Hey, hey, relax, amigos," Diego said, his voice soothing as he touched Clara's and Erik's shoulders. Clara's gaze flicked to his fingers on her shoulder, then to his face, prompting Diego to release her with a charming smile.
"Just want to calm things down," Diego said with a smile. "No need for trouble here."
Clara's gaze lingered on Diego before she turned to Erik. "I will if he doesn't come with me."
Erik sighed, introducing, "Diego, meet Clara, my former student.
"Nice hat," Clara said with a smile, her tone light. Diego chuckled, tipping his hat slightly.
"Thanks."
As they exchanged pleasantries, Clara's fingers began tapping her karambit on the table, the rhythmic click-clacking drawing murmurs from nearby patrons.
"Relax, amigo," Diego said with a laugh. Erik raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here, Diego? Don't you have something to do today?"
Diego shrugged, snatching Erik's drink and taking a sip. "You're right, but I had to clear some obstacles." He nodded in approval of the sweet taste.
Erik's curiosity got the better of him. "What kind of obstacles?"
Diego leaned in, a hint of excitement in his voice. "I met a group of golden-armored figures with a wing symbol in the dark land."
Clara's grip on her karambit tightened, her eyes narrowing. "What did you do to them?"
**********************
The day had finally arrived, and excitement buzzed through the hallways. After three intense days of training, students from various classes felt more confident and prepared than ever. Pelia and Peter walked toward the hall, where Richard was waiting, his eyes fixed on them. Peter's gaze turned icy as he nodded curtly at Richard, his attention quickly shifting to searching for their fourth member, Hannah.
Hannah, the second-best healer in her class, felt a twinge of insecurity knowing Fredrick, the son of Neo Finland's council member, had chosen Cedric, the top prodigy, over her. Though not a high-ranking healer overall, Hannah had the most potential in her class.
As she joined the group, Hannah bowed her head in greeting, her body trembling slightly. "I'm sorry... I'm just not used to working with others. I'll try my best to fit in."
Richard's confident smile put her at ease. "Don't worry, we'll make it work as long as you do your part."
Aiden's group arrived, their confident strides commanding attention. Rhea and Fredrick led the way, their icy gazes sweeping the room, while Alexa trailed behind, nose buried in a book. The young mages, healers, and warriors murmured among themselves, their whispers speculating about Isaac's absence. As the academy's representative, he was expected to arrive before the students, and his tardiness was unusual.
Five minutes later, Isaac strode into the hall, his dark sleeveless top and trousers showcasing the wing symbol of the Atlantian kingdom and its academy. The room fell silent as his piercing gaze swept across the crowd, his presence commanding attention.
Isaac's smile sent shockwaves through the student body. "Did he just smile?" someone whispered, eyes wide with disbelief. No one in any class had ever seen Isaac crack a smile before, making this moment feel surreal.
Pelia's brow furrowed with concern. "Are we safe?" she asked, her voice low.
Peter's response was laced with confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Something feels off," Pelia said, her eyes scanning the room.
Richard chimed in, his tone matter-of-fact. "Of course we're in trouble – we're hunting Yaijuu. It's a dangerous task for all of us."
"A few days ago, you were shaking like leaves," Isaac said, his gaze sweeping across the students. "Now, you look confident. I like that." The young warriors, mages, and healers leaned in, anticipation building. "Now, I have a question: Are you ready for the hunt?"
The hall erupted in a thunderous roar: "Yessssssssss!"
"Let's go," Isaac said, leading the students to a vast chamber within the academy's walls, filled with rows of ancient scrolls. The students' eyes widened in awe as they took in the unfamiliar sight.
"These are dimensional scrolls," Isaac explained, gesturing to the scrolls. "They allow us to cross to a different world and locations within them. Our ancestors discovered this technology, and about 500 years ago, a group of ancient mages, including King Vulnar of the Atlantian kingdom, uncovered the Yaijuu world."
The students' amazement was palpable as they processed the revelation about the king's involvement. Isaac continued, "This chamber is the gateway to the Yaijuu world.The journey begins here."
With a smooth motion, Isaac retrieved a scroll, unfurled it, and placed his palm on its surface. The scroll glowed, and a shimmering blue portal materialized before them, leaving the younger students stunned – except for Fredrick's group and Peter's group, who seemed unfazed.
Aiden's mind wandered as he gazed at the portal. "The dragon emerged from a portal, didn't it?" he thought, recalling his mother's tales of the ancient battle that took place 4000 years ago.
Two figures, a man and a woman, entered the chamber, clad in black combat uniforms adorned with the wing symbol of the Atlantian kingdom. Isaac's expression soured, and he clicked his tongue in annoyance, mentally kicking himself for forgetting to instruct the Zeru academy guards to provide the combat uniforms and optional hunting gear in advance. The arrival of the two Atlantian kingdom representatives seemed to underscore his oversight.
"Before you proceed, change into the provided combat uniforms immediately," he instructed.
The man and woman stood silently beside Isaac, their presence commanding attention. The students hastened to don their uniforms, sleek, black, and fitted for flexibility and comfort in battle.
Ten minutes later, the students returned, their combat gear showcasing their readiness. The uniforms accentuated their movements, and they stood composed, waiting further instructions.
"Observe these weapons," Isaac said, gesturing to the array before them. "They're graded, infused with mana, and ranked accordingly. Currently, we're limited to providing you with low-grade ones that match your rank."
A student raised their hand, and Isaac nodded for them to proceed. "Why can't we use higher-grade ones?"
"It's simple they'd kill you," Isaac replied matter-of-factly, prompting a collective gasp from the youngsters.
As he explained, "These weapons are infused with mana corresponding to their grade. Higher grades possess potent mana that even holding the hilt can be harmful. You'll receive weapons suitable for your rank as you grow stronger."
The students nodded, taking in the information. "The first grade is for unranked individuals, most of you have used these for training. The highest is the seventh grade, reserved for the exceptionally skilled."