"You know this sucks", whined Lyra as she was forced to rack the ground alongside Sami.
Since Zoe really isn't cut out for combat they switched her officially to the tech department for learning. It's funny they didn't transfer her before, but Mercer was scared of her dying on a mission. So he personally oversaw her schedule getting switched.
Which was for the best for her, after dealing with a near death like her it's understandable she wouldn't have wanted to go out anymore. Luckily her parents also survived, or there's no telling how she would be dealing with everything now.
"It's not too bad plus it's still better than having to deal with actual summer classes", Sami argued as stood up wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"It just feels like we are being punished for what happened", Lyra sighed as she glanced around.
Sami and Lyra weren't the only students that were forced to help with land. There was a group that was assigned to racking and helping replanting the ground. Some groups were moving pieces of leftover buildings that survived the destruction.
Sadly most people that died were turned to ash and got mixed with other ashes. So they're going to do a big funeral for the village but individuals will be hard to pick out.
"Feels weird just being the two of us again", Sami commented as he leaned on the rack staring at the sky.
"I do miss Onyx being around more," Lyra admitted.
Sami shook his head sadly. "She said she's holding back the vampire curse, though I'll admit to wondering how it would strengthen me if I allowed it to compass." Sami wondered.
Lyra turned her head sharply to Sami. "Turning into a vampire is not something you'd want. At least what Anna taught, in most cases you lose yourself and just become a follower of the one who turns you.", Lyra explained.
"And we're taking Anna's advice on anything?", Sami asked
"Anna is a lot of things but she did her best to train me truthfully", She replied, her tone turning soft. "I might have been too harsh towards her at the time."
Sami didn't say anything as he continued staring into the sky, the harsh afternoon sun beginning to set as evening was coming. On one hand he doesn't have much experience with Anna to comment on how she can actually teach. In his heart he's beginning to get disillusioned with part of the society he has been a part of.
"I've been learning how to fight, how to be a knight. Learning from Anna I thought that my life would be different. I could make friends, that I found my place in the world.", Sami consoled his tone sad as poured his heart out.
"You did make friends", Lyra rebutted. "Not including me, you have Zoe along with Onyx."
"True, I just thought the adults around me would be different. I feel like I keep getting put into these situations and somehow the teacher we are assigned is never around to help.", Sami argued. "I've had two near death experiences and besides you no one has checked on me."
"In defense of Anna I did make her leave when I yelled at her", She clarified.
"After she showed up late. She had a week to catch up with us and still showed up after the fact. I love training with you and I love fighting new opponents. Hell I love the fact I'm learning how to save and help people.", commented Sami. "I'm not even a student yet and have been forced into situations I shouldn't have.
"I.. Sami… I", Lyra stammered. Before stopping to talk, realizing there was nothing else for her to say.
Ever since Sami joined it's been weird how they've been forcing him on missions. Most students, even if they join late like her, have a year of training before dealing with real missions. Lyra seriously thought that going to bury Gin's ashes was supposed to reunite her family but it was really to find out who secretly was attacking the Academy students.
Truthfully Lyra is feeling disillusioned as well but doesn't know how to deal with the feelings. The academy has been her life for years and she always wanted to be a full fledged knight. Leaving, Lyra wouldn't know what to do with her life.
"We're being watched", Sami said. Interrupting Lyra's thoughts.
Lyra cocked her to the side asking, "What do you mean?"
"The being that attacked me a couple days ago is watching us right now. Actually the creature is probably just watching me.", Sami replied.
"Welp what are we waiting for shouldn't we attack it or something.", Lyra exclaimed dropping her rack to ground.
"How much I would love to go another round with it, there's too many-", Sami trailed off.
Sami grabbed Lyra in a hug as the armored creature came flying through them. Sami was able to activate his powers instantly to save them from getting hit.
BOOM!
The creature's punch caused a huge dent in the ground kicking up rocks. The students around Lyra and Sami began to scream at seeing the armored being. None came to help them, scared of the red energy coming off its body.
"GOOD…..LEARNING…. EMBARCE….. POWER", the armor creatures stated as it straightened up from the missed punch.
"Do we have to fight?", inquired Sami as his and Lyra's form began to flicker back into space.
"FIGHT… SURVIVE…ANSWERS… I GIVE!"shouted the creature.
"Welp you heard them bookworm, I've been looking forward to a good fight", Lyra shouted in excitement.
Without hesitation Lyra summoned a sword to her hand charging at the creature full speed. Sami sighed before following behind her. Lyra reached the creature quickly as it just stood there. She stabbed at its chest which the creature quickly moved out of.
Right into Sami's kick as it sent the creature stumbling. Lyra jumped in the air slashing at the creature's head.
SKREEE!
The creature was able to block the attack with one hand, causing Lyra to backflip from the attack. Sami taking advantage of it being distracted tried a leg sweep, which the creature causally jumped over. Sami using the momentum of the spin brought his leg around for a round house kick the creature blocked.
BOOM!
Dust kicked up from the strength of both combatants. The creature grabbed Sami's leg swinging him around before throwing him at Lyra. Thankfully Sami activated his ghost mode allowing him to go throw Lyra's body with no issues.
Lyra continued her charge at the creature uninterrupted. Lyra snapped her fingers as she began to chant.
"Surgite Laminae, Cingite Hostem!(Arise Blades, Encircle the Enemy!)"She yelled.
Multiple swords like the one in her hand appeared around the figure, before Lyra lowered hand. All the swords pierced through the creature's armor as it wasn't fast enough to dodge.
" Take this you ugly bitch!"Lyra screamed as she jumped in the air to stab at the creature's helmet.
The creature caught Lyra's sword in the air, breaking it before punching her. Sending her body rolling on the ground a couple feet away.
Sami appeared by the armored creature punching it in the back of the head. The creature stumbled at the hit, not expecting. Sami used all of his strength to pick up the creature before bending back backwards. Slamming the monster into the ground head first.
Sami breathing heavily rolled over to his stomach before pushing himself off the ground. He quickly went to go check on Lyra, who thankfully was only out of breath from the hit to the stomach.
"That fucker can hit hard", Lyra gasped as she took Sami's hand to stand up.
"I want to believe that the creature is a lot weaker than before. I'm thinking it's holding itself back for whatever.", Sami thought out loud.
"Probably", Lyra agreed.
The duo noticed the creature start to move again, breaking its head out of the ground. A red glow formed around its body as it began to get to its feet.
"I.. WAS… RIGHT…. YOU… NOT… WEAK…", the creature chuckled. "THEY.. WANTED.. TO… GIVE.. UP.. FIND…. A… DIFFERENT… PERSON… BUT… YOU.. YOU'RE… WHO… I… WANT… TO… FACE."
"Ugh, what did I do to deserve this honor", Sami whined.
Lyra shrugged, "Maybe he wants to kidnap you for a ritual or something."
"Let's hope not", Sami sighed.
"I guess play times are over", Lyra told him.
Sami nodded in agreement as he took the gloves Zoe made for him out of his pocket. A small pinch was felt, before a warm sensation was felt over his body. Putting them on felt way better then the gauntlets, a lot looser and lighter than before. In the corner of eyes he said something like 1%. Yet he ignored it since it didn't seem important.
Lyra dropped the sword to the ground as she put her hand to ground.
"De Fundis Terrae, S urge Martellus Belli(From the Depths of the Earth, Arise War Hammer!)"She chanted.
From the ground appeared a giant hammer, one Sami recognized from when they fought the Gbahali months ago.
"Oh you are going serious", Sami mocked as he took the weapon.
"Yeah, yeah laugh it up.", Lyra growled. I hate using this thing.
"Look on the bright side this time I actually can help fight", Sami chirped excitedly for the battle coming up.
Lyra just nodded in agreement as the monsters just stared at them waiting for them to move. It's aura giving off a bright death red.