The students were ordered to head straight home, those that lived far and others that came from neighboring towns and small villages took the Militrain to their destinations. And for those that lived in the capital, walking home was an everyday activity they looked forward to.
"Today was a busy day, no doubt about that." Trilith cried out.
"Yeah tell me about it. The 3 hour meeting with the principal and Beast Integration lesson to add up, but it was kinda fun." His partner in crime spoke his mind.
"See, it isn't so bad after all, the academy that is!" Lilith added.
"Have you guys realized this is the second time we've been dismissed even when it wasn't officially that time to?" Trilith pointed out.
"Yeah, it's 1:46pm right now. I wonder what that's all about, just when we began taking things seriously too. Tsk." He scoffed.
"Things seem to have changed, 'cos the only practical session we had was the Battle-Defense class and well that class… we haven't even been to it in a while. I wonder what's going on." Lilith lamented.
"Hey, that hasn't been bad in itself, he gave us free range, to practice what he had taught us so far." Trilith replied, thrusting punches left and right.
"The academy became super boring ever since that class was suspended." Khay cried.
"Yeah. And Muten Yoshi is also out on missions." Trilith sighed.
"Master Nana, when are you coming back?!" he sighed.
"You guys remember when we'd say its Battle Arts but he'd scream at us saying it's not Battle Arts but 'Ways of the Body and Mind'.
"Yeah." Lilith sighed with joy.
"And how he's always going about trying to change the name of the lesson. Like… its battle arts? Defense art? Why mend so many things together?!"
"Oh—" Trilith chipped in. "If he were here, he'd definitely knuckle you on the head."
"Khay instinctively shielded his head in defense."
They realized, he was acting out of habit even though there was no punch to shield himself from. And so, they broke out in laughter.
"I miss Teacher Nana." Lilith added as they all laughed on their way home.
"In the end, we settled with Battle Arts – Ways of the mind and body –"
"With a certain smart girls' help of course." Khay shoulder bumped into Lilith.
"He really has a bad naming sense though, who'd come up with such a name?' A voice interrupted the trio from behind.
"Yeah and I'm sure he's probably going to come up with something else when he returns." Khay added.
"Right?!" The voice added.
'This voice.' Lilith softly said turning to the source.
"Yo, Han - Lui." Khay addressed the two brothers.
"Han! Such disrespect to make a mockery of teacher Nana." Come down from that tree, I'll give you some free manner lessons." He crackled his knuckles.
"Now, now, Mr. Fist For Brains." The two brothers jumped to the ground and approached the trio. The two wore the academy uniform with the insignia and black being their choice of clothing, both top and down over black shoes. Han- the older of the two led with a broad grin and Lui, followed closely behind wearing a hand knitted hat that hung a little over his hair and eyes.
"Calm down Tril, but Han, if you were any other person I wouldn't let this slide." She cautioned, staring on sternly.
"Yes, yes. Mischievous Trio." He broke a sweat.
"You should treat your elders with respect." She added.
"Listen to her Han; you really should treat your elders nicely." Khay added.
"Oh is that so? Then I suppose you would stop pestering our grandfather, you problem child."
"Ha! Over my dead body, old man ying is a special case." He shrugged. "It's not my fault he grills and fry's so well, second to Mikado nee though."
"Quite the tongue you have. Mind if I grill it for you?" Hans' hand reached behind him and pulled his short sword halfway out of its sheath.
"Ahh, would you guys just quit already. You're giving me a headache." Trilith screamed.
'...'
"Tch." Han took his hand of his short sword. "Even Trilith thinks this is unsightly. But what took you guys so long though? We closed like 20 minutes ago."
"Wait… were you guys waiting for us this whole time?" Trilith questioned.
"Not particularly." Han responded.
"I see, well, shouldn't you guys be home by now? I'm sure your grandfather could use your help."
"No 'Mom', we decided to wait and catch up with a few friends." Han leisurely gestured at Lilith, the mischievous duo snickered softly. A bit on edge, Lilith groaned and glanced at them angrily and scoffed. "Hmph, that's not funny."
"So Lui and I were talking, things have become hectic over the past few days. It may have something to do with yesterdays' incident after all."
Han shared their findings with their friends but got no successive response, at least not until...
"He talks?!" Startled by a sudden realization, Trilith broke the silence.
Han and Lui Jun have been friends with the trio ever since they moved to Dolrea and since those days, the trio never heard Lui Jun utter a single word.
"Of course he does you idiot. He's not that much of a talkative in public and you know this." Han shook his head.
"We've known you guys for as long as I can remember and I have never seen him talk." Lilith said surprised.
"Like I said, he's not that much of a talkative. Seriously, how many times do I have to say this?"
"Aahhh! I thought he was always just shy; isn't that so Han?" Khay said, almost clueless.
"Ask him yourself. You guys always do this." He grunted.
"Mm… mm…" He cleared his throat. "We all agree that we've been in this academy for a long time and our studies go a bit slow because they said there's no need to rush, but they seem to suddenly pick up the speed. It's like something is about to happen or has already happened."
"So you've noticed too." Khay added.
"Wait, so you guys mean to tell me that todays' activities might have something to do with yesterday's incident?! Why didn't you tell me sooner? Lilith! Why didn't you say something?' Trilith incessantly questioned.
"I thought you would notice if given time." She leisurely stated.
Trilith turned to Khay and looked at him intensely.
Khay felt the look and the hostility that came with it, it was almost as if he had betrayed him somehow. "Tril, partner, I was just about to tell you."
"Anyway, we have to run an errand for our grandfather, so we'll be on our way. See you guys around." Han bid them farewell as they went their separate ways.
Few minutes after the Jun brothers had left, Kobby the Vice Assistant in training at the Beast Integration Department shows up.
"Yo! boys and girl!"
"Kobby!" Trilith cautioned. "What brings you here?"
"Aren't you supposed to be in the academy with Reus?" Lilith questioned.
"Ahhhh, why do we keep running into people today? I want to go home!" Khay cried out.
Their attitude was clear they all really wanted to go home but Khay more so than anyone. At least that was how Kobby saw it.
"Idiots! I don't live in the academy and definitely do have a home to return to too, and besides my sister said they'll handle things for now, that they'll be sure to call if anything happens."
"Tawa did?" Khay questioned.
"Call her elder sister for goodness sake; she's older than you think." He sighed.
"That hag did huh?" Trilith added.
"You punks." He said clenching his fist.
Lilith giggled cheerfully. "By the way, how's Teacher Reus' condition?"
"They said he'll be fine. It's really nothing to worry about. Sooo, I'm gonna go home, take a shower, relax then I'll hit the tavern tonight to celebrate my long awaited integration."
"We'll probably meet you there, you see, that's mainly why I can't wait to get home. But you all keep showing heads like moles, I swear if another person shows up, I'm gonna lose it." Khay bawled out, crying.
"There, there, let it all out." Lilith teased.
"Kobby, shouldn't you be resting though, I heard beast integration could be something" Trilith asked.
"Something of that sort." Kobby yawned and stretched. "I'll be on my way." He took off to the roofs and set off.
"Ahh there he goes." The three watched him go over building after building, then. "Oi, did he just stop?"
"Yeah, maybe he forgot something."
He turned around, waving. "I'll tell you all about my adventures with the Mach Stallion." His voice distant but reaching them as they waved him back.
"Tch… What adventures?!" Khay bitterly scoffed.
"So I guess it's just us now." Lilith said as they walked on home.
"Finally, just us." Khay sighed.
"Hey Tril," Khay called. "You wanna go do the usual?" He said smirking. Lilith fortunately heard the tone and saw and was convinced on what the two were planning to go do if they were allowed to. She couldn't allow it. Not today.
"No! No! No! No! No! Just No! Not today guys, please we have something tonight. I'm sure the people can go a day without your daily shenanigans." She wrapped her arms around her two most important people in the world.
"But it's not daily if we don't do with every day." Trilith tried to argue his way out.
"He's too right on this one Lilith."
"What ever happened to turning over a new leaf?" she said.
"You didn't hear? The wind blows the leaf where it wants it." Khay snickered.
"Indeed. And now, the wind is blowing, mischievously!!" Trilith vigorously responded.
"Oh you two." She chuckled. Just lay off for today, please."
"Alright…." The Mischievous Duo sighed in unison, defeated as they walked off.