Ashern City - Reinhart Institute of War, 1st of Brightforge, year 315 UC
Bryan sat at the cafeteria table, his tray untouched as he reflected on the day's events. His teammates' voices washed over him as they discussed their grueling training session. The other teams occupied the space and were scattered throughout the cafeteria, with a couple of people missing.
"I still can't believe it took an hour to figure out how to end those push-ups."
Sabrina groaned, rubbing her shoulders. Her coffee-brown hair had lost some of its usual bounce, and her freckles stood out against her flushed skin.
Christopher slumped forward, his whole upper body laid across the table.
"At least we figured it out eventually."
He mumbled into the table.
"Though I'm pretty sure I won't be able to move tomorrow."
Sabrina smiled at that comment as she stretched her arms.
"Agreed. My arms feel like noodles, I don't even know how I'm making it back to the dorm."
Christopher let out a small chuckle as he raised his fist up lazily. Sabrina grinned and bumped it with her own.
"We should have realized sooner that we just needed to count together. Could have spared our arms the pain."
Alexander said.
"Such a simple solution..."
Farrah set down her fork, as she covered her mouth through a stifled yawn.
"That was the point though, wasn't it? Everything today was about communication and teamwork. Although, I'm not sure I like the methods. Besides, we might have figured it out faster if someone did not seem to have endless stamina and kept going ahead of everyone as if it were a race."
As she spoke her ear twitched slightly, but she turned to him and smiled.
The last bit she said was about him, but she did not have to tease him about it. She seemed to be teasing him at least, as her comment did not come off as hostile.
"Ugh, what's with you two anyway? It's like you both are made up of steel. If the rest of us are suffering, you should too."
Christopher added as he glared at the two of them who were seated next to one another.
Alexander let out a laugh.
"They do put us to shame; it just means we have to work harder to catch up, is all."
Alexander said.
"I work hard enough as it is! But these two."
Christoper pointed a lazy finger in their direction.
"They're something else I tell you. They're not human I tell you."
"Well, I don't mean to burst your bubble but I'm not human. Did the long ears not give it away?"
Farrah asked as she touched one of her ears.
"Besides, the running was easy but those push-ups are where I began to struggle a bit. Never thought I'd be down there for so long looking at the ground and wishing it to end."
She said as she propped her elbow up on the table and rested her chin on her palm.
"I still think the running was worse."
Sabrina declared, reaching for her water.
"Though I have to admit, Bryan carrying Christopher like a princess was pretty impressive."
Christopher's head shot up from the table, his face reddening.
"It wasn't like that!"
He protested, then winced at his own volume.
The sight gave the others a good laugh.
"Though... thanks for that, Bryan. I really was at my limit."
Bryan was not sure what to do with the gratitude, it did not feel like he did anything special. Under the circumstances, it was the only move he could make.
So he simply nodded once.
"It was the logical solution."
Alexander leaned forward slightly.
"How did you manage that? I mean, carrying someone while running that fast... was it all body enhancement magic?"
Before Bryan could respond, Sabrina interjected.
"Speaking of magic, what exactly is your attribute, Bryan? I've never seen anything like it before."
Bryan tensed slightly, he did not want to be the center of attention. It was uncomfortable with them all staring in his direction. He noticed Farrah observing him, her expression thoughtful.
'Should have just kept my mouth shut.'
He told himself before recalling Zoltan's words from earlier.
Sighing, he told them although they should have seen it for themselves. He did not know why they were asking him.
"Blood manipulation."
He answered simply, hoping they wouldn't press further.
Thankfully, Christopher changed the subject.
"I'm more concerned about what Alan said regarding our roles."
He said, sitting up straighter despite his obvious discomfort.
"Especially about working together under pressure."
Farrah nodded, absently touching one of her pointed ears.
"The scenarios he described... they weren't hypothetical, were they? They had to be from experience."
"My father mentioned something about that."
Sabrina added.
"He said the deep caverns were particularly active about thirty years ago. Lost a lot of good soldiers."
"Any good stories? I'd love to hear what happened and not read about it in a book."
Alexander asked.
"Probably something you've already heard before, so it might not be interesting. Also, I wouldn't want to talk about it like it's something glorious, you know?"
Sabrina told him.
Alexander paused for a moment then nodded in understanding.
"Might be for the best. I heard that there are at least fifty levels to it though, and people sometimes come back rich. Can you imagine striking it big down there and leaving all of this behind?"
Alexander asked.
"Fifty? No way man, there's a lot more than that, has to be."
Christoper commented.
"I mean, no one knows how far it goes down. There are entrances all over the continent and did you hear what they discovered six years ago? I was just a kid, but my family was all over the news."
"What do you mean?"
Alexander asked.
"He's talking about the ruins they found down there. Evidently people are claiming it as a lost civilization, or at least they were. There were no bones or signs of life found, so now people assume it was naturally made."
Sabrina answered instead of Christopher.
"How did you not hear about that? It was everywhere and all anyone could talk about."
Alexander shrugged.
"You don't hear much when you live way out there. Not like I grew up rich, and my family didn't have the time to gossip as we worked together to make sure we survived the next day."
He told them.
"Damn man, must have been rough. Honestly thought the whole kingdom got the news from the way it was talked about. If you want to know anything feel free to ask."
Christopher told him.
Alexander nodded at that.
"Thanks, but it's not like we'll be going there. With the treaty ending and all, pretty sure they are preparing us for war, and not the kind against the monsters."
Sabrina sighed and slumped back in her seat.
"You just had to say it, didn't you?"
"What?"
Alexander looked in her direction.
"She means no one is trying to think about it, Alexander. We all know what is coming, but no one wants to talk about it, because when we do it will make it feel all too real."
Farrah said.
"The Pentarchy Treaty, signed in 273 UC. How anyone thought it would last is beyond me."
Bryan commented.
All eyes went to him.
"If you guys found today to be tough, then you need to get a whole lot stronger to survive what's to come. Don't think Alan or any of the instructors will be taking it easy on us when the term begins."
His words caused the group to be silent for a moment as they looked down or away. Bryan's words were not wrong and they knew it.
Luck and experience were both factors in any war, and currently, they had zero experience.
Alexander broke the silence.
"Well, as team captain..."
He paused as if testing the words.
"I think we should make sure we're better prepared next time so we can get stronger. Maybe we could meet earlier before training?"
"Trying to avoid another hundred laps?"
Sabrina teased, but her smile was encouraging.
Bryan noticed how it did not stretch as wide as earlier.
"I'd rather avoid the push-ups."
Christopher groaned, earning a small laugh from the group.
Even the laughter seemed forced in a way.
Farrah straightened in her seat.
"We should also discuss what Alan told each of us about our roles."
She suggested.
"Especially since we have that team match coming up."
"Ugh, don't remind me. Alan's already been drilling it into us whenever he feels the need to bring it up. Like we did not hear him the first time."
Sabrina said with a roll of her eyes.
"We could use the training room in Rose Garden. They're a pretty decent size, and the dorm's second floor we can use to make plans or read about strategies used in history."
Farrah offered.
"That would be perfect."
Alexander said, his face brightening.
"We could—"
A sudden burst of laughter from across the cafeteria cut him off. Bryan glanced over to see Team One celebrating something, their voices carrying across the room. Julius Reinhart sat at their center.
"Show-offs."
Sabrina muttered.
Bryan turned back to his team – and the thought gave him pause. When had he started thinking of them as his team?
"Tomorrow morning then?"
Alexander asked, pulling Bryan from his thoughts.
"Before Alan's session?"
The others nodded their agreement, and Bryan found himself doing the same.
"So what's the Larian Dormitory like?"
Farrah asked, having finally finished her meal.
Alexander perked up.
"It's actually quite nice. The rooms are smaller than I expected, but there's this amazing common area with these old paintings showing the kingdom's history."
His fingers idly traced patterns on his empty glass.
"My roommate, Marcus, he's from Team Two. Seems decent enough, though we haven't talked much yet."
Christopher nodded, having regained some of his composure.
"The stone architecture is impressive. Very solid construction."
He paused, a slight frown crossing his face.
"Though the heating system could use some work."
"Of course you'd notice the stonework."
Sabrina teased.
"Earth mage through and through."
Bryan listened to their exchange while absently scanning the cafeteria. His gaze drifted to where Julius' team sat, and he noticed Alessia Hayes sitting at the end of their table, the same book on Erosion Magic from earlier held up.
As if sensing his attention, Alessia lowered the book slightly. Their eyes met for a brief moment before she quickly raised the book again, turning away from his direction.
"Do you know her?"
Bryan turned to find Farrah watching him. The others paused their conversation, attention drawn by her question.
"No."
Bryan replied flatly.
"I don't know anyone here."
Sabrina leaned forward, her freckles crinkling as she grinned.
"Except us now."
She corrected.
"Whether you like it or not."
Bryan chose not to respond.
"Speaking of knowing people."
Farrah said, her long ears twitching slightly – a tell Bryan was beginning to associate with excitement.
"I actually have a friend who'll be joining the regular term. He's currently finishing some family obligations, but he's quite interesting. A time mage."
Alexander's eyes widened, his sleeve momentarily forgotten.
"Time magic? That's incredibly rare. I didn't think there were any time mages our age."
"Randel's... unique."
Farrah said with a fond smile.
"We grew up together in the same district. He can see about three seconds into the future, though it gives him terrible headaches if he uses it too much."
Christopher whistled low.
"That would be incredibly useful in combat."
He mused.
"Though I imagine it comes with significant drawbacks."
Farrah nodded, absently adjusting one of her perfectly arranged curls.
"It does. But he's learned to work around them. He's actually the one who helped me develop my current fighting style."
"Is that why you move so fluidly?"
Sabrina asked.
"I noticed during the hologram training – it's like you're always one step ahead in your movements."
A slight shadow crossed Farrah's face, there and gone so quickly Bryan almost missed it.
"Partially."
She answered.
"Though being an elf naturally helps with agility."
Bryan found his attention drawn back to Alessia's table. Julius was speaking to his team. He paid attention to what Farrah was saying as he found it interesting.
Alessia remained apart, though Bryan noticed her book hadn't turned a page in several minutes.
"The Rose Garden training rooms are quite different from Larian's."
Farrah commented, smoothly changing the subject.
"Much more advanced systems. Though I suppose that's to be expected, given the cost difference."
Alexander's fingers returned to his sleeve.
"About that... the morning training session."
He started, then hesitated.
"Should we meet in the Rose Garden lobby? Since we can't actually enter without a resident."
Bryan suppressed a sigh.
"I'll be there at six."
He stated simply.
His goal was to get some early morning training in anyway, so he could spare a bit of time to open the door. Although, he was not going to spend money on the training room for them.
"That early?"
Christopher groaned.
"Alan's session is at eight."
Farrah reminded him.
"We need time to actually train and clean up afterward."
Sabrina stretched, her chair creaking slightly.
"Well, if we're starting that early, we should probably call it a night."
She grinned suddenly.
"Unless anyone wants to share their tragic backstory first? No? Just me?"
The others chuckled, even Christopher managing a tired smile.
As they gathered their trays, Bryan noticed Alessia had finally lowered her book, but she was now staring intently at her untouched meal. Something about her isolation nagged at him, though he couldn't explain why.
"Bryan?"
Alexander's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"You coming?"
Bryan nodded, standing smoothly despite his muscles' protests from the day's training. As they left the cafeteria, he wondered if there would be any updates from his M.A.G.I.C ring and if there were, he wanted there to be large improvements.
With the training from Alan and his own session earlier, he figured the numbers might have jumped a bit. Considering he tried to limit his spell usage as much as possible and focus on enhancing his body, there should be a gain.
If not, then he'd just have to work harder. Although now that he was thinking about it, he hoped he would not try to rely on it too much.
***
The evening air had cooled considerably as they left the cafeteria. Alexander, Sabrina, and Christopher headed toward Larian Dormitory, their voices fading into the distance. Bryan found himself walking alongside Farrah.
The silence between them was comfortable until Bryan broke it unexpectedly.
"Your friend, the time mage."
He began, keeping his eyes forward.
"Alexander was right – they're extremely rare."
Farrah glanced at him.
"Oh? And how would you know that?"
"There have only been seven recorded time mages in the last century."
Bryan stated matter-of-factly.
"The most notable being Luke Morrison, who died fifteen years ago during an S-rank monster outbreak."
A slight smile played at Farrah's lips.
"You talk a lot more when the others aren't around, you know that?"
She asked before continuing.
"That's assuming they all wanted to be recorded."
She adjusted her pace to match his.
"Not everyone enjoys the attention that comes with rare abilities. Some prefer to live quietly, away from prying eyes and endless questions."
Bryan considered this, remembering the way others had reacted to his blood magic during training.
"Speaking of rare abilities."
Farrah continued, her tone careful but curious.
"I've never heard of blood magic before today. I didn't even know it was possible."
Bryan paused slightly but kept walking. He thought they were over this already, but guess not.
"Do you always need to injure yourself to use it?"
She asked.
"How did you even discover you could do that? Were you scared when you first awakened?"
The questions came rapidly, but there was no judgment in her voice, only genuine interest. Bryan opened his mouth to answer, reaching for the memory of his awakening—only to find emptiness where certainty should be.
"I remember training with—"
But did he? The memory felt wrong, like trying to read through frosted glass. Images flickered: blood on cobblestones, a woman's voice, someone screaming. His head throbbed, a dull pressure building behind his eyes.
"Bryan?"
Farrah's voice seemed distant.
He forced himself to focus on the present, on the cool evening air and the path beneath his feet. The pressure in his head intensified.
"It's... complicated."
He managed, noting how his hand had unconsciously clenched into a fist.
"The awakening process isn't always clear."
Farrah nodded thoughtfully.
"I suppose that's true for most of us. My light magic manifesting in a dark elf family caused quite a stir. First in my family, and the knowledge behind it is… a bit lacking."
She chuckled softly.
"Though I imagine blood magic would cause a stir anywhere."
They reached the Rose Garden's entrance. Bryan noticed Farrah's expression soften as she looked at the building.
"I think I'm going to stay out here for a bit, get some fresh air. Also I need to speak with Rebecca about something."
She said, turning toward him.
"Thank you for walking with me. And for agreeing to help with morning training."
Bryan nodded once, already moving toward the stairs.
"You didn't have to thank me, we were going to the same place anyway."
He told her and he heard her laugh behind him.
"Goodnight, Bryan."
She said from behind causing him to pause at the door for a moment. He turned and saw her waving at him. He nodded and entered the building.
As he climbed the stairs to his room, Bryan tried to recall the memory that had surfaced during their conversation. But like trying to grab smoke, it slipped away, leaving only a lingering sense of unease.
In his room, Zoltan was nowhere to be seen. Bryan touched his ring absently, thinking about why it was so hard to recall.
'How did I awaken…?'
He asked himself.