Zane and Vale, as well as the others prepared to go to their next class. The remaining classes will pretty much be all about general knowledge, and won't really involve in things, such as magics or using weapons, or anything else that will involve in fighting.
Many people hate this classes, because of how boring it is. But, for someone like Zane, he find it somewhat peaceful. Well, he isn't really a genius, but, he didn't really do bad in written class. Infact, he did pretty well. Passing all the exams in the written exams. Well, studying is just easier that training, I guess.
Zane pretty much just went on with their day, listening to their professor and learning. Until they finally reached the end of their class.
Right after the professor left, Zane yawned while stretching his hands. All the lack of sleep and all the things that had happened earlier, finally caught up to him. He was honestly really tired already, to the point that he could just lay down on the ground and sleep.
Zane rested his head on the desk, as the others rose up from their seats - leaving the lecture hall.
Vale shifted his gaze towards Zane, who looked unusually exhausted. He stared at him for a while, before asking him.
"You are unsually tired, Zane. Did you sleep late last night?"
Zane moved his head, looking towards Vale, while still resting his head on the desk. He then responded with a tired voice.
"Well, alot of things happened last night you see."
Vale's face seemed confused, he then asked.
"Mind telling me what happened? Well, if you don't want to, you don't have to."
Zane paused for a while, he then said with a relaxed tone.
"Well, I was roaming around my library you see, then I pick up an ancient looking book, then boom. A hidden base showed up and swallowed me in, then I saw a book inside the hidden base, then I grab it - then boom, a demon appeared."
Vale stared at Zane blankly, he then sighed and said.
"...Nevermind."
Vale then rose up from his seat and started walking out, heading towards the exit of the lecture hall.
Zane then raise his head from the desk, he then looked at Vale and said.
"Hey, I'm not done yet!"
Vale however pretended not to hear anything and just continued walking, heading outside.
Zane let out a chuckle, seeing Vale's expression. He then rose up from his seat, and started following Vale. After a long, long day. He could finally rest. He couldn't thank of a better reward.
"Hmm, but where is Velrath again?"
As soon as Zane started walking, heading to the school's dormatory. He realised that, Velrath was gone again.
He looked from left to right, trying to see if Velrath was just around him. However, as he stood in the hallway for a while, scanning his surroundings, Velrath was really nowhere to be seen.
'Ah, whatever. He'll come back later."
...
After minutes of walking, heading to his dormatory. He finally arrived. Not wasting any seconds he opened the door and went in.
Vale was already inside the dormatory, since he had headed here first, although he was nowhere in sight, since he was inside his bedroom.
Zane then headed towards his bedroom, the moment he got inside his bedroom, he couldn't help but release a heavy sigh.
He was really damn tired, especially after all the exercises he did. His body was hurting a little bit, and clearly needed a lot of rest. He went beyond what his physical body could do.
'This muscle pain will last for days, man this sucks.'
Feeling exhausted he collapsed on his bed, hell, he didn't even change his clothes and just fell asleep the moment he layed down on his bed.
3 hours later...
He finally woke up.
Zane slowly opened his eyes, feeling much more better. He then turned his body around, and stared at the ceiling above.
He then looked at the window beside him. It was already dark. He then slowly looked back at the ceiling above. He simply stared at it, not moving or doing anything. He looked... out of thought.
For some reason, Zane was so desperate to get stronger, to the point that he could feel it from his bones. Zane had been desperate to get stronger before, but he felt alot different this time. He felt... greedy for power.
'Greediness, huh. Not good, definitely not good.'
Zane felt scared of his own feelings. Although it was his ambition to become stronger, he was also scared that he will one day be succumbed to his own greediness. What if one day, he just started to get so strong that he would sacrifice everything, simply for power.
He was scared, but, fear kills opportunities. He has been thinking about for a while, should he take it slow? But he had already wasted so much time. And if he did take it slowly, how long would it take for him to get as strong as his father? Or grandfather? Will he even get as strong as either of them?
In the first place... why does he even want to become stronger?
Zane closed his eyes, he then said softly.
"That's right... I want to become stronger, because I promised mom. That I will become stronger than anyone and protect those who are important to me. So, why should I be scared? Greediness may be a bad thing, but sometimes it can also be a good thing. So long as I remember my purpose, I will not succumb to my own greediness."
He paused for a while, he then continued.
"...That's why, I have to become as strong as I can be. So, that I can finally come out of my shell, and stop being the one who always needs protection. I want to protect those who are important to me, and to do so, I must become stronger."
Zane's eyes were feirce as blades, as he spoke his commitment.
[Woah, what a speech! You have been dropping all this glorious speeches since earlier, Zane - maybe you should just become a king instead?]
Hearing Velrath's voice, Zane couldn't help but jump back a little from his bed.
[Can you stop sneaking up on me!]
Velrath's arms were crossed, as he spoke.
[Sneaking up? I don't do such underhanded tricks, I simply coexist with the shadows, that's all.]
Zane stared at him blankly, then slowly - a wide smile started appearing on his face. Zane was about to laugh, however before he could.
An aura that could demolish a building appeared out of nowhere. Well, more like from Velrath.
Zane almost couldn't breath, as Velrath released such a powerful aura.
"W-wait, stop!"
Hearing Zane's struggling voice, the aura started disappearing
[That's unfair, damn it! Just wait till I become as powerful as you!]
Velrath smirked, he then responded.
[Sorry, a million years is too long, even for a demon like me.]
Zane stared at him blankly. He then released a big sigh and said
[Ah, whatever. Anyways, Velrath. You see I have a plan... a very risky one.]
Hearing this, confusion started to form on Velrath's face. He then responded with a curious tone.
[Oh? What is it?]
Zane paused for a while, he then said.
[...Well, you see. I plan on moving at the main castle, at the end of the week. And before that happens, I plan on becoming as strong as I possibly can. And you know, out of all the people here, I am probably the only person who hasn't experienced hunting down monsters yet. So I was thinking of gaining experience, since the main castle will be much harsher than being in the Ironveil castle. They mostly give certain task to the Thaleward's every week, to sharpen them, and there is no saying what that task could be, its possible that it's going to be a really dangerous one. And that's why I plan on gaining experience by going alone deep in the forest, in the next 2 days. And I need you to teach me as much magic spells as you can, to help me prepare myself before I go.]
"..."
Velrath stared at him for a while. Velrath's expression was neutral, as if he wasn't listening at all. He then responded.
[...Zane, are you planning on getting your self killed? I can definitely help you get stronger in 2 days, however. It won't be enough for you to go hunting down monsters deep in the forest. Especially for someone like you who has no experience at all. I suggest, you do it after you move to the main castle, where someone could assist you in your hunting. Monsters in deep forest, are unpredictable, you see. Chances are you'll ran into some really strong monster that could kill you in an instant. I'm sure they won't really give you such a hard task anyway.]
Despite hearing Velrath's words, Zane's expression remained feirce and full of determination.
[Velrath, you don't know how it is in the main castle. If I can't comeback alive, after hunting down monsters in the forest, then how would I even survive in the main castle? Besides, it's unlike for a high ranked monster to be roaming around in the forest like that, usually, it's just goblins.]
Velrath stated at Zane's face for a moment, he then let out a heavy sigh. He then responded.
[...You better not die, or else I will also disappear.]