The bell finished ringing, letting the class know to prepare for what would be an exciting lesson. Alex stood before the group and clapped his hands together.
“Ok, class, next lesson will be a straightforward sparring practice with a guest lecturer.”
The class began to stir, with Kline shaking in fear while Bea and Tasha were beaming excitedly. With the remainder of the class seemingly unsure of how to react to the idea, they will be fighting someone arranged by their teacher.
“I expect you guys to be properly geared up as if you are facing a deadly encounter. Be assured if you don’t, you will learn from the experience in a way you would hope not to. So go to your dorm rooms and bring anything you need to fight. There are no restrictions; you got something you can’t use because it might kill; bring it.” As he finished his explanation, Alex strode towards the doorway before pausing.
“Meet at the ruined duel arena. We won’t start if you aren’t all there,” Alex added, shooting a look at a shaking Kline before finally leaving. With these final words, the entire class sprang into action, packing up their things.
“Who do you think he’s got?” Maxwell asked as he packed away the last book he had out away in his bag.
“I bet it’s Yuu Ironforge,” Daisy suggested.
“Professor Ironforge would’ve mentioned it earlier when I was learning from him,” Gunter added.
“Does it even matter, guys? Let’s get our toys and get there as soon as possible. Learning practical combat as first years will give us a massive leg up on our classmates.” Bea declared, ignoring any further conversation and rushing out of the classroom.
“Well, she might not care. But I bet it is Lady Elissa,” Tasha’s face warped into a goofy grin as she mentioned the elf princess’ name.
“You mean you wish it was her,” Tasha just glared at Maxwell for his comment causing the boy to retreat half a step.
“You want to start something, Greyback?” Tasha snarled as she took a step towards the already retreating Maxwell.
“No, but if I were, it’d be best we save it for the arena. We are already wasting too much time here.” With these words, Tasha gave a dismissive snort as she spun and stormed out of the classroom. Shortly after, followed by the remainder of the class. Making their way across the campus, they weaved between the students who all had begun their weekends.
The dorm building itself was austere despite the status of the student body. From what Daisy knew, its design was based on an old prison, with a central area where each branch held the dorm rooms that the dorm mother could easily observe.
Making her way down the first-year's female dorm hall, she found her door and stepped in. It was as she had left it that morning—stacks of notes and books on every free surface. At the same time, her clothes piled on the ‘floordrobe’ as the dorm mother named it.
Reaching for a chain around her neck, Daisy took out a key to her personal chest. Unlocking and opening it, she revealed a neatly sorted set of combat gear her father had provided her.
It was a common set of Wyvern Scale Mail for flexible movement without restrictions to mana flow. Gauntlets made with infused mithril to aid her in magic casting and a wand with a gem seized from a sea beast of some kind. With practised motions, she put on the equipment with a speed that’d impress many a drill sergeant.
It was when she went to close the chest that she spotted the one item she hadn’t taken. It was a thin rapier-style sword from a pair of magical engineers that were as enigmatic as they were skilled. The only clue to their identities were the makers-marks. A skull with a magic circle feeding through the eye sockets and an anvil enveloped in flames on either side of the flat blade.
Remembering Alex’s words, she took the weapon her parents said only to use if the school was under threat of invasion. If their eccentric professor was true to his words, then she would be foolish to leave such a weapon.
Making her way back to the lobby, she could feel the gazes of the other students watching her with curiosity. Feeling more and more self-conscious, she pulled her hood up over her head and continued till she spotted a crowd surrounding another couple of students. Peering between the students in the crowd, she could see Gunter and Tasha waiting.
“Hey guys,” Daisy said, waving a single hand towards them.
“it seems you have exceptional equipment, chief,” Gunter beamed.
“Indeed, it shall be something even Lady Elissa shall praise when we see her,” Tasha added with an approving nod of her own.
The crowd began to part, making way for Daisy, who could already feel her cheeks begin to redden. It was now she could see the gear the other two were wearing.
Tasha appeared to be in lacquered leather armour, and on her back was a bow with and quiver of arrows hanging from her waist. Next to her was Gunter, who stood out more than the two girls. He was in full plate mail and was carrying a hammer that Daisy had no doubt probably weighed as much as she did.
“Glad to see you brought your best gear,” Maxwell said from the other side of the crowd, who once again parted for him. Maxwell himself was wearing what appeared to be form-shifting armour favoured by those that can transform their bodies. There clutched tightly in his right hand was a quivering Kline who was in silk robes with a leather chest piece over the top.
“Why are you man-handling Kline?” Daisy asked, raising a brow.
“Professor Alex said it himself. We won’t be able to start unless we are all at the ruined arena,” Daisy nodded in response to this reply. It made sense. What she didn’t expect was the stir that occurred amongst the students surrounding them.
“We all set to go?” Bea asked, having weaved her way between the legs of the surrounding students. Looking down at Bea, she was in her usual clothing she wore to the tavern the week prior, with only a couple of rings on her fingers that weren’t there last time.
“Yes, let's go,” Daisy nodded as they began to make their way out of the dorm. What caught their attention, though, was they were being trailed by a throng of students who had overheard their conversations.
“Oi, why are you following?” Bea shouted, turning to face the crowd.
“We were curious why you are all geared for battle. Then you mentioned that failure of a professor and the ruined arena, and our curiosity grew.” A boy in the crowd answered.
“Failed Professor?” Daisy repeated, growing annoyed herself.
“Yes, he is only good for wiping noses. He couldn’t even teach a class of failures. He got them all to quit with a bribed good grade,” the boy replied, his tone growing more mocking.
“Well, bugger off,” Bea snapped.
“Make us. We are free to do what we want as it is weekend time, and the ruined arena isn’t off limits,” the boy who had answered declared.
“Very well, but we can’t guarantee your safety in this combat training lesson,” Gunter declared, manoeuvring himself between Bea and the crowd following them.
“Like some first years could do anything to us,” another student scoffed.
Realising it was a lost battle, the group gave up and continued down the pathways to the old ruined arena. It was said that they held combat training here until about a century ago when the previous Dark Lord Apophis was a student here and destroyed the place. Nowadays, it was only used for target practice and maybe a few illicit meet-ups between students. Walking through the ground floor entrance, they entered the main arena and found an unmoving figure face down on the ground.
“Lumus Rex,” Daisy chanted, summoning an orb of floating magical light and sending it out to illuminate the whole arena. To their shock, they realised it was Alex. The group rushed over to help him but slowed down halfway there.
“Is this a trick?” Maxwell asked as he focused his gaze even more on Alex’s unmoving form.
“It does seem like something he would do,” Bea nodded.
“So that’s the mighty Professor Alex? Gotta say he lives up to his reputation that my big bro told me about,” the student from the following crowd shouted as the crowd made their way into the stands to what they assumed would be a farce of a display.
“Well, we can cast a physical check status then,” Gunter suggested. “Hold on, chief, I got you.” Holding out his hands, Gunter closed his eyes to focus.
“ANIMUS, COLTER, VARIO, HUIGIN, MANASTAZ.” with the spell chanted, a glowing plate appeared in front of Gunter. Indecipherable to anyone else not permitted by the caster, Gunter seemed to be reading. Before anyone could ask what it said, Gunter rushed over to Alex.
“Wake up, sir,” Gunter begged as he gently slapped Alex’s face. Approaching close behind him, the class were shocked at how pale Alex appeared.
“What’s wrong, Gunter?” Maxwell demanded.
“Severe blood loss,” his three-word answer made the class's stomachs drop.
“But he looked fine during the lesson?” Daisy said.
“M-maybe it was a shimmer illusion,” Kline offered.
As they fussed over Alex, an indescribable terrifying presence overwhelmed the entire class. They each could only somewhat identify the sensation as pressure, much like Alex was helping them build up a resistance to it. But this one drilled malice directly into their hearts.
Turning to the source of this growing terror, the group saw a thin figure walking in through the main entrance. Coming into the view of the light hovering over the arena, they could see she was an elf. Her features were so beautiful to each class member that time seemed to stand still. The elf muttered something they couldn’t quite make out as they were focused.
“OH MY GODS, IT IS LADY ELISSA!!! I TOLD YOU, GUNTER!!!” Tasha squealed as she slapped Gunter on the chest. Rising from her crouched position Tasha rushed towards who had been identified as Elissa. The moment she reached a step away from diving directly into Elissa in a hug tackle, Tasha vanished.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Shocked and terrified, the class couldn’t comprehend what had happened. It was only when they heard the crack of rubble that they found where Tasha had vanished to. She hadn’t been teleported away but was hit with such force she may as well have. Because there, with her arm twisted at an ungodly angle, was Tasha.
“I ASKED WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY FIANCE?!!” Elissa was now radiating enough bloodlust the students in the stands began fainting.
“P-please wait; we are his students,” Daisy stuttered, holding her hands out defensively.
“YOU LIE!!!” Elissa roared as she took her sheathed sword that she had battered Tasha away with and drew the blade. The blade itself had a purplish aura to it that the entire class knew meant certain death.
A deafening silence descended on the arena as Elissa glared at the class, who desperately tried to persuade the irate elf that she was mistaken. The only sound that made it into the eras of each student was their own racing heartbeat. It is then a resounding thud followed by another proceeding down the entrance behind Elissa.
Emerging from the entrance was a towering figure in full plate armour. Its eyes glowed a brilliant viridian. Raising its left hand over its right shoulder, it gave a heavy backhand to Elissa, who didn’t even move an inch with the strike that sent a shockwave around the arena.
“Calm yet?” a deep baritone voice asked from within the armour.
“Yes, but they hurt my dearest Alex,” Elissa turned to face the armoured figure, no longer radiating her murderous aura.
“You were told he would show them the backlash of an imperial seal. It is why you are here, as he would not be able to engage in combat personally,” the figure explained before exhaling a deep sigh. “Elissa, I wonder if you can retain information sometimes?”
“I-if I may, ma’am. Our friend here cast scanning magic, and he is suffering from blood loss. We have only just arrived ourselves and were offering aid,” Maxwell explained, stepping forwards to place himself between the class and Elissa. Daisy noticed Maxwell’s hands were visibly shaking with terror, and it was only not noticeable because he hid them in his pockets.
“See now, apologise. You are here to help them, not kill them,” the figure admonished. Understanding her mistake, Elissa bowed her head to the class.
“You kids alright?” the figure asked.
“We are, sir. But Tasha over there was hurt before you arrived,” Bea answered, gesturing towards the unconscious figure still embedded in a wall.
“Gods dammit Elissa, they are kids! Alex is going to be angry when he wakes up,” the figure roared as it stopped towards Tasha and yanked her from the wall.
“Sorry, sir, but who are you?” Daisy asked as she saw a green glow encompass Tasha’s body.
“Professor Yuu Ironforge. I’m a good friend of that idiot over there,” the figure gestured to Elissa. “And best friends with that idiot there,” Yuu gestured towards Alex. “He asked me to come here and do any healing that would be needed. He can attest to my skill in keeping you alive when your organs are shredded.”
“It is an honour as always, sir,” Gunter said, bowing his head to Yuu, who only responded with a gruff snort.
“Alright, this one’s sorted. Next, my favourite idiot,” Yuu said, stomping towards Alex.
“But I’m not hurt, Yuu?” Elissa said with a tilt of her head.
“I know it’s why I said my favourite idiot,” Yuu answered, kneeling over Alex and beginning healing him. A few minutes passed before Alex twitched and regained consciousness.
“Huh?” Alex looked up, bleary-eyed.
“You ok?” Yuu asked.
“Yeah, I was just resting my eyes. The kids here yet?”
“Yes, one has already been knocked out by your missus.” These words woke Alex up faster than any in the class imagined was possible; he seemed to vanish only to reappear in front of Elissa.
“Is it true you hit one of my students without permission?” Alex’s glare made Elissa, who seemed to have been oblivious, now began to panic.
“I-i-it was a mistake, honey,” Elissa’s eyes searched for support, but she found none.
“You know this will require punishment, right?” Elissa just lowered her head in shame and gave a weak nod.
“No cuddles for a week or till the student you hurt fully forgives you.” Spinning back to face the class, Alex gave a comforting smile.
“Sorry, kids. Guess I overestimated my resilience. Regardless, I am going to teach you a few tricks then you will practice them while Elissa tries to beat the crap out of you.”
“What will we be learning, sir?” Maxwell asked as he raised his hand that was no longer shaking.
“Shielding magic and movement magic.”
“But those are simple spells?” Daisy observed.
“Miss Daisy, you should know by now I don’t use simple spells the way a normal mage does. I may give the impression of ultimate power. But from your files, three of you are capable of higher grades of spells than I am.” The class we all visibly shocked at this admission.
“I am so capable of high-tier combat because I am unconventional. I use spells in ways even their creators never imagined. I don’t win by being a hammer. I win by being a scalpel. So you kids ready?”
The class all nodded, the only exception being Tasha, who was still unconscious and propped up by the stairs up to the stands.
“So, sir, would you care to give us an explanation as to what you mean?” Maxwell asked.
“Certainly, you lot have just witnessed one example just a moment ago. I used flow acceleration to move from there to here to tell off my dearest,” Alex explained, gesturing from where he had been mere moments ago and to where he now stood.
“But you didn’t chant anything?” Kline observed.
“Of course, chanting isn’t always an option in the heat of battle.”
“Sir, shouldn’t we have mage knights guarding us casters?” Daisy asked.
“Normally. But a battlefield is chaotic. Expecting things to go the way you expect them to is the height of folly. It is why I got the lovely Elissa here for your sparring partner. You need experience in close combat.”
“That still hasn’t answered Kline's question, sir,” Maxwell pressed.
“Ah, yes. Well, you see, I have these,” Alex began as he rolled up both of his sleeves, revealing his forearms. The class looked intently but just saw bare skin, with the exception of his right hand, which had half its palm and three fingers made of metal.
“Are we meant to be seeing something, sir?” Bea asked.
“Your shimmer’s still up, Alex,” Yuu said, pointing a gauntleted finger at his arm.
“Ah yes, sorry,” Running a hand down each wrist, a shimmer of light faded, revealing three magical runes tattooed on each arm. The runes for flow acceleration, perfect balance, and spider feet were on his right wrist. At the same time, his left wrist had the runes for repelling field, dizziness resistance and greater perception.
“Tattooed runes?” Gunter asked as he approached Alex and took a closer look.
“Exactly,” Alex replied with a grin offering his arms for closer inspection. With this invitation, the rest of the class approached and examined the marks themselves.
“How do they work? I was under the impression runes needed to be engraved in inanimate materials?” Gunter asked, looking up to meet Alex’s gaze.
“This one is more Yuu’s experiment,” Alex said, gesturing to the towering teacher who was watching the exchange.
“If you find potent enough reagents and produce and ink with them, the tattoos can function,” Yuu explained in a jilted tone.
“Oh, that sounds simple,” Bea muttered as she ran a hand over the tattoo.
“Oh, she’s just being modest. You have to synthesise a reagent of insanely high potency. If I remember, Yuu ended up using a mixture of fresh basilisk venom, ancient dragon blood and Kraken ink willing given.” The class all paused to gaze at the smithing teaching with awe. The teacher in the towering armour had to obtain materials from three dread beasts of a significant level, all just to test out a theory about tattooing.
“So how do they work, chief?” Gunter asked.
“Similar to any other magical item. I just pour mana into them.”
“Bit of an odd choice for runes, though. Surely you would’ve been better off with strength enhancement?” Maxwell asked as the class finished the last of their inspections of the tattoos.
“Depends on who’s getting them. Strength enhancement on someone like me is pointless. I am weak as a kitten without my magic supporting me. Enhancing a low number will do little. So I focused on my real strengths.”
“And they are?” Daisy asked.
“I’m flexible both in thought and body. I can cast awkward spells easily just because I’m double-jointed and can bend my fingers in weird ways that’d hurt another mage. So I picked runes that’d let me not tank a blow but not be where the blow is aimed.”
“What about the shield spell?” Bea asked. “You mentioned we would also be learning a different method for that as well?”
“Indeed, now I’m still a tad woozy, so I won’t be able to demonstrate more than a couple of times. First things first, can you each conjure up a shield.”
The class all stepped back and into a line as Alex indicated for them to do. Then while lined up, they all chanted the spell to conjure a shield of mana used to defend one’s self.
““AEGIS,”” A glass-like membrane appeared projected in front of each student.
“Beautiful, now Elissa my love, break each of their shields please.” Elissa nodded and went up to each student. Drawing back her fist, she slammed it into the shield, with shattered on impact. She repeated this with each student before returning to her waiting spot.
“Do you see what happened?”
“Yes sir, she overwhelmed our shields,” Daisy answered.
“Do you know why?”
“I know, sir. It is because the mana invested was overcome by the force she exuded,” Maxwell answered.
“Exactly,” Alex said with a happy clap of his hands. “What would happen, however, if you filled it with lots of mana? Say enough to resist that blow?”
“It would shatter due to an overload?” Maxwell replied unsurely.
“Yes and no. The shield will shatter because of an overload. But what happens the second before it shatters itself is it becomes unbreakable.” The class still seemed confused.
“I will demonstrate. Elissa will you hit me with, say, a seven in your usual repertoire,” Elissa eagerly nodded as she approached Alex. Drawing her fist back, she swung it with far greater force than she had used on the class's shields.
“AEGIS!” Alex quickly chanted, summoning a shield at the exact moment Elissa’s fist would’ve collided with him. The shield naturally shattered, but Elissa was visibly repelled.
“You see what I did?” Alex asked, turning to his students. Gunter was the first to raise a hand.
“You timed your overload to coincide with the strike to make a barrier she could not break through?” Alex nodded and gave a thumbs-up to this answer.
“Perfect answer top marks. Yes, this is known as flash shielding. It is often taught to soldiers. But it is very useful if you can get the hang of it. The only problem will be timing, as you have less than a second between activation and overloading.”
“What about the runes? Will you demonstrate them for us?” Bea asked, a grin spreading across her face. Alex, however, looked pensive.
“I’m not sure, get some practice with flash shielding while I recover a bit, and maybe once Elissa is done beating you guys up, I will show you what my runes can really do.” With these final words, Alex went to sit down on the lowest row of the stands and watch the lesson.
“Ok, class. My love has asked me to whip you into a shape befitting his students. This will be tough, but don’t worry; we have a grade eight healer, little miss Yuu. She will patch any broken bones in minutes. Now get ready. I will be fighting you at a two of my usual fighting repertoire.”
“W-would you explain what that is, ma’am?” Kline asked.
“Ten is if I want to destroy multiple legions. Nine is a single legion. Eight is multiple cohorts. So on and so forth. You're going to be tested at a squad’s level.” Kline’s face paled at this explanation.
“We will be fighting one at a time. Sort out who goes when amongst yourselves the rest can sit with Alex and watch till it’s your turn.” Elissa declared, walking to the centre of the arena.
“Lots again?” Gunter suggested. “I got ones with numbers.” The group just nodded. Gunter reached into a pouch and withdrew a new set of lots, and they each drew them. Kline, upon drawing his, exhaled a deep sigh. Meanwhile, Bea just burst out laughing at his expense.
“Wow, you have crap luck,” Bea observed as she held her number five aloft.