CHAPTER 63 - TO PREPARE
I stayed silent, the only thing I could hear was the mana humming noise it would make when I would heal someone. I felt sweat drop from my face and into my guardian uniform but that was what least mattered here.
Before I knew it, I already had people behind me worried about my status in health. I would be lying if I said I was okay, matter of fact, I felt like crap. My body stinged with hunger and my eyes fought against my own will to stay open.
I had been doing this for the past ten hours non-stop. Yet, I am thankful for it. Finally in so long I was able to reach a path where Mana Rotation was obtainable. Though it was only a simple percentage of its true technique, it was at least something.
"Dear, it is okay. The doctor will take it from here, take some rest." I heard the faint voice of Director Goodsky in the background as I tried to keep my concentration towards the healing deviant.
That was until her hand touched my shoulder, "Luke, you've done all you could. Let him rest and you too need it."
"Sorry I was too concentrated on keeping the deviant alive." My voice sounded tired, even though I knew but I somehow still had the strength to use mana for another three hours non-stop.
I noticed her worried eyes and expression that laid flat on her face. "I know you are worried about Arthur, after all he took the spell head on. It is a miracle he is still breathing. No, that sounds too cruel. I should be thankful that you were there to save him in time."
I finally sat down on a chair not that far from both Arthur and Cynthia Goodsky.
Holding my head, my thoughts began to fall one by one, giving me a clarity of what I was going to do now. "*Sigh* I have so much shit going on right now, this feeling, it's almost like the calm before the storm."
Director Cynthia had heard my opinion before fully turning her attention towards me. "What are you talking about dear?"
"I am going to leave the academy for some time, two weeks from now to be exact." I managed to say, my head bopping up and down already feeling the rush to sleep. "I am going to be away and contact will not be happening. Worst of all, I don't know when I will come back."
"Oh my. You will only have two weeks here before you leave?"
I nodded. "I can't say where or with who but just know that maybe this might end it all. No more war, no more newly discovered continent, no more gods."
My voice faded off, my eyes not knowing where to look or if they should stay spectating one single thing. Everything was a blur to me, my time, my head, my thoughts, my emotions.
The Pros and Cons clashed against each other the more I sat there contemplating my life and promise.
Not only about me, but also those around me. The academy. The elven Lances. My friends I made here. My family.
Till this point, I considered Windsom's words of thinking that I was doing this for my family and this continent but in reality I was just getting myself killed in a battle where I have no authority or power over.
"Two weeks…that is the time I managed to buy myself…"
At this point, thinking about what to do these upcoming two weeks made me have my hands intertwined like I was some business person considering a multi-million proposal.
"It is okay. Go. If this really will end what you and I are afraid of, then go. Leave this academy to me and the rest of the Professors." Cynthia's tone was gentle and firm. There was no doubt in her voice when she said that.
"Just…"
Don't. Please don't say that.
"Make sure to come back to us safe and sound."
"I-I will." I hesitated.
No one here knew about what I would sacrifice if things went south. The things I would do to honor the final push to end all of this future war. If sacrificing myself was the final step, then by all means.
Both of us just stayed silent, perhaps both were processing everything that each one said to another. Or perhaps the future of things when it all ends. When the Era comes to an end and a new Era would rise to triumph over and become even better.
To not repeat the same mistakes…
"I am going to get some fresh air, please send that owl of yours when Arthur wakes up." I said opening the door and walking through.
Moments before I closed the door, I heard the Director's voice.
"I've met your family, Luke. I must say, they were eager to see you but since you were stuck here for ten hours straight, they said maybe they would get to see you another time."
"Also, your sister is adorable, Beatrice was it?"
There was a long pause before she continued.
"Don't leave your family in the dark, Luke. Go see them before it becomes too late."
I closed the door before answering to myself.
"I will."
But before I could see them, I needed to have everything prepared just in case.
That is the sole thing I have to do, even if it is the last thing they remember.
***
I searched around the academy for a specific person, someone that would help me as long as we get to an agreement.
To find this person it was pretty easy, all I needed to see was a dirty lab coat.
The brilliant artificer, Gideon.
He or Emily could help me here. Yet, I feel that I can trust Emily more than Gideon. Yeah, let's look for Emily.
After making my decision, I headed towards the artificing class in hopes of getting to meet her, and fortunately, I did.
I had met Gideon on official matters but anything more than that, never.
I guess he never found it in him to find me interesting after giving him the rights of mind for intelligent weapon sheaths.
When I walked in, everyone's attention turned to me. Murmurs and glares were coming from every direction. Ignoring them, I walked towards the person I had my eye on.
"Hello there, I hope that this seat isn't taken." I formally said.
Emily's expression said otherwise. She was taken aback by the boldness I displayed.
I extended a hand as I introduced myself. "I am Luke Hodges, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Emily did the same, shook my hand and introduced herself. "I am Emily Watsken, it's an honor to meet the Guardian of our school." She politely said, her eyes
"So you know?"
Emily took a couple of breaths, her yellow eyes wide with excitement.
"Who wouldn't know about the Guardian who stood against the whole combat class and stepped out without a scratch!" Emily's pale hands, which demonstrated calluses of her hard work, clasps together.
"The news travels fast huh?"
"Well yeah–"
"Dear Guardian, if you wish to speak, please go outside with the green haired girl. You are disrupting my life accomplishments." Gideon strove in. The projector was already on with displays of his blueprints which changed Dicathen for the better.
I just gave the mad artificer a serious look. "Well if I could just do that, then I should have done that without wasting your precious time, Sir Gideon."
With that, we both left and walked to where I had given notice to the Director of this academy. I opened the double doors that were cladded in gold and silver. "Here would be a pleasant talk, as you can see, in here there are multiple devices you can use to create anything you want."
Though I had explained that, I knew that Emily wasn't paying any attention. In the corner of my eye, I could see her expression brighten up.
"This is…!" Her voice raised upon laying her eyes on a device I tried working on.
I got closer and placed my hand like it was the grave of my old friend. "Yeah… I tried to create something similar to the projections when the Lances were announced." I took another single swipe and went over the device I tried to work on, cleaning the dust off. "But I've failed…"
On the side of the circle device was a button, when I pressed the button, only a simple frame of the recording appeared then it turned off. The recorder orb devices had overheated whenever it was activated.
Hence the reason why I had stopped trying to develop a solution. Many all-nighters and no solution was already driving me crazy. More than that was my time outside training for this Guardian role, I didn't have time.
"It seems that you have an overheating problem." Emily Watsken spoke, looking around for any tools before grabbing them and getting to work. "Your idea of the recorder, I've failed before to maintain a simple picture on its own but you discovered it. I, on the other hand, have discovered the wait to stop it from overheating."
I watched silently.
Her yellow eyes had turned golden whenever the solder came on, the spark bright as if the sun lit the half lit room. I tried turning the light one but she rejected the idea before even getting close to the light switch.
Then like nothing before, she continued to work on the device all while I watched, again in silence, trying to comprehend the ideas she perhaps had in her mind every time she would work like this.
After an hour or two, Emily had finished working on the recording device. And with her accomplishment, I ended up with a full course meal just for her to enjoy. I expected her to launch first on the full course meal but she retracted herself into the chair.
"The reason why it was overheating at the start of the button was because of the memory capacity you stored on it, it was too long for this device to preserve." Her hand then pulled out a smaller device, similar to the one I had built. "However, this one is capable of recording for multiple days. I appreciate the knowledge you have brought me here."
I smirked, "No, I must thank you, hence the reason for the great meal here so enjoy. Also, I have another favor to ask from you but please enjoy the meal, I will be back in an hour or two."
With that I left the green haired girl with full rights to the room.
I entered an arena, filled with many artifacts and objects that boost mana capacity. It was tempting to use a couple but as I had done earlier, none worked on me. They all rejected my core and mana all together like I was some filth.
Strangely enough I didn't get repulsive towards my own core but it made me understand that I can't or more like I couldn't cut corners just to get to a core stage faster.
"It wasn't going to help me in any way." I solemnly said to myself with my face half-turned to the door opening behind me.
Multiple faces appeared with an invitation, however, I already had a first guest here.
"Well, what do you think about this now, brat?" His voice was raspy since he hadn't drank any water in what seemed to be days, having him design something that was only in the future.
I took a second to inhale the air that felt artificial but also unreal at the same time.
"Well?! Speak boy I don't have much time to be here watching you breath air like you haven't done it your whole life."
"It is the best thing you've ever invented, Gideon. Thank you."
"Has this boy lost some screws in his head?"
Everyone had small little smiles on their faces. Some giggled and laughed at the artificer's words.
"Now that everyone is here…"
I closed my eyes and let out twenty percent of my own mana into my mana veins, leading to the outside of my points. I felt the ground shake, everyone who stood still moved around as the fierce mana aura started to get stronger. It grabbed everyone's attention after I had stopped wasting mana.
Their reactions were the same, the big word in bold of "what is going on"?
"Okay now that I have everyone's attention, I have some announcements to make. First and utmost, I have now ascended to the mid-stage of the silver core. Hence my abnormal aura that I had let go moments earlier. Another, I don't expect you guys to know why I brought you all here. Well, I've brought you here because I know I can trust you guys with the academy."
I tried to continue but I was cut off but Tessia.
"What do you mean by that Lu, are you suggesting that you are leaving the academy?"
That sole question brought everyone to murmur and let out words of confusion.
"Yes, I will be leaving the academy. However, not entirely, I will come back after a certain trip I need to take. I need to make sure of a couple of things. Which is the reason why I brought you all here." I lifted both of my hands up in the air, with them, three elements activated in an instant. The crowd of people gasp upon laying eyes on the three elements. "What I am looking for is people who can match my role of protecting this academy, more importantly, the students here. There will be times where I won't be here for god knows how long, and the academy can't be functioning without a Guardian, a protector.
"If an event were to happen and I weren't here, or the professors, who would protect this academy? The answer is pretty simple, you, the students, will protect your home. Which is why I ask you…No…I am inviting you and begging you to help me protect this academy and those who live for it."
I had already summoned both swords, planted on the ground like some pillars holding a whole coliseum. This was a burden I knew I couldn't hold alone, I had people who stayed on the sidelines looking at me who perhaps looked pathetic in their eyes. But I needed to leave this place to someone who can actually protect it while I am gone.
I don't want to leave this place healthy just for me to come back to a destroyed city.
If I do, I would lose everything I would have worked hard for.
The meaning of my strength… The meaning of my sane decisions… Another chance where I can become something more than a nuisance to my parents…
If I can really protect them, then leaving this academy to them before my trip to Alacrya, only thinking that they would be happy.
"So please, help me, protect this city while I am gone."
I had bowed so low that the only thing in my field of vision was the solid concrete ground.
My eyes shut down, the ground was no longer visible through my eyes. The only thing was my feelings that exploded and revolted around me like I was kind of containment for a disaster. I could hear footsteps approach me like I was some sort of criminal.
Every step felt like I was some disaster waiting to be discovered and activated to destroy everything in my path like I was programmed to.
A gentle, firm, but a sentiment of fear and confidence radiated from the palm itself. I looked up, curious about who it was. I wanted to know who was the person who radiated with this feeling that even I felt through their hand?
"We can help you protect this academy and everyone who is inside, however, we must know what we are against. To prepare."