Entering The Wrath Nihility Academy

When Heian Ciemnosc was picked and moved to the participants' crowd, she looked like a little girl trying helping her big bro around, like a tragic scene. But instead, they looked damn cute. And after the show was over, she carried him again towards the Sub Students' crowd, and along with the teachers. When those who failed were to go away, they respectfully bid farewell with some majesty to the Sub Students, the teachers, and the brand-new students.

Heian Ciemnosc was already recuperating by then, and not only Elena but the teachers, specifically the Teacher, were astounded even more. If they were already thinking he was something else, something the world had never seen before, they now knew he was way too much to consider his capabilities, and only someone far above the Teacher status could try to do that.

Now, it was night. Tens of thousands of participants had fought, and had shown their best. Strangely enough, the number of admitted Sub Students was way over 6,000. The Teacher accredited it to Heian Ciemnosc. And somewhat because of his incense previously and later because of his performance. There were many who were close to breaking through the next stage. Some directly did so, but others didn’t. Only those who thought themselves good enough with a solid foundation dared to breakthrough without worrying about their cultivation base destabilizing.

Whoooosh~. Heian Ciemnosc was flying on a little mechanical thing. It had the shape of a bird 27 meters wingspan and 8 meters long. Its wings were over 10 meters wide and incredibly amazing to see. This was a birdy tool that Elena’s master gave her, which was already at the level of the Second Step and was her master’s presence and shield when he wasn’t there for her. Naturally, Heian Ciemnosc was riding on it, with Elena piloting it.

Though it had its own ‘mind’ and could even act like any other Fauna, she could manipulate it with her connection and pact linking her with it. It wasn’t just pouring one’s blood or even blood essence into or onto it. Her master had to aid her in the process after having crafted it for her. Such things were spoken to him by her as they made their way to the mounts and tools the teachers brought to admit the new Sub Students and to take out the outer testing grounds the Sub Students of the Academy to test the participants.

Though the Wrath Nihility Academy seemed capable enough to transport living beings, it seemed too costly to do so, and more conventional methods would be used once things were over. Also, it gave them a lot of prestige to do just that. Even if it was costly, retaining a great image was important even if they were the most beloved organization in all that exists and there is.

The bird tool they were riding wasn’t thin, about 3 meters thick, and had very sharp claws accompanied by a metal that looked insanely tough. Heian Ciemnosc wasn’t sure who was this young girl’s master. But they had to be very powerful and influential to get in their hands such potent materials like it was not much.

“Talk to me about the Wrath Nihility Academy, in general, if you please.” Heian Ciemnosc spoke while the starry obscure blue night sky was gazed at by his and Elena’s eyes. Elena lowered her head and looked to the left, lifted her head a little, and stared at him. With a calm countenance, she smoothly began.

“Well… There are so many things. So, I’ll start with the most obvious and then tell a few little rumors here and there.” Elena patted her chest boyishly and then continued, “Sex. Yup, it’s as you’ve heard. Every body you see can be touched. Of course, it’s not like the world has become a maniac without reservations. We aren’t some wildlife here.”

“To define it somehow,” Elena made gestures with her arms projected forth from her shoulders and separating her fingers. “It can be said that 40% of the world is pretty reserved and won’t go looking for fun, while the other 60% is the ones who are either crazy or have not found their partner for life. And that, even for our citizens, is a long life, you know?”

Her eyes narrowing and squinting, she continued, “For example, we have a slutty beauty in our club. She becomes everyone’s free use skank when celebrations come. She’s part of the 60% and a crazy one. Then there’s my master. He is known as a ‘good f-’ eew. Anyway… he’s known like that, but after he met his late wife, he became a puppy. Because they only knew they could’ve had a daughter, he adopted me after taking me as his disciple. Hehe.”

“Master is also in the 60%. Me? I’m a pure 40%, sane, without feeling like exposing my body 24/7!” Elena brought her hands into the air, her little armpits showing, causing a grin on someone’s pale face and pale rosy lips.

“Then I’m a 60%, aren’t you afraid?” Heian Ciemnosc said after gazing at the night sky again, the stars were fabulous, better than in that tent 2 weeks ago. Elena looked at the stars like him for a good while before scrunching her face and shaking it, “Even if I was afraid, 40% aren’t some naive virgins. There are misfortunes and mistakes in life… I am from a Low Kingdom and was parentless. I can only say: the only way you’ll make me feel afraid of my dignity would be if you wanted to prostitute me. And master would be angry.”

“...” Heian Ciemnosc shook his head at the young girl’s words, almost rolling his eyes. What prostituting her? He didn’t even want to harm her for real when he could in the last few moments of the battle. He could’ve scratched and made her blood stream out her neck for quite a bit if he wanted to, but he instead made the pouty blondie acquiesce. It was a good response too. He didn’t want to ‘convince’ her to give in as he did with Karl.

“Right,” Elena added, then continued again. “See this birdy? It’s called Taeo! Master gave it to me 3 years after I told him some of my old stories about how I was close to becoming a slave and when I did become a slave. And how I was almost sold off. It was right after he took me in, and during that time, he not only didn’t let me go out by myself, outside my bedroom without him. He also forced every other high staff member of the Academy to let me into their meetings! I have to say, with the nickname some old grandpas told me about after the 10 year war, I’m proud to have Master as Master.”

“Oh, before anything else. What about the club?” Heian Ciemnosc’s eyes opened wide, and looked at Elena. Elena looked at him with admiration and reminiscence in her eyes. “It’s called Saberbone Diabolic Club! It is the most feared and envied club that many would like to enter. Our logo is a dark crimson flame overshadowed by a bigger shadowy flame at least 4 times its size. It’s really amazing. We even have an Everburning Bonfire at our headquarters in the Academy’s territory.”

“It isn’t because many fail to enter the club or because they fear it. They simply don’t believe they have enough and don’t even try unless they are sure of themselves and confident in being worthy. Our club is the best in dueling and battles, and our seniors are the Academy’s heroes in the 10 year war. Master’s late wife was from that club! And after I surprised Master with my entrance into the club, he was ecstatic, mmmn!” Elena looked satisfied with herself very much.

Heian Ciemnosc looked at her and then stared at the scintillating stars. Elena continued, her voice quite at ease. “I didn’t tell you before because you weren’t part of the Academy. Only Sub Students, at the very least, can know about the clubs. In the past, when the Academy was still against the Great Sage’s rule, many unfortunate events occurred to the clubs back then. My club was created by the remnant of the strongest club in the Academy, an expert at every Craftsmaking profession and cultivation path.”

Elena made a gesture with her right hand passing over before her, her lips protruding, trying to simulate the behavior of an old, wise and intelligent person. Her master, perhaps. “The person who founded the Saberbone Diabolic Club was the only person who almost became a God in the Academy’s history. That’s without taking into account those who already have great backgrounds and are not from the Wrath Nihility Academy-only. Like you.”

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Elena turned her head to look at Heian Ciemnosc, tilting it slightly, and watched him with her side glance. “You might be from a failed Kingdom, as you say. But those moves are way too good to be from such a place. You received teachings, and I, in the name of the Academy… will learn from you and help the Academy found another club to restore its past, past glory!”

Raising her fist up in the air, the young girl appeared cute at last. She was attractive but nowhere near beautiful. Not like Hong Mei, Missa, Valeria and much less Alyona, but she was easy to like for Heian Ciemnosc. And she was tough. This little motherfucker beat some shit up on Heian Ciemnosc’s body, alright.

“So you are the Academy’s ‘only’ then?” Heian Ciemnosc asked her, to which Elena turned her head, twisted her neck, and nodded at him sternly. Then, Heian Ciemnosc said, his eyes staring dangerously into hers. “If I marry you, would that make me half the Academy’s-only?”

“Baahh! What marrying you? Don’t take it wrong. I’m not disgusted by someone like you, much less you.” Elena gave Heian Ciemnosc a stare up and down a couple of times, finishing with a facial expression with squinted eyes, the corners of her lips arched down, and her nose high. “I certainly do not dislike you, hm. But I’m more attracted to someone ready to make a little family first after solidifying my position here. Then make it bigger and bigger so we can make a big foothold for this place, my home.”

“And you,” Elena looked at him again with a side glance, “It’s obvious you’ll be far from the Academy’s reach. I would have to lead it somewhere much higher in the future if the Academy intends to catch up to you.”

“Ho~. Looks like the little girl sneaking into important meetings has gotten some wisdom from the old dudes of the Academy?” Heian Ciemnosc praised the young girl, who continued and looked at the sky. She nodded and said with an annoyed tone added to her voice as if dealing with a noisy child. “Of course! Master even made me recite every word they would say and have me comprehend to the letter what they meant. It was exhausting. But just like during those 3 years of Master being gum attached to me everywhere, I didn’t know his intentions until a few years ago. Hehe, Master is so silly.”

“But that’s why I love Master. I arrived in the Academy at the middle of the war, a couple years after Masteress perished.” Elena said softly this last piece of her mind, her eyes becoming warmer and nothing boyish, watery or determined and brave as he and many other saw them become before.

“I don’t have a Master and never had one. Just some mentors and a guardian of sorts…” Heian Ciemnosc looked into the sky, his face flat and staring directly into it. Elena tilted her head a little from how at ease she felt and softly spoke, almost in a whisper. “You’ll have one. This is the capital of knowledge, of diversity, ahem… sex. And of talents. Whoever comes out of here, alive or without life, becomes their people’s pillar and foundation for their future.”

“I came here by accident. My smugglers thought they could let me be bought by some troops of the Academy, but I was rescued instead by a mere Sub Student. And even though I started cultivating late, past my first 7 years, I’m a Genius of the Academy. I’m doing my best, and without Master, I wouldn’t have started liking this place. Mnn, I have to try harder. So, when you get checked into the Academy, corroborate to say it was all thanks to me. Okay? I need some stuff. Master doesn’t give me anything, never.”

“Umf!” Heian Ciemnosc was stretching when he heard her words and felt the impulse to laugh. From his nostrils, a cheerful chuckle went out and made the young girl smile big time.

“Hey!” But then, she remembered something, and with a flash, she took her Mortal short halberd out. “Now, you owe me a Mortal weapon. This was Master’s creation. I- I- I know I said that Master never gives me anything, but that’s for resources. And I heard from Teacher you are good at all Craftsmaking professions. So create another short halberd for me, or repair this one. And an Artifact. Apill for breaking through the Second Step, and I want some wolf pups too! Any kind and cultivation! But that can grow very big and strong.”

“The halberd was made to my Master’s weapon, which used to be Masteress’s. I want an Artifact because I don’t have any yet. And a pill because even if I don’t need them when the time comes, I can sell it for many coins. And the wolf pups because Masteress was a Beast Wolf, and I wanna make Master feel better in his heart. Orphans are his weak point, Masteress was also an orphan, so it would work if you find someone without family. Ahem… try not killing their parents, or Master will know and punish you for it. Of course, he would still accept them, and, and, and…”

Heian Ciemnosc then fell upon the young girl’s list. The night was long, and he was done over ill by the young girl’s skill to talk when in a good mood. He didn’t put any sort of ‘spell’ on her, nor did he use his Soul however he could to make her feel better and more at ease. It was just his nature. Like a little girl whose big bro returned from some vacation, she began gossiping and telling him of so many things. Requesting her big bro to spoil her lots and lots.

The ‘worst’ part was she could not grow tired. She went on and on for hours. They were really far away from the Academy, after all. And the bird and other flying tools and Fauna didn’t seem to go tens of times faster than what Heian Ciemnosc thought they would as Second Step tools or Fauna. Naturally Elena explained to him the differences between a failed Kingdom and a Middle Kingdom and how Second Step tools and Fauna are ‘slow’ in an Upper Kingdom or higher.

It was something she could only briefly describe, leaving Heian Ciemnosc to learn it on his own whenever he could. And had enough ‘merits’ to enter the Wrath Nihility Academy’s library.

… the trip was almost 12 hours long, giving Heian Ciemnosc and Elena much to talk. He even got to know some names. Like the people who were the best Sub Students about to become Students through a series of examinations and a final assessment, the latter of which was similar to getting into the Academy. Who were the strongest Students. Who had chances to become Leading Students in the next few years’ examinations and assessments. And who were the beauties, handsome fellas and sex machines of every club, department, and even from the staff of the Academy. This girl was a giant booklet full of the Academy’s word of mouth.

Her information couldn’t be any more accurate, or she would be a seer that could even divine the entire world’s future. And so, the long travel was relatively gripping and intriguing to Heian Ciemnosc, especially with the prospect of the cultivation realm and Steps. The latter treated as a standard thing. Virtually everyone could cultivate higher and higher. Only death and one’s poor attitude and personality could ensnare any living being to decadence and mediocrity. Or so was Heian Ciemnosc told.

When Heian Ciemnosc was cultivating for a couple hours, hearing Elena out as she never stopped and spoke slightly more softly as he cultivated. They finally saw the Academy’s building from afar, slowly becoming as tall and big as it had been when he set camp in the southern encampments.

At that time, Heian Ciemnosc stopped cultivating and looked down. They were more than a few thousand meters above the ground level, so his Spirit Sense couldn’t reach below. What he saw was slightly curious. There were people encamped there, and though Heian Ciemnosc was traveling to the Academy from the west this time, he could recognize the terrain as the same where Antonio had left him. There were new people around, eating, chatting and appearing lonely.

Then, they were seen, and like a ceremony everyone was aware of but wasn’t really expecting to see, they got to their feet and out their tents. Without forgetting to make enough noise to be heard, all the way up there, with lots of tents falling on the process, they greeted the teachers, Sub Students and new Sub Students very, very loud.

Heian Ciemnosc felt a kind of… inspiration! These people were all the second half of the testers, participants who wanted to enter the Wrath Nihility Academy. And they would have to go through the same things he and everyone else from his half did. He didn’t need to wait a year or more to see such a thing. He was doing so right now.

“Hehe, excited? Just imagine what will happen to your name once the list is revealed to the public. Everyone in the world will want to snatch you away! Even your backer will either feel the pressure of it or very proud.” Elena crawled to and onto his back and said, her right cheek next to his left cheek, looking left and right at the few hundred thousand participants below. She added with a cheering tone. In a low volume, “Let the worthy accompany us to study the knowledge of all that exists and there is.”

“... Hm? List?” Heian Ciemnosc was dazed looking below but then thought of something and lifted his head. His neck met a tiny nose before it scrunched up and shook away from him. ‘What list can make the entire world go crazy?’

…