The arena was still buzzing with raw, wild energy. Thunderous cheers and shouts of amazement filled the air. Arthur's team hadn't just won; they'd pulled off a masterpiece of strategy and pure teamwork. Arthur walked over to his friends, the dust from their battle still settling around him. A small, satisfied smile—a rare sight on his usually serious face—finally appeared.
"You guys… that was incredible!" he said, his voice cutting through the crowd's noise like a sharp blade, brimming with genuine pride. "Jun, your root control was so precise, it was like watching a snake dance on a single hair! Kai, that move with the steel candle… pure genius! I never would have thought of that. And Liu…" His eyes locked onto Jing Liu's, his gaze intense and meaningful. "Your execution… was flawless. Not a single wasted movement."
"Hmph! Of course it was!" Jing Liu shot back, her chin tilting up proudly, though her eyes sparkled. "I'm the spearhead! It's my job to find the heart of the enemy's defense and strike, even if the opening is no bigger than a speck of dust!"
Arthur opened his mouth, a warning about not getting too cocky already on his lips, but suddenly—
BOOM.
A sound like thunder ripped through the arena, silencing everyone. All heads turned to the high podium. There stood the Headmaster, his robes flowing, radiating an undeniable authority. His face was lined with age, but his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's.
"Team Xiao Ganyu and all part-time students… step forward!" he commanded.
They moved into line, hearts pounding. Was this punishment? Or…?
"I have reached a decision!" the Headmaster's voice echoed across the grounds, reaching every corner. "Starting next week, all part-time students—and any regular students who wish to join—will be offered a new opportunity! You will be taught real, practical skills you can use to build a life after graduation, not just clear weeds and sweep leaves!"
And for the other students? They could now choose between their formal classes or these new hands-on skill workshops!
The new classes would include:
· Carving ·Painting ·Cooking ·Farming ·Commerce ·Basics of Medicine
Every word was delivered with force, hitting the listeners right in the heart.
"Each class will be taught by a master! It's one choice per student! Unless…" he paused, his gaze sweeping over them, "...you are exceptionally talented and receive special permission! These classes will run from noon until evening!"
He stopped, his eyes scanning the crowd of students and teachers almost defiantly.
"Consider this a reward! A reward for the discipline, hard work, and never-give-up spirit you've all shown these past six months! You woke up earlier, you trained harder, and you never complained! Does anyone object?!"
Silence. Not a single student or teacher dared to make a sound. The decision was final.
The next few days were filled with nervous excitement. Finally, registration day arrived. The school field was packed. To everyone's surprise, almost half the student body had shown up to sign up! The two most popular classes were, unsurprisingly, Commerce and Farming—everyone was thinking about their future.
In the middle of the crowd, Wang Cheng elbowed Arthur. "Hey, Arthur! What'd you pick? Gotta be something serious, right?"
Arthur grinned. "Obviously. I'm taking Basics of Medicine with the Vice Headmaster. That kind of knowledge is priceless. What about you?"
"Me and Kai are signing up for Blacksmithing!" Wang Cheng said, bursting with energy. "I wanna build up my stamina and strength, and Kai… well, his martial spirit is the 'Steel Candle Hammer.' It's basically his destiny! Hey, where are Jun and Lee? I haven't seen them all day."
"Heard they're following their family trades," Arthur replied. "Jun's taking Cooking, Lee's in Commerce. Guess their families had it all planned out."
"Oh! Okay, I gotta run and find Kai before the line gets too long! Tell that scary 'Big Sis' Jing Liu I said hi!" Wang Cheng yelled over his shoulder as he dove back into the crowd.
"Hey! Since when does he call her 'big sis'?" Arthur laughed to himself. "Yeah, I'll let her know."
The reason Arthur was a little out of the loop was that he and Jing Liu had just gotten back from a quick "trip home"—a cover story to explain him getting his first Spirit Ring after their huge victory. But when they got back to the dorms, another surprise was waiting.
New rule: all dorm rooms were now for two people only! They were smaller, more private, and designed for focused training. The catch? Arthur and Jing Liu were last on the list. And completely by accident, they got assigned to the same room!
"Arthur! I'm back!"
The door to their room flew open. Jing Liu marched in, her face still wind-blown and flushed.
"Liu! You've gotta learn to knock!" Arthur said, shaking his head without any real anger. "So, what'd you end up picking?"
"I took your advice," Jing Liu said, her eyes shining with a new kind of determination. "The Carving class. I'm going to train my ice control until I can create real masterpieces out of pure ice! Just imagine being able to form a trap, a weapon, or a shield out of nowhere in the middle of a fight! It'll be unstoppable!" Then she fixed him with a piercing look. "But you promised, remember? Once you get a handle on basic medicine, you're joining the carving class with me? You promised!"
"Yeah, I promise," Arthur nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "It's not just for you, either. The ability from my second ring—"
"Wait, isn't the ability from your second ring…?!" Jing Liu cut in, curiosity getting the better of her as she leaned in close.
To be continued…