets.
Unfortunately, since only eight of them—including the instructors—that were available, can't fully keep all the 140+ first year students in line, some A and B-class students had been assigned to help supervise the others.
This was, at the very least, meant to ensure the students' safety.
But danger doesn't always come from monsters—sometimes, it's human hands that cause the most trouble.
Even a student from a prestigious magic-affiliated school can stir up problems just by being there.
"—At least, that's what I've been told," Damian muttered, trailing behind a group of female students, hands stuffed in his pockets.
Like Damian, Enma, Gregory, Ayaka, and the others followed closely, each assigned to keep an eye on different groups of students.
Meanwhile, the instructors stayed outside, watching over the buses and the students who hadn't gotten down from the busses.
"Not that I expect anyone would be dumb enough to—"
"—Well, well, look what we have here. Hey there, girlies."
Damian stopped mid-sentence.
Right in front of the group he was trailing stood a gang of delinquent-looking guys, trouble practically radiating off them.
He spoke too soon.
'No. Awakeners?'
Their mismatched armor and cocky attitudes gave them away.
They were probably a freelance team, loitering around the area because of its proximity to the Awakened Association.
"Wait… That insignia on their uniforms—aren't they students from Yosen?"
"Yosen? Pfft. Who cares."
There were six of them, a ragtag bunch that looked like they assembled in a dark alley by accident.
One of them, the more cautious type, tried to warn the others, but his buddy shrugged it off, too focused on making trouble to care.
"Hey, could you not?" one of the girls from Class C said, stepping forward with a sharp frown.
The guy who had approached her smirked, clearly enjoying himself. "Feisty, huh? Are all Yosen chicks like this? I kinda like it."
The leader of the group smirked as he stretched his hand toward the girl in front, his grin widening with each step.
"I'm warning you," the girl snapped, her scowl deepening into something fierce.
But the guy only laughed, clearly amused by her resistance. "Oh yeah? And what are you gonna do? Report me? Ha!"
As he taunted her, the rest of the Awakeners began circling the girls, their intentions clear, but, just as the leader's hand inched closer—
"It's best if you listen to them."
The leader blinked in confusion. His hand, just a breath away from touching the girl, was now firmly held in place by Damian's grip.
"Huh? And who the hell is this brat?" The leader growled, narrowing his eyes.
Damian tilted his head slightly. "I could ask you the same thing."
"D-Damian…" The girls all said so at the same time.
By now, onlookers had started to gather, whispering among themselves. "What's happening?"
"A fight?"
"Those guys were bothering the Yosen students..."
"Is this going to turn into a fight?"
"Someone get this on camera."
The leader's grin faltered as he realized he was attracting too much attention.
But Damian's grip tightened, preventing him from backing away.
"Release me, you kid."
He demanded. And in response. "Wipe that look off your face first." Damian also demanded.
"—This brat!"
Clearly nnoyed by Damian's arrogance, the leader snarled and swung his fist toward Damian, but before it could land—CRACK—his head did a 360 turn, before he now collapsed on the ground.
"Leader! That boy—" One of his men shouted. "Get him!"
As the fight broke out, the crowd backed away, giving them room. A fight between Awakeners is something normal people shouldn't near.
At the same time.
Enma—who had just returned from checking on another group—noticed the commotion upfront.
"What is going on?" With a growing sense of dread, he frowned and began making his way toward the commotion.
He could feel the beginnings of a headache creeping in.
And whenever this happens, it's one of his brothers behind it.
It was practically a rule at this point—if something feels wrong, and there's a commotion in front, one of them was involved.
Arriving at the place where the commotion would have been going on.
As Enma arrived at the scene, he was greeted—not by a hello—but by a human projectile flying toward him like a missile.
"What the—!?"
Without missing a beat.
He raised a hand and casually slapped the airborne delinquent-looking Awakener aside, sending the poor soul crashing into a nearby wall with a dull thud.
Confused, Enma blinked and glanced at the now-crumpled body against the wall.
Then he turned toward the source of the chaos.
There, in the middle of the fray, was Damian, slapping the living daylights out of the remaining delinquent-looking Awakenerss with the same energy one might use to swat a fly.
SMACK!
One dropped to the ground.
WHAM!
Another spun in midair before face-planting on the tiled ground.
Enma groaned, rubbing his temples. "Ahhh—not again…"