Khay, though in pain slightly pried his eyes open, he could see his friends, they were cheerful but Lilith had a worried look on her face with her hands clasped together as if she was praying to the gods, whichever it may be, Trilith on the other hand looked on enthusiastically shaking his clenched fist and so was Han. Lui stood there rather firmly with a stern look and hardly noticeable clenched fists by his sides. And Mikado nee smiled at her in all cheerfulness. Khay knew he could go on as long as those he cared for had hopes in him. He closed his eyes and groaned and the nerves crept further. The nerves had gone under his hair and began to converge over his nose. The anatomy icon began flashing red over and over again as the marker rose higher into the 90th percentile and Oueus, fearing for Khay's health and a temporal takeover, immediately brought the test to a stop.
"That's my partner!" Trilith snapped his finger in excitement.
"I knew he could do it." Lilith sighed.
The rest of the crowd blew up in a roaring cheering.
"A whopping 97%, this has to be the best beast integration strain reading ever." Han Jun added.
"Our second highest reading in over 3 decades at that. Congratulations, you have the second highest strain reading test since my time in the academy." Oueus freed him from the chair. And he saw the crowd, waving their hands and cheering. His eyes flailed over to Mikado, she was clapping and cheering loud with his friends, then, as if something had interrupted her, she stopped and smiled at him, then made her way through the crowd to the back.
"Man… you're quite the shocker."
"Yeah." Ingrid replied. "First Lilith, then you. What kind of training are you guys on?"
"I don't know about training."
"Yeah. If that was the case, Trilith should have blown through this easily, he trains more than me." Khay responded.
"Partnerrr!" Trilith cheerfully cried out. "It's only fair, I train just to catch up to you, you know." The two bumped fists and smiled at each other.
The maid had arrived at the farthest back, standing beside Lady Chislon; head of the Chislon household. And the two just stood there, silently. Amidst the roaring cheers, there were those who were filled with disdain and hate because of the threes accomplishment. They that were known to amount to nothing but chaos. What good could come from them? They bickered and murmured amongst the cheerful lot.
"Mikado." Lady Chislon called out the brazen maid. And she did so for a good reason. Mikado had a pretty good hearing and sight and had seen all of them, every single of them that bore their vengeful and hateful fangs against the young master and his friends and she was close to blowing the lid.
"Zen-Jou sama." She sternly responded, keeping her displeasure at bay.
"Why don't we go and prepare some meal for my son and his friends?"
"Chislon sama…" Mikado cried out. She knew she'd heard the people too, and yet, she turned a blind eye to it.
"I don't think it would be in our best interest to stay here any longer."
"Lady Chislon. Surprise seeing you here."
"Takel… Principal."
"What am I even saying? It's a big day, of course you of all people would be here." He chuckled nervously. "But, I should have heard of your arrival beforehand, the best seat in the house would have been reserved."
"That's alright. I don't dislike this form of attendance in the very least." She said with her threatening yet calm tone.
"If Lady Chislon says so." He chuckled.
"Mikado, is everything…" he asked, sensing the tense air around them.
"All is." she standoffishly said. "Just about getting some shopping done.. To celebrate the young master's victory!!" she broke out in a high note.
"Ahh." Takel responded.
"Takel…"
"Yes, Lady Chislon."
"Could you pass a message to the kids for me? Tell them we're off to give them a proper cheer and welcome."
"I'll make sure that gets to them."
"Thank you. Then, we shall be on our way." Lady Chislon bid the principal farewell. And he stared at them as they went away, Lady and maid, the maid holding an umbrella open over the Lady. He could do nothing but sigh out his thoughts; "I wonder what made Lady Chislon so… uptight…" He pushed up his glasses and left, wondering.
After Khays' test, Han Jun had followed and ended up with a BI of 72% and his brother, Lui had a 70% mark. After them, other students followed up in hopes of reaching higher readings.
Khay heaved a heavy sigh of relief, enough to blow a fly away. "They say all is well, that ends well."
"No one says that." Mira quickly cut in.
"Really? I could have sworn they did." He clicked his tongue. "In any case, I am really glad, and happy even." He said smiling. "We all did pretty great." He snickered while he rubbed his finger over his nose."
"Yeah." Lilith responded as they stood around, smiling at each other.
"We really did not slack off." Trilith added.
"You really did not. And I am really pleased with you lot." A familiar voice intruded.
"Reus!" They all called out.
"Aren't you supposed to be in the hospital?" Lilith questioned.
"Did you leave without notice? Maybe we should call the medics." Khay followed scanning around.
"Shouldn't you be in the infirmary?" Trilith shot at him.
"Should you be out here?" Han also questioned.
They all came rushing at him. "Your concerns make me feel a hundred times better." He smiled cheerfully. "But I am very well."
"That's a relief …" Lilith sighed.
"We were worried sick." Khay added.
"Yeah, you know!" Trilith followed.
"My…" He couldn't believe them. "It seems I missed the tests but it looks like you all did good… looking at how fired up you all are."
"Well… there were some few bumps in the road but nothing we couldn't get over." Khay informed.
"Yeah there was a tiny bit of a problem with the elemental affinity test but we're all good now." Trilith added.
"You bet we are." He stood proud, almost boasting.
Reus took a long glance at the duo and figured it all out. "That's really a relief. That reminds me; Kobby said to tell you kids he's sorry he couldn't make it. Backlash of the beast integration with the Mach Stallion. He should be fine in about 2 days. Nothing to worry about."
"Well since he's sick we'll let him off the hook." Khay chuckled.
"So that's why he couldn't make it." Trilith said to himself.
"Thanks for the info teacher!" Lilith added.
"Always a pleasure. Well then, I'd better join the other teachers. Oh, and Congratulations." He bid them farewell.
After about 30 minutes later, all the current final year students had gathered on the field numbering 247, people from the neighboring towns and cities around Dolrea like Golan, Rampa, Sira, Uratea and far, all with different abilities, elemental affinities and so on. Finally after the long wait, Principal Takel made his appearance. Every student directed their attention to him and erected their ears.
"I see this year has some shining stars... Congratulations to you all! ... Now as promised." He cut to the chase.
"There has been recent uproar among other continents and kingdoms across the world and that has us running short of manpower and as such, we have requests pilling on us… And to be honest, it's quite the headache, so on behalf of the military powers, teachers and the King himself, I declare you graduates of Dolrea Academy." A unison round of applause from the teachers and present spectators thundered through the air.
"After keeping you all held up here… when you should have graduated 2 years ago. I commend you for your patience. Although some of you were pulling shenanigans on us from time to time…" He sighed "I'm looking at you, Mischievous Duo." He said undertone.
"It was well worth it." He sighed.
The students roared in response.
"Attention, attention." He called them to order. "As a special sendoff… the teachers and I have put together a party, a little thing to say thank you."
"It is mandatory for you to be there, everyone of you. Mischievous Duo. Ragard Rampart, Blue Peacock."
"Tsk." Kaina scoffed from amidst the body of students.
The students filled the air with their chattering and murmuring as Principal Takel left the podium. And Lina took over.
"Your cards... summarizing your overall performance in your time of staying at this academy will be given to you… at the ceremony. She announced. "The venue is at Kings Descent sector; at Hoffers Mansion, so make it a point to be there and do not be late. You're dismissed."