They walked to the canteen next to the sparring halls, and Ethan took a piece of grilled chicken thigh drizzled with black pepper sauce.
“I heard the nobles didn’t like you much, either.” Violet grinned as she sat down.
“The girls talk, don’t they?” Ethan responded as he dug in.
“Oh yes. I’d like to get to know Alia and Megan too. The two of them look like such wonderful people.”
“Eh?”
“I’ve seen Alia practice and she’s good! I think she’s got potential to really shine once she gets a better core.”
“Yes. She is.” Alia was a natural at fighting, just like Basil, and when she fought, it was like watching a dancer at work. But compared to the real stars of the school with their dragon-grade cores, it’s natural she would be unnoticed.
“So, tell me about yourself, Ethan. I’ve almost never heard of someone with a shadow-element core. Usually those who are compatible with shadow element cores select another close or similar element, either wind or light-element ores, so why a shadow-element?”
Ethan decided to wing it. “Because it’s the only one available to me then, and I’ve never changed since. I will though.”
“Sentimental value! You really don’t seem like the type.” Violet said with a grin on her face. Somehow it really accentuated her- Ethan pinched himself in the thighs. What was with this heroine and her super-magnetism?!
“Eh. I just didn’t see any reason to change since I’m doing fine with shadow-element.”
“You do know that you’ll be stuck doing scouting and spying work once you graduate.” Violet said. “There are so few shadow-elements that the army will instantly park you in that division.”
Ethan looked at the heroine. “How do you know that?”
“My dad was in the army. Before he died anyway.” Ethan immediately ticked the tragic past box. “He served with the Western Battalion on the Western Plateaus, where the Western Chasms are. He was a team commander there, and I know a lot about the army because he would often tell us stories when he returned from his postings.”
Ah. “Do you wish to join the army?”
“Yes.” Violet answered with incredible certainty. “It’s my goal to serve and protect, like my father once did. My mom doesn’t quite agree with me, she says a girl should just care for the family and all that-”
“Your mom’s still around?”
“Yup. She’s back in my hometown.” Ethan nodded and wondered whether there will be some kidnapped family mission in the far future. “How about you? Do you want to join the army?”
“I’m not sure, actually. I’m just going with the flow.”
“Oh that’s normal. I think people who know what they want to do like me are quite rare. Even the nobles like Jon and Julius, they’re just going with the flow and seeing what their parents have in store for them.” Violet smiled. “Where’d you learn how to fight, anyway?”
“I had some practice when I was younger.”
“Ah. I learned from my dad, but it was a long-long time ago. The first time I had to fight I actually froze in panic and wasn’t sure what to do.”
That answered how she improved so dramatically. Violet started to eat, and they both shared a moment of quiet, as they both indulged in their food.
“Do you think nobles are people?” Violet asked, suddenly.
“Huh? Yes?”
“Good.” The heroine nodded. “Some nobles don’t think we’re people, and I think that’s wrong. I would like to speak to Irina one day. Like, one-on-one, and clear up the misunderstanding, but all those girls around her probably would get in the way.”
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Ethan thought about it. “Have you tried?”
“I did. They attacked me.” Violet sighed. “If only I could catch her alone.”
Ethan wondered whether he could sneak in and speak to Irina. Though, sneaking into a noble lady’s room would probably be a death sentence. But resolving this issue would remove one of the threats to Violet.
Or cause the dark forces to be more aggressive? There was really no point to speculate.
“Would it be too much trouble for you to speak to her?” Violet looked.
“I’m a male student, Miss Violet.” Ethan responded. But he knew exactly the right person to speak to her. Kaname could attempt to approach her, and it’s likely that none of the other girls would dare stand in her way. “I think you should ask a girl.”
Violet’s eyes brightened. “Oooh! I think I know who!”
Thinking about it, Kaname also needed to confront Lady Celeste Mirrorsong and figure out what her connection with the dark forces were. Maybe she could just be direct, since there was little risk.
***
Kaname walked into the instructor’s office. It was rather empty at this time of day. None of the instructors present reacted, but that didn’t mean they were in the clear. It only meant they were trained enough not to react.
In her mind, that likelihood was unlikely.
So, when she walked out, something familiar happened.
The sirens blared, and then a pleasant voice announced through the announcement gems spread throughout the Garden.
“WARNING. GARDEN DEFENSE PROTOCOL 2 ACTIVATED. WARNING. GARDEN DEFENSE PROTOCOL 2 ACTIVATED. ALL INSTRUCTORS TO BATTLE STATIONS.”
It had to be a coincidence, right? Kaname looked at the instructors again, all of them got up and ran out. None of them even batted an eye, except for a female instructor who walked over. “Student, it’s best if you seek shelter. It’s another rift break.”
A huge dome of magic enveloped the sky above.
“CLARIFICATION. THE THREAT IS A LEVEL 33 RIFT BREAK. WE REPEAT, A LEVEL 33 RIFT BREAK. ALL STUDENTS PLEASE SEEK SHELTER.”
Kaname walked out, and found the Instructors’ building had a second layer of shields and defensive formations.
There was a swarm of gigantic flying bats in the sky. They had large claws, and furry black wings seemed to release a kind of poisonous vapor.
“POISON TYPE RIFT CREATURE DETECTED. ANTI-POISON FORMATIONS ACTIVATED.”
Multiple white lights emerged at the top of the towers across the Garden. The lights blasted small beams towards the vapors, which caused the vapors to vanish.
***
He had to admit the garden had good defenses, and the instructors were quick to destroy the creatures. The Grandmasters didn’t join the battle, instead, it was the instructors that took to the skies and fought the bats.
Violet shivered, and looked really uncomfortable when the rift creatures flooded the skies above. Their attacks didn’t harm any of the shields protecting the buildings, but it still caused occasional tremors.
“You alright?” Ethan asked.
Violet looked like she was having a panic attack, and she was crouched on the floor. Her fingers and hands trembled. She was in no condition to answer him, so he crouched down with her too, and then held her hand.
“We’ll be alright, Violet. The Garden’s well protected by shields and barriers, and the instructors are already defeating it.”
She shivered, and Ethan wondered how she faced the monsters of the rift. She nodded, and tried her best to stand. She gripped his hand, and at that moment, he felt genuine, sheer terror from the girl.
“We’ll be alright.” He assured her.
She looked into his eyes, and felt her glum, frightened eyes gaze into his. It felt like something stabbed him in the heart, and he was sure any lesser man would find in themselves a desire, a calling to protect this girl. It was incredible to witness her charms somehow breaking through his defenses, and with his other free hand, he immediately pinched himself.
No falling for heroines. Ethan reminded himself, and that feeling vanished. He could now meet her eyes and held her hand firmly. “We are going to be alright. The bats are already headed elsewhere.”
At that point, he saw the bats dive towards a particular direction. In the general direction where Kaname was.
***
Kaname looked out, and she saw all the instructors head to their station. She wasn’t afraid, but there were few windows in the instructor’s offices, so she walked to one of the glass balconies along the corridor.
The building was exceptionally well fortified. There were multiple layers of magical shields, powered by cores of the monsters.
The instructors battled the creatures in the sky, their abilities decorated the bright day with sparks and momentary flashes of magic. Streaks of energy blasts and beams vaporized the bats.
But there were so many, and then, she felt one of the bats’ gaze land on her. It shrieked.
Then the rest of the bats flew towards her.
[Kaname: Master, it seems I’ve already become the dark-agent’s bait.]
[Ethan: So quickly?]