“Thank you for everything,” Tai Yang said to Yu Lin as they walked to the academy.

“You already thanked me. There's no need to do it so much.”

“But I owe you so much.”

“You say that now, but…” Yu Lin closed her mouth.

“But what?”

“It's nothing. I doubt we will see each other much after we enter the academy anyways.”

“Why?”

“Because we are in different studies.”

“So? Isn't there a policy where you can travel freely through study sections?”

“Only if you are in a high enough rank.”

“Then you can come see me. With your skills… shouldn't you be pretty high ranked?” Tai Yang asked.

“That's right… but who says I want to see you?”

“Yu Lin! We have gone through so much together that we are basically sworn brothers! How could you say that?”

“I have gone through a lot. You? You just slept the whole time. Besides I don't need a sworn brother like you who's too weak to do anything.”

“Hey! That's only because I'm still recovering.”

“And? I don't want a sworn brother anyways. Don't bother me anymore once we enter the academy. Find your own friends and brothers there,” Yu Lin sped up her pace.

“Hey,” Tai Yang caught up to her, “don’t say that. You don’t even know how strong I am.”

“I don’t need to.”

“Hey! If I get ranked high enough to come see you on my own, you will have to accept me as your sworn brother!”

“I don’t want to.”

“Y-you… alright, we will see what will happen then…” Tai Yang squinted at Yu Lin and Yu Lin only looked away.

The two arrived to the gates of the academy as Yu Lin held up her student badge.

“I a-” she didn’t have time to finish as the guards saw her and pointed their swords at her.

“Du Yu Lin, for neglecting your duties and being discourteous, you still dare to show your face here?!” one of the guards yelled as the other guard threw a small red jewel on the ground and crushed it underneath his feet.

“What is th-”

“Silence, traitor!” the guard yelled. Yu Lin saw Tai Yang try to step forward and she held her arm in front of him. He looked down at her with fury in his eyes and she shook her head. After a moment, Vice Principal Sato showed up in front of them. She glared at Yu Lin as she went up to her.

“Vi-” before Yu Lin could say anything she felt Vice Principal Sato’s hand slap her face.

“You insolent beast!” Vice Principal Sato hissed.

“Wha-” Yu Lin held Tai Yang back as she turned to face Vice Principal Sato.

“I need to talk to Principal Ro,” Yu Lin’s cheek burned as her red eyes grew dark.

“You still dare to see Levishire? Why don’t I just end yo-” Vice Principal Sato stopped as if she heard a voice, “Bu… why… I understand…” she looked at Yu Lin and narrowed her eyes. “Give me your bracelets, now!” she demanded. Yu Lin handed her both her endless bracelet, and the bracelet that restricted her magic over. Vice Principal Sato snatched them out of her hands as she waved her hand. Guards surrounded Yu Lin and Tai Yang from all sides. “Follow me, and if you dare do anything suspicious… don’t blame us for being cautious.”

“I understand,” Yu Lin replied as she watched Vice Principal Sato turned around.

-

Yu Lin and Tai Yang followed behind Vice Principal Sato into the room. Yu Lin noticed three students standing in front of Principal Ro’s desk, and as they saw them they moved to the side of the room.

“Here she is,” Vice Principal Sato said as she slammed Yu Lin’s bracelets onto the desk.

“Du Yu Lin,” Principal Ro eyes illuminated a bit. Yu Lin looked at him.

“Yes?”

“Why did you run away from your duties?”

“I did not.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then tell me, what happened to you?”

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“A week ago a soldier entered the Medicinal Studies section and alerted us of injured individuals. I left first to attend to the emergency. When I got there, I healed everyone who was injured. I saw a blood trail leading to the forest so I made a shelter and left a note for Teacher Li. After that I entered the forest and saw sir Hu Tai Yang,” Yu Lin gestured towards Tai Yang, “he was gravely injured and rain started pouring so I led to a cave. The rain continued for four more days and after it stopped, we started to head back here. On our way, we were captured by slave traders. Luckily, I was able to trick them and we escaped. After that, we found some nice people who were willing to lend us a ride, and now we are here,” Yu Lin said.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“But, your story differs with some of the students who went to the scene. They said that people were injured and you were nowhere to be found.”

“I have been framed.”

“Lies!” Vice Principal Sato yelled from behind Principal Ro.

“I did not lie. If you do not believe, ask sir Hu right here.”

“That’s right. He didn’t lie. I was gravely injured and Yu Lin helped me,” Tai Yang said.

“How do we even know that he is part of the students who are suppose to be enrolling? You could have picked him up from somewhere and be lying to us!” Vice Principal Sato accused. Tai Yang’s eyes widened as he shook his head.

“H-he is not lying!” Tai Yang reaffirmed, “I’m a martial arts student, I swear!”

“Alright then, let me test your skills!” Vice Principal Sato jumped towards Tai Yang. Yu Lin’s eyebrows went up as she pulled Tai Yang out of the way. Vice Principal Sato landed where Tai Yang was and she extended her arm to punch him. Yu Lin moved in front of Tai Yang as she caught Vice Principal Sato’s fist.

“Please stop, Vice Principal Sato! Sir Hu is still recovering. If you want to test his skills then please test it when he has fully recovered,” Yu Lin said as she felt pain on her hand as Vice Principal Sato pulled her hand back and looked at it with disgust as she wiped her fist.

“Shut your mouth you disgust-”

“Tsugumi!” Principal Ro’s voice roared throughout the room. “You have embarrassed me,” Principal Ro glare at her and Vice Principal Sato complexion darkened as she looked at the other side of the room.

“I-I apologize… but without proof, I don’t think we can believe anything she says. She also took off her own bracelet without any permission,” Vice Principal Sato’s voice lowered.

“I took off the bracelet outside of academy grounds, and not only this but I did it to save my life and sir Hu’s life here. Also, I have proof if you really want proof,” Yu Lin reached her hand inside her collar as she pulled out the bag and stone pendant. Yu Lin took the bag off and opened it. When she did, men poured out of the bag onto the ground, ropes bounding their arms and legs. “These are the slave traders who tried to capture us,” Yu Lin said as she pulled Hen Huo by his top knot up, “and this is their leader.”

“Let me go, you despicable creature!” Hen Huo yelled as he tried to wiggle free.

“...Hen Huo?” Principal Ro’s eyes widened. Yu Lin furrowed her eyebrows.

“How do you know his name?” she asked as she saw Principal Ro’s eyes burned with fury.

“One of the most wanted slave trader in this continent,” it was the first time Yu Lin saw so much anger within the calm man in front of her. She opened the bag again and it sucked all the men back inside. She placed the bag in front of Principal Ro.

“Do what you must to them,” Yu Lin said.

“Thank you, student Yu Lin. For catching one of the most wanted criminals, I will excuse you from your crimes,” Principal Ro gave her a headbow. She bowed back to him also.

“Thank you, Principal Ro!” she said.

“Thank you, Principal Ro!” she heard Tai Yang say as he also bowed.

“Bu-”

“Enough, Vice Principal Sato,” Principal Ro said as he picked the bag up, “I will excuse you now. Please leave,” he said nonchalantly. Yu Lin saw Vice Principal Sato’s face burned red before she gave him a bow and left the room. “And you are also excused, Du Yu Lin,” Principal Ro said as he flicked his wrists and the bracelets appeared back on Yu Lin’s wrists. Yu Lin glanced at Tai Yang before looking back at Principal Ro.

“Excuse me sir,” she said, “but may I say something?”

“What?”

“Sir Hu is still recovering from his injuries. I don’t think he will be able to study until then, what will happen to him?”

“Don’t worry. I will take care of him,” Principal Ro replied as he continued to stare down at the bag.

“I understand, then, I will take my leave,” Yu Lin started to step away.

“Wait!” she heard a low voice call out. She turned her head to see a blonde hair male walking up and stepping in front of her. A female and another male also walked and stood next to him. Basing off their uniforms Yu Lin could tell that they were from the Martial Arts department. “Principal Ro, I just found the perfect person to come along to help escort me,” the male just said. Principal Ro looked up.

“What do you mean?”

“I want this physician to accompany me,” he said.

“Student Zhong Cheng, this i-”

“Please!” Zhong Cheng bowed. Principal Ro had a conflicted look on his face as he looked up from Zhong Cheng to Yu Lin.

“Student Yu Lin,” he said, “I want you to help escort student Zhong Cheng over here with a mission. You are not allowed to refuse… also, when you leave the academy grounds I give you permission to take off the restriction bracelet. The mission will start tomorrow so until then you shall rest in one of their quarters,” Principal Ro commanded. Yu Lin internally rolled her eyes as she bowed.

“I understand,” Yu Lin said.

“Alright then, you are all dismissed, except for you, Hu Tai Yang,” Principal Ro said. They all nodded their heads as they exited the room, apart from Hu Tai Yang. They paused in the hall as Yu Lin bowed her head out of respect.

“I am Du Y-”

“Incompetence!” the female snarled as she glared at Yu Lin, “when giving your greetings to his royal highness, Guang Xi Zhong Cheng, you must bow on your knees!”

“Hai Yu, stop!” Zhong Cheng yelled at the female.

“She’s right, your highness,” the male said.

“Yu Hai!” Zhong Cheng yelled at him. Yu Lin looked up at the blonde Zhong Cheng’s purple eyes.

“Guan Xi Zhong Cheng? You are a prince?” she asked.

“That’s right, so bow down to him you commoner!”

“Hai Yu! Both of you just shut your mouths! Are you going to make me angrier than this?” Zhong Cheng said and the two nodded their head as they took a step back.

“No. We apologize,” the two’s voice harmonized. Yu Lin frowned as she just shrugged her shoulders. Zhong Cheng looked back at her and smiled.

“I’m sorry, sir Du Yu Lin,” Zhong Cheng gave her an apologetic smile, “these two can get a bit too much sometimes. But, don’t treat me any different from the other students. Here, I am just a student like the rest of us!”

“I understand,” Yu Lin replied and then cocked her head, “why… why did you say you wanted me to escort you? And where am I escorting you to anyways?”

“We’re,” Zhong Cheng looked around before leaning in, “we’re going to the palace tomorrow,” he whispered. Yu Lin’s eyes widened a bit.

“I… see…” she let out a small sigh.

“And,” Zhong Cheng backed away, “I have a question for you.”

“What?”

“That pendant… where did you get it?” Zhong Cheng asked as he pointed at her stone pendant.