The next morning, the pair woke and followed their routine before heading downstairs for breakfast. Afterwards, they lounged on a sofa on the balcony, sipping their morning coffee. Morgranna had brewed extra; guests were coming, and there were no lessons that day.
Morgranna informed them that Head Nocturne would be by after the interview for a check-up to determine whether their Stats had fully stabilised and to assess their capabilities in relation to their cultivation levels for future training. Chaos and Bane nodded in agreement.
At nine, the interviewer for their testimonials arrived, led by Morgana, while Morgranna set out another cup and pot of coffee for the guest.
—
Morning on the sitting area balcony, with partial views of the sitting area inside and the Academy grounds. Chaos and Bane sit across from a Ger Media interviewer.
Ger Media Member: Good morning, and thank you both for agreeing to speak with us. Chaos, may I start with you? Could you tell us about your life before being summoned by the Heavenly Clans?
Chaos: (pauses, thoughtful) My past feels like a different world now—because it was. I lived a rough life: abandoned, rejected, hunted, beaten, starved, and even experimented on. Since being summoned, things are simpler—training, absorbing Knowledge, being cared for, even pampered. I met my Mate and enjoy life as it comes. Of course, a bit of daily chaos is always in the mix. (Bane snorts at this)
Ger Media Member: How has your life changed since your summoning?
Chaos: It's overwhelming at times, but exciting too. I've learned and experienced more in the last month than I did in years before. There's a sense of destiny—and much more responsibility than I ever expected.
Ger Media Member: What are your thoughts on the education here and your Awakening?
Chaos: The education is intense, much deeper and broader than I was used to. It's not just academic—it's about learning who I am, mastering my abilities, building strength, mental fortitude, and understanding my place in the Universe. The Awakening was incredible, and a bit scary. Everything felt sharper and more real. I was left with many questions, but also a strong determination to find answers.
Ger Media Member: Thank you for your honesty, Chaos. Bane, please tell us a bit about your background as someone born into the Heavenly Clans.
Bane: (smiles faintly) Being born into the Heavenly Clans means expectations are set from the beginning—tradition, legacy, duty. My upbringing was structured: discipline, training, always preparing for what's expected as we mature. But it's fulfilling.
Ger Media Member: How would you describe your education and Awakening experience?
Bane: The education is rigorous—mental, physical, spiritual. I never questioned it until Chaos arrived—it was simply part of life. My Awakening was profound—a rite of passage. You earn your power, but it's also a reminder of what's at stake. It changed me.
Ger Media Member: Meeting Chaos earlier than expected—how did that affect you?
Bane: It changed everything. I always thought I'd follow the path set for me, but Chaos brought unpredictability and a new perspective. Meeting him early made me rethink what truly matters. I'm more protective now, but also more open, curious, and—I'd even say—freer.
Ger Media Member: Thank you both. One last question: what do you hope for, moving forward?
Chaos: To continue learning, growing, making a difference here, and to repay my gratitude to the Heavenly Clans for rescuing me and giving me a better life.
Bane: I want to honour my responsibilities to both the Clans and my Mate, but also help Chaos—and perhaps all of us—find our own way.
[The camera shifts to the Academy grounds, sunlight shining on them, reflecting hope and possibility.]
—
Once the interviewer left, the pair sat back with their coffee, reflecting on the interview as they waited for Head Nocturne.
Head Nocturne and her med team arrived fifteen minutes later, efficiently wheeling in compact diagnostic devices and vials of shimmering fluid. Morgranna and Morgana leaned unobtrusively against the far wall, watching as Bane and Chaos straightened up to greet the specialists.
Head Nocturne spoke calmly and professionally. "Let's start with basic readings," she said, placing a palm-sized scanner against Bane's wrist, then Chaos's forearm. Soft lights flickered as the device hummed, analysing their vital Stats, Mana circulation, and Meridians. Assistants quietly took blood samples and measured reflexes, recording measurements on gleaming tablets.
There was a moment of quiet as the results were compiled. Head Nocturne's expression shifted to fascination and concern as she compared the data. "Remarkable. Your Stats—and especially your Mana reserves—are extraordinary. By conventional standards, you both rival the sixth level of cultivation, but you're only at third-level, though at a solid thirty percent into the stage."
She turned the display for Morgranna and Morgana to see. "The Elementary Academy's training facilities aren't calibrated for the kind of pressure you two can generate. The magical field densities we use for training target up to fourth-level, and your Mana reserves could short out control crystals in the sparring rooms if you were to use your Mana."
Bane frowned in pride and anxiety. Chaos looked between the med team and Mammys, eyebrows raised. "So... training—what does that mean for us?"
Head Nocturne smiled reassuringly. "We'll need to redesign your training. Expect sessions in reinforced chambers with personal oversight, likely at the Senior Academy or dedicated off-site facilities. Your growth isn't just exceptional—it's unprecedented. We'll take precautions against instability or backlash as you ascend."
Morgranna and Morgana exchanged a look of relief and worry. The check-up finished, the med team packed up, leaving Bane and Chaos both excited and anxious for what's ahead.
"As usual, a copy of your readings will be sent to the Headmasters, Nursery Elders, and Councils for review. They'll arrange your subsequent training, so don't worry about it. Relax and enjoy your long weekend. Where are you heading this time?" Head Nocturne asked.
"We're checking out the Night Forest this time," Chaos replied, excitement clear in his voice.
"Good choice. Just watch your surroundings—there are predators there," Head Nocturne warned, though she knew it was the predators who should be wary of this pair.
Both Chaos and Bane nodded. "We will. Morgranna and Morgana are coming, so we'll be safe."
Head Nocturne nodded and greeted them and the Mammys before leaving with her team, letting the four continue their planned trip.
They left in the Academy carriage before switching to their personal carriage after leaving the grounds. At that time, the Headmasters, Nursery Elders, and Councils received Head Nocturne's report.
—
In a bright holo-conference room swirling with arcane runes and fractal projections, avatars of the Headmasters, Nursery Elders, Councils rep, and Head Nocturne sat around a floating round table, dossiers and diagrams rotating above its centre.
Head Nocturne (standing, arms folded): Thank you for joining on short notice. I've provided the latest readings for Bane and Chaos. As you see, their Stats and Mana reserves are anomalously high for third-levels—they rival sixth-level cultivators. Our Academy facilities are inadequate for further safe training.
Headmaster Solis (leaning forward): The implications are concerning. If their Mana output exceeds our maximum field densities, they pose a risk to the infrastructure and their classmates. Should we relocate them immediately?
Head Nocturne: I suggest supervised, incremental training in reinforced environments, preferably within the Senior Academy or a dedicated off-site facility. We must redesign their curriculum—focus on understanding and stabilising their growth or risk instability. But they should remain at their current Academy for the rest of the time, to avoid destabilising their minds due to not being among peers of the same age.
Elder Soleil: And their mental well-being? Such rapid advancement could be disorienting, especially for Chaos. Have the Mammys reported any concerns?
Head Nocturne: Morgranna and Morgana mentioned anxiety and anticipation, but also strong adaptability. The bond between the pair is stabilising them as their minds are connected somehow through the Oath. Counselling by Mammys and Teachers remains vital.
Headmaster Rowan: We must coordinate and implement a special training plan for every combat or Mana session.
Elder Lucius: Let's assign individual mentors from the Senior Academy and liaise with the array engineers to rebuild or recalibrate sparring chambers. We should future-proof our facilities.
Headmaster Varkos: Consider this—is their emergence unprecedented? Could more like them arise? Prepare contingency protocols in case our Academy's role needs to shift from nurturing to containment.
Councils Rep: The Councils share these concerns and will fast-track reinforced chambers and additional staff. Reports will circulate to all Elder Courts. Please document every anomaly or backlash—our analysts will monitor in real time.
Elder Kyle: Head Nocturne, any instability—spiritual or otherwise?
Head Nocturne: None yet. But with each cultivation jump, risk grows. I strongly recommend shifting focus from Mana/combat training to Runes or Forging for now.
Headmaster Everdawn: Let us balance caution with opportunity. Their progress might be unprecedented, but Tian Dao wouldn't allow it to happen if they couldn't handle it. We should assist them as much as possible so they can progress at the tempo Tian Dao has set out for them—albeit monitored without stifling them.
Elder Caine: Also, let's protect their privacy. They're not test subjects: they're young people with futures that matter, and they are Tian Dao's chosen new guardians.
Council Rep: Agreed. Consensus: authorise supervised advanced training at the Senior Academy, upgrade facilities, assign mentors, and enable real-time monitoring. Keep reports internal unless escalation is necessary. Head Nocturne, provide weekly updates and flag any anomalies.
Head Nocturne: Acknowledged.
The holos dim; dossiers archive themselves, and the meeting adjourns, each leader deep in thought about their shared responsibilities.
—
In a luminous holo-conference room patterned with shifting geometry and streaming Mana, three concentric rings of holographic seats surrounded a central table of charts, dossiers, and combat sim footage—each ring for an Academy level. Present were Solis, Everdawn, Rowan, Varkos (Elementary Academy), and the Junior and Senior Headmasters.
Headmaster Solis: Thank you, colleagues. As you'll see in the latest dossier, Chaos and Bane's Stats, Mana, and combat performance confirm Head Nocturne's reports. Their capabilities defy both age and Class norms. Where most Slayers and Twin Demons match those one level above, Chaos and Bane rival sixth-levels while only being at third-level.
Headmaster Rowan (swiping through footage): Their last simulation against fourth-level combat bots was chaos: a weaponised avalanche and surfing, with containment barriers barely holding. The Chamber now needs repairs. And this was without Mana—they've yet to complete that training.
Junior Headmaster Ashwin: Their academic growth is also outstanding. Tian Dao is helping them master incoming Knowledge. Yet they've shown impulsive, sometimes reckless behaviour—especially in combat. Their use of terrain in battle is an engineering nightmare.
Senior Headmaster Sorin: That creativity is our and their greatest asset and most significant risk. Their weaponised avalanche nearly destroyed an entire Grav training building wing—not even using Mana. We're not just seeing prodigies; we're seeing trailblazers who could change training and threaten existing infrastructure.
Headmaster Varkos: Is this sustainable? Past surges sometimes led to burnout or backlash.
Headmaster Everdawn: We can't stunt them, but must act prudently for everyone's sake. What is the consensus on reinforced, adaptive training modules in the Senior Academies for combat or Mana training?
Junior Headmaster Lyra: I propose dynamic chamber recalibration per session, monitored by both med teams and independent analysts. Teachers from the Senior Academy should guide large-scale battle exercises.
Senior Headmaster Rajin: Agreed—phase exposure to higher-tier simulations and capstone challenges under strict oversight.
Headmaster Solis: All in favour?
All signal assent; a holo-buzz confirms new protocols logged.
Headmaster Varkos: Final point—how much do we share with them, their Mammys, Councils, and Elder Courts beyond weekly updates?
Senior Headmaster Mira: Transparency matters, but discretion is needed to protect their well-being and privacy until patterns are clear.
Headmaster Everdawn: Let's escalate protocols and begin Mana training on Monday—they're growing frustrated by not being able to integrate Mana into their moves as their bodies demand.
The holo-table dims as the Headmasters sign off, determination and caution lingering in their fading avatars.
—
While Bane and Chaos were enjoying their weekend trip to the Night Forest, academies across the Nursery began setting up specialised protocols and lesson plans to ensure the pair could continue their training safely, just as Tian Dao intended.
Real-time monitoring systems were established to catch and resolve any problems as soon as they appeared. Facilities were being renovated and upgraded to withstand even tenth-level Clansmen in the event of a crisis.
Morgranna and Morgana received the updated lesson plans and monitoring requests. They informed Bane and Chaos, who agreed to the changes, knowing it was for their own safety and that of the other Children.
Confident in the Nursery's support, they continued to enjoy their weekend, trusting the staff to keep them safe.
When they arrived home mid-Sunday afternoon, they received an update for Monday: Headmaster Varkos, Teacher Beelzebub, and his Mate Demon Zera would accompany them to the Senior Academy, where they would spend up to a month mastering Mana Training and finishing their remaining combat training.
Afterwards, they would return to the Elementary Academy to complete their other lessons, but could request permission from the Headmasters to visit the Senior Academy whenever they needed a break.
Their level breakthroughs would also take place at the Senior Academy to avoid overwhelming their peers at the Elementary Academy, as their Aura would be too strong for the other students to handle.
The two nodded and proceeded to play a game of 3-D Go before showering and preparing for their evening rituals before bed.