Khay looked on surprised as Trilith closed the gap.
His left hand immediately swung at the unaware Khay, who was still trying to find his footing from stumbling backwards. Trilith's left fist went diving at Khay. The sound of flesh hitting hard against flesh could be heard, and Khay went screeching backwards. His arms were clasped together, head behind them, strengthening his defense. He had managed to block in time.
"Bro… Do you always have to hit so hard? He stuck out his head from behind his defense. "Plus when did you come up with this move?" He released his clasped arms and relaxed his back. "I almost didn't make that one in time." He swung his arms consecutively.
"Did I really hit that hard?"
"Yeah, I think it would have been harder if you went with the ri—"
Before Khay could even finish his response, Trilith came running and was immediately in hitting range, he had launched into the air and was ready to descend with the force of his fistful right arm. Khay unassumingly clenched his fist as his muscles crackled lightly. Trilith was suddenly sent flying, screeching backwards on the wooden platform.
"And you were complaining that I hit harder!" He screamed. He freed his x-shaped overlapping arms and swung them continuously. The two smiled at each other from afar and walked around in circles then rushed at each other closing the distance that was between them and begun to exchange punches in a heated continuous fist storm. As if testing for the speed of each other's attack. Head weaves, dodges, blocks, parries, fist to fist.
The two were matched as none was able to land a hit on the other.
"This guy…" Khay thought to himself. "The more we exchange attacks, the faster he hits and continues to hit." Khay thought to himself and picked up the speed.
"You never cease to amaze me Trilith."
"Khay…" Trilith said to himself. "You're strong, I can't seem to catch up to you. It's like the higher I come the higher you go." The barrage storms kept brewing. "But, I won't give up!" He increased his speed attack and- -
"We're even!!" For a while, there was no shift in speed and he noticed Khay had begun to regress. Trilith also did the same and brought their session to a pause as they both stood there and smiling at each other.
Suddenly, the door to Owl's Meditating Chamber pried open as it creaked softly. It was Trilith's twin; she walked on gently with her hands behind her. She approached the two who were now seated quietly, eyes closed and meditating. She stood looking at them. She couldn't help but roll her eyes and shake her head then she sighed; folding her arms.
"You can stop the act guys. I know you two were sparring."
Khay and Trilith stole a quick glance at Lilith with one eye closed and quickly closed it.
"We have no idea what you're talking about." Khay spoke on their behalf.
"Don't try to act dumb." She giggled.
"But… how did you know?"
She sighed. "I've been with the two of you long enough to know that there is NO way you two would sit obediently and meditate, at least not for long." She tossed her gaze around.
"True." Khay replied.
"Plus, this place is like a literal torture house." She turned her attention once again to the dummies. "At least these guys are in one piece. I can't say the same for the floor boards."
"Really? These guys are pretty sturdy." Khay argued, turning his gaze to the floor. Then, he noticed the slight scratches. "Well… they aren't exactly as squeaky clean as we found them…"
"We've been found out." Trilith said rubbing the back of his head.
"I'm not telling on you. Oh…" she paused. "Madam Tawa said I should come for you two."
"That woman, so she finally decided to change her mind, unfortunately we'll have to decline."
"Yeah, yes. Tell her we are fine here. Class sucks anyway." Trilith nodded successively.
"Would you at least let me finish? She said to come get you, 'cos the whole academy has been kinda dismissed for the day." Lilith informed.
"Really?!!" Khay almost cried out in joy.
"Whaddya mean dismissed!' Trilith cried out.
"Well… lessons was ongoing as usual then one of the Guardians came and whispered something to her then for a moment, just for a slight moment, she tensed up. It seemed like something serious."
"Wonder what it could be." Khay wondered.
"Then she just said the academy had dismissed the lessons for the day. Why we were dismissed, I can't tell." She shrugged her shoulders.
"Now, let's get going, most students have already left."
"Wait!" Trilith quickly exclaimed. "Don't know or can't tell?" Trilith stared at Lilith intensely, waiting for his reply.
She sighed. "Don't know and can't tell."
"I guess it can't be helped then. We really wanted to stay and spar… I mean meditate more but it looks like we have to stop for now, partner." He turned towards Khay and tapped his shoulder.
"Yeah! Too bad." He shrugged his shoulder in disbelief.
"You two are unbelievable, you know that right?" she laughed.
Four hours had passed since the students were dismissed. Now, the compound was empty and void of all but the teachers and they walked around the compound.
It was dusk; the yellow luminescent light rays of the sun had casted itself throughout the skies and over the capital. The principal-professor of the continents most renowned and prestige academy was waiting patiently seated in his office, the back of his seat facing his table as he watched the sunset from his opened window.
"The sunset never ceases to amaze me." He exclaimed.
The door to his office pried open.
"Professor Takel, you asked for me."
A young woman in her early twenties closed the door behind as she entered. She had black hair and blue eyes and wore a light blue qipao with short sleeves. Behind her was a blonde. Lina, who also wore a qipao, yellow with black cloud designs.
"Mai, Lina. Yes indeed. We have matters to discuss, where are the other teachers? I'd hate to explain myself all over again." He sighed spinning his ergonomic chair around to face her.
"But you know… calling me Takel is just fine by me, 'Professor' makes me sound old and I'm not that old." He sighed and loosened his yellow and white striped tie. And he indeed didn't look that old though he was in his late 30's. He looked rather young, had on a white long sleeve shirt and a black sleeveless suit vest that seemed to compliment his ash hair and light brown skin.
The door creaked open as the other teachers of the academy trooped in.
"Aaah!" He removed his glasses and pressed on the sides of his eyes. "I see you all made it here. Then, shall we begin?" he put back on his glasses.
"Please do, Professor." Tawa, the teacher in charge of class 3A spoke up.
"Calling me Takel is just fine. How many times do I have to say this, seriously!!" he sighed, pinning up his spectacles. He pushed himself up his feet and walked a few paces to his left, putting his hands behind him as he turned and stared at his window for a few seconds. The teachers felt tense, they had never seen the professor like this before.
"Mm… mm…" He cleared his throat.
"Is what we heard true?" a man who looked to be in his mid-30's asked. He had a dark hair that flowed a little to the front of his head, covering his right eye to a mild degree. He wore a straight overall black cloak that had a long slit in the middle from the collar to a little below his knees.
"I'm afraid the news you received this afternoon is as you heard. Now if you can recall, I assembled you here months ago and we talked about an irregularity that had raised its head."
"That issue had trouble written all over it." Oueus, the teacher for Beast Counter Measures spoke up. His rugged and coarse voice matched his face as people would normally say. Evident of his battles with the beasts of the world, his face bore scars that had all the while healed. His light gray spiky hair also gave volumes to his loud yet straight to the point attitude and physique.
Then another of the teachers asked. "So, have there been any further developments?"
"I'm afraid so Lina. The elder guardian reported everything to the king. Guardians and Guildons were dispatched to handle the situation and they did, but unfortunately, it seems to have escalated and it looks like we'll have our hands full if we don't resolve this as early as we can." He said with much concern.
"I suppose there's a next move, Principal Takel?" Reus, the head teacher for General Beast Knowledge inquired. He was brother to the teacher in charge of Beast Counter Measures. Unlike his brother, his gray hair flowed down below his shoulder and looked kempt. His face bore soft features and was spotless as if he had never seen battle before.
Takel sighed. "There is, we've all been ordered to meet at the High Palace tonight." He turned away from his window and pushed his chair backwards and pressed against the table. "Miscovan, Tawa, Lina, Oueus, Mai, Reus, as the currently present and respective head teachers of this academy, the king has requested our presence among the others. Don't be late."