The security team came to break up the fight and check the students for injuries. They collected statements from the others who witnessed the fight. Casper and his group tried to frame Ash for the fight like usual. Lita said Casper started it and tried to assault them with a football with his ability.
Both sides had compelling arguments; if it weren't for one student who didn't like Casper actually recording everything, Ash would have been blamed once again.
Ultimately, both Ash and Casper were sent to the detention area, where they were given class assignments to make up while in detention.
Ash didn't feel the bloodlust he had before at the moment, but he felt painful hunger inside. It was small and faint but still lingering in there. He practiced deep-breathing meditations to calm it for the moment, trying at least to quell the growl. Ash's phone went off; it was on silent, but he saw the message while filling out his homework papers. It was from the Revhound military academy.
His application was finally approved after waiting for so long. The academy took in students starting at sixteen to train for the military in the fight against the Kraegans. With their numbers growing so rapidly and very few humans left in the world who could use any of the three gifts, desperation was at a high. It took many tries to get a response; the association with his brother's legacy left a stain on his applications, and many had not forgotten what had happened or forgiven Isaac for it. The military was desperate at this point to gather more recruits for the fight against the Kraegans, so even with everything that had happened with Isaac, they were willing to overlook the incident to get more enlisted into their ranks.
Casper stared down at Ash hard from his seat. He was thinking of how to get him back for the earlier beating he took. His pride was hurt badly, and the fact that he was embarrassed by the kid he beat up for three years in front of everyone only made him feel angrier.
Ash was finally released from detention with a slap-on-the-wrist warning to keep his attitude in check. He did everything he could to avoid Casper after leaving; he had more important business to attend to, like telling Lita the news that he was leaving for the academy soon. It was going to break her heart, but she knew he would go through with it no matter what; he decided on it after Isaac's death.
He asked her classmates for the club's meeting place she mentioned earlier; eventually, he found her at the stables after asking the teacher in charge of the rescue animals where she was. Normally, some high schools wouldn't have a stable for horses, but their school did for all the homes, shelters, and ranches that were destroyed.
He saw Lita brushing a dark horse with heavy scars all around its body. She hummed a tune for the horse, who enjoyed her company. The poor thing looked like it had been through hell in its life; getting comfort from Lita must have felt nice to it. Ash snuck up behind Lita, giving her a little scare, and she responded by slapping his arm.
"You jerk, don't do that," she scolded.
"Sorry, couldn't resist." He joked with her. "So who's your friend? First time I've seen a horse."
The horse neighed at Ash; it felt cautious around him. It gave him a death glare.
"His name is Daredevil. He used to work with park rescue rangers. This old boy saved many lives from animal attacks and disasters. Too bad the Kraegans ruined his career; he saved a few people from an attack in the mountains, but he got hurt badly and was forced to retire. Now he's here to grow old and die, unfortunately. Feel bad for him; he must want to be free and not stuck here and forgotten."
Ash felt bad for Daredevil, left to rot in a stable, feeling trapped; it must have hurt his heart. Ash couldn't help but touch him; he felt a kinship with Daredevil.
His hand was touching his neck as his fingers rubbed his heavily scarred skin and bristly hair. Daredevil didn't resist; he felt warmth from Ash.
"Wow, that's weird. He's never let anyone touch him but me and the doctors. He must trust you." Lita couldn't help but smile; it was a beautiful sight to see Ash look happy for a moment, along with Daredevil, who felt depressed in his stable.
{Congratulations. You have bonded with your destined steed. Secret Mission Complete. Reward: Slayer Arts-Death Rider Style. The user can access horseback fighting techniques specialized for guerrilla-style tactics against fast-moving targets and in pursuit.}
Ash saw the notification and was stunned. He was rewarded with a martial skill by interacting with Daredevil, his first-ever martial skill.
Martial skills were not the same as the specialties from Skill books. Skill books granted powers across all forms of technique, from surgery to cooking to marksmanship. Martial skills, as the name suggests, were martial arts and fighting styles integrated for specific weapons and self-defense.
Ash had the knife techniques from his old Skill book, but they taught him how to use and throw them efficiently, not anything related to fighting arts like Systema.
Ash and Lita enjoyed their moment with Daredevil, unaware that someone was watching from afar.
"Hey, Cass. You still want to get back at the freak. I think I know a way you can." A male student, Casper, was using his phone, setting up an opportunity to take revenge.