Our usual group is sitting down at a table, except for Adam. Everyone of them was deep in thought because of the events of their first day. They had gone through a lot but learned even more. Nala, who was passing by, notices the group and joins them
"The first day is quite rough, isn't it?". Nala says with an understanding smile
Eve looks at Nala
"Guess it was the same for you back then." Eve says while looking at Nala
Nala sits down
"I still remember my very first day." She says while nodding with her eyes closed. "They dumped a bunch of information on us on our very first day, and that made everyone worried about the future."
'So, it really was the same for you.' Seleph says tired
"What did you do?" Merena asks with worry and curiosity
"I studied, trained, and researched like crazy to take my mind off things," Nala says with a smile. "While I was doing that, I ended up finding a path, finding my Art."
Nala looked at the others
"What I am trying to say is that you shouldn't worry too much about everything." She continues. "As long as you keep trying and pushing, eventually your efforts will be rewarded."
The kids nod with determination
"By the way, where is Adam?" Seleph asks with worry. "His class was near the forest in the back of the school, so he should already be here now."
"Isn't that him?" Byron asks
They turn around and look at the person approaching
"Is that him?" Arlo asks with squinting eyes. "Why is he so... injured?"
Noah looks at Adam with a pleased smile. As Adam walks past them, notice Noah's face
"Are you trying to pick a fight?" Adam asks with anger
Noah shakes his head
"No." He answers with the same smile and face. "I simply feel great right now. I feel like all the accumulated frustration I had disappeared."
"What happened to you!?" Nala asks with worry while looking at him. "You got injuries everywhere!"
"It's nothing." Adam replies as he walks away in anger
In the headmaster's office, in front of him stood Ryoma. He had been called to the principal's office after his class with Adam
"What were you thinking?" The principal asks with anger
"You told me to teach him, so that's what I am doing." Ryoma replies while looking to the side
"Don't act like you don't know what I am talking about, Ryoma." The principal says with a bit of anger. "If that child experiences Vacuus, there is no saving him."
"I'm not so sure about that." Ryoma thought
The principal takes a deep breath and then exhales
"So, what do you think of him?" The principal asks
"..."
Ryoma looks at his left arm, which has a bruise. A bruise he got while sparring with Adam
"He's not too bad." Ryoma says with a smirk
"Ryoma, go easy on him." The principal says while looking at Ryoma, chuckling evilly. "You wouldn't want him to run away, would you?"
"I don't think he's the type to do something like that." Ryoma says. "But if he does try, I'll just find him and drag him back."
The principal sighs as he shakes his head
As everyone returned to the dorms, the students used their free time differently. Some were meditating like Eve, Noah, and Seleph. Others were reading books borrowed from the school library, like Byron and Arlo, others were having some snacks like Neant, while some were training by running laps, like Ada,m and as he did, he recalled the advice that Ryoma gave him before leaving
"The first thing you should do is increase your stamina, Kiddo. Muscle training is too early for you; it will affect your growth. For humans, it's better to wait until they reach the age of 13 to 15 to do intense training, but we are different from them. That's why you will be able to start intensive training next year without experiencing side effects. For now, focus on increasing your stamina."
"Just wait and see. I'll have my revenge for the beating you gave me." Adam says with frustration as he accelerates
And so, the day passes, night falls, and the sun rises, welcoming a new day
"Seems like everyone has started their classes." Theo says while looking at the tired students. "It's good to work on what you've learned in your free time, but proper rest is also necessary for your all-around growth."
Theo turns around and faces the board
"Today, we'll be going over the most important thing for Knights." Theo says as he writes something on a board
Seleph looked sad, Eve was seething with rage, and Noah was frowning. Theo finishes writing and puts down the pen
"Humanity's greatest enemy." Theo says as he turns around. "Djinns."
Indeed. The word that Theo wrote on the smartboard was "Djinns."
"Djinns are mysterious beings that appear at an unknown date in time." Theo starts seriously. "There is nothing much known about them and where they come from; however, none of that matters since we discovered the most important thing about them. "
"How to defeat them." Eve says
"That's right." Theo continues. "It was and still is the greatest discovery humanity has ever since they appeared. Ever since then, we have been able to fight and kill them, but the truth is that our situation hasn't changed much. We have regained lands in which low-ranked Djinns dwelled in but in the end, we still haven't discovered the reason they appear."
"And we still haven't killed even one of their Kings." Ryoma says as he enters the class
"Ryoma? What are you doing here? "Theo asks
"Yo, Theo!" Ryoma says with a smile and a hand raised in the air. "I came to pick up my student. I was only assigned to one class, and I got a little bored. So, class 1-S will start a little ahead of schedule."
"Can't you see that I am in the middle of a class?" Theo says with anger
"You really need to relax a little, Theo-kun. You're gonna burn out at this rate." Ryoma says with a mocking tone
"Are you trying to pick a fight, Ilka? Theo says with anger
"Don't waste your precious time on an Ilka like me." Ryoma says
"Adam." Theo says as he points at Ryoma
Adam gets up and leaves with Ryoma
As the two walk together, Adam ends up asking the questions that he has had on his mind since they left the class
"Do you know our teacher?" Adam asks while following Ryoma
"Hm?" We went to the academy at the same time. I'm even the one that started calling him Theo." Ryoma proudly says
"....What's an Ilka?" Adam asks with no tact
"Hmmm... It's what they call people like me." Ryoma answers. "Those who were brought into the tower."
Once the two arrive at the forest, Ryoma sits down on a trunk and lights a cigarette
"Are we not sparring today?" Adam asks
"We are but you'll first need to stretch and get warmed up." Ryoma says. "Stretch and start running kiddo. At the same time, I'll be kind and give you an important lesson."
Adam starts stretching, and Ryoma starts to talk
"Like I said a little earlier, we still haven't managed to kill a single one of their kings." Ryoma suddenly starts
Adam listens while stretching
"We don't know how it works since Djinns are mindless and all they do is destroy and kill, but there are some Djinns that can control other Djinns." Ryoma continues. "We call those Djinns; Kings, and we gave them names that suit them the best."
"Names?" Adam asks
"We classify the different types of Djinns with names that represent them best" Ryoma says after letting out some smoke. "For example, the blood fiends that attacked the first floor are things that the Vampire-type can create."
Adam starts to run in a large race track that Ryoma had prepared before they got there
"And we believe that the one behind the attack on the first floor was the Vampire-type King. Code name; Absalom"
Theo had explained the same thing Ryoma had explained at the same time, and that caused three students to react. Merena looked at Elaine, whose hands were clenched in anger, and she was smiling. While Seleph had sat there silent with sadness. Each reaction was understandable since they had history with the Djinn named Absalom
"Now I know what my target is! You better stay alive until I come for you." Eve thought with a crazed smile
After an hour and a half, the bell announcing the end of classes rings and the student all leave for their break
Back with Adam and Ryoma, Adam stops in front of Ryoma while panting. He sits down to recover his breath
"Are you not going to go see your friends?" Ryoma asks
"I don't have the time for that." Adam says while regulating his breathing. "I'm already at a disadvantage. I need to train harder than anyone else."
Ryoma smiles. He then grabs a branch and uses his red arcane energy to create two wooden katana
"Is that your Art? Creating things from other things?" Adam asks with curiosity
Ryoma looks at Adam
"Bingo." Ryoma answers with a thumbs up. "Simple, isn't it? My Art's name is Faber, and thanks to it, I can create weapons using any non–living thing as material. Save loads of money thanks to it."
Ryoma throws one of the wooden swords at Adam which he grabs. Adam suddenly dashes at Ryoma and swings his sword at him. Ryoma dodges by taking a step back
"Oh!" Ryoma makes with a wide smile. "Not bad, kiddo."
Ryoma swings at Adam's wrist which makes Adam drop his sword. Ryoma lets out some smoke from his mouth
"Pick it up." Ryoma says with his sword on his shoulder
"*Tch*." Adam makes as he picks up his wooden sword
He then once more dashes at Ryoma and attacks him with his sword. Ryoma blocks it, and the two clash numerous times. The clashes were simple. Adam attacked with all he had while Ryoma blocked with minimum effort
"You got to go faster." Ryoma says as he keeps blocking the attacks
Adam starts speeding up and throws even more attacks, but Ryoma keeps up with his speed. Ryoma sighs and keeps giving him advice
"Swordsmanship is not all about speed and power." Ryoma says after sighing. "You also need precision and accuracy, kiddo. When all four have brought into one."
Ryoma swings at Adam's next attack which stops Adam's next attack mid motion. The impact from Ryoma's attack makes wooden the sword fly away and land behind Adam
"He... He completely read me." Adam thought
Ryoma looks at Adam with a smile
"Again." He says with a cocky smile
Adam walks back to the sword and picks it up. He turned around, faced Ryoma, and leaped towards him. That was their routine for the next 6 months.
.....
Exactly 6 months later, every first-year student is gathered in the front yard of the academy. The teachers were given orders to gather them by the headmaster. 1-B, 1-GR, 1-R, and 1-GD. The missing one was the 1-S
"Where is Adam?" Seleph says while looking at the place where the 1-S class was supposed to be at
Eve shrugs
"He's probably training." She says
"Looks like Ryoma hasn't fixed that bad habit of his." Loris says with a smile
"Is it even fixable?" Amonet says
"That Ilka probably doesn't even know how to read time." Theo says with his eyes closed
In front of the four groups, a podium on which the headmaster suddenly appeared. He looks at the spot reserved for the 1-S class and sighs
"When are you going to change, Ryoma?" He thought
"It's been 6 months, half a year since you all have been admitted and started class at the Academy." The headmaster starts. "We had a bit of trouble during the entrance exam but that doesn't mean that the event that the Academy has prepared shall be halted. Just like every other year, the time has come for the mid-year event. The Land Recovery Exam"