"Welcome back everyone! I hope you whelps enjoyed your days off, cause these next four weeks shall be a determining factor for all of you trying to be Lancers." Grula addressed her students in the arena with usual fashion.
"Yep! And things have changed a little. You all might have heard of the little excursion that happened a couple of days ago...but if you haven't don't worry about it." Zen shrugged.
"To make it short and sweet, instead of taking two of you at a time...I'll be taking the four of you away for a month for practice contracts." Grula sighed and put her hands on her hips. "This also, unfortunately, means that they'll be rigid and basic contracts. Nonetheless, it'll be experience."
"As for you two..." Zen looked at Avures and Bif. "You'll be staying behind to work on yourselves. Bif...fix your grades. And Avures...just fight better...I guess?"
"Roughly, but yeah, that's what we have for you guys. So, Ventrix, Olicia, Rael, and Lylas...go pack up the stuff you'll need for a month long trip." Grula shooed them away. "As for you two, just do your best to fix those mistakes. Zen will be around if you need him."
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"So, I bet you're gonna miss me, huh?" Rael leaned over in front of Avures as he sat on his bed.
"It'll be like a vacation of my own." Avures shrugged and stood up.
"Aw, come on! Can't you just admit you enjoy my company?" Rael pouted and crossed her arms.
"I'm pretty sure I have." Avures walked over to his desk and scoured the contents on top of it and within.
"Oh...well, uh...you could always say it again..." Rael tapped her fingers together with a sly grin on her face.
"Fine." Avures sighed and turned around. He looked her straight in the eyes. "I'll miss you. I hope you come back okay. I'd hate for you to get hurt."
"Uh-..." Rael blushed ever-so slightly as she lowered her arms. "It's weird to hear you say that stuff so...easily."
"Is that bad?"
"No-no!...I'll miss you too Avures...even if it is only for one month." Rael grabbed her pack and slug it over her shoulder. "When I come back...make sure that you'll still be here. Okay?"
"I'll try my best." Avures looked away and went back to searching through his things.
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"Thanks for meeting me on such short notice. I was really hoping to catch you before you got sucked into another job." Zen sat down at a dark wooden table, barely illuminated by a single candle.
"Eh? Course. Ya made it sound like some serious stuff. Though, any particular reason ya got us sitting down here with the rats?" George took a seat opposite of Zen. The wooden chairs that sat in creaked as they shifted into it comfortably.
"It's the only secure spot I know of in Tumae. I'm good friends with the owner of this bar, and so he lets me down here occasionally for peace and quiet." Zen put his hands on the table.
"I get ya. I think I remember you telling me about how ya used to be a monk. Not much silence to be found at the Academy, eh?" George lifted a bottle of booze up to his lips and partook in the drink.
"Right. Not much secrecy either. As far as I know, you and Grula are the only people I can trust with this information and theory I'm about to propose." Zen reached below the table and grabbed a sack that sat by his feet. "From that purge a few nights ago, I've come up with a theory on a possible conspiracy. I know not the end goals, but I've connected some dots on intuition. I want to make sure what I have is based in some reality."
"If I remember right, isn't this whole thing the fault of Godan or that guy's son?" George took another drink.
"No. Neither of them add up as the culprits. Godan wouldn't do that...I'm sure you know that as well. And as for Tobias's son, he wouldn't collaborate with the enemies of his father. No way...but before I get into this any further, I want to clarify some things." Zen reached into the sack and pulled out two books. One titled, "Of Dark Gods: A Study on the Cult of Woe", and the other titled, "Of Dark Gods: A Study on the Cult of Ozix". He put them down on the table in front of George.
"Ah, picked up my works have ya? Nifty little guides on how to kill vermin. So, what are ya wanting to clarify?" George smiled as he took another drink.
"First, let me start with Woe. Under no circumstances, do these cults work together...correct?"
"Only in dire situations. Otherwise, they are completely opposed in every way possible. Theologically, ideologically, etcetera."
"But what about off-shoots?...different sects? Schismatic differences? Would a different Woe cult join forces with an Ozix cult?"
"I imagine this all comes back to the reports, right?..well, I suppose if whatever leadership this sect belongs to would dictate it...was this a different sect?"
"I read in your work that Woe Cultists like to use poetry of the heart, mind, and soul. They'll use words of power to define worship and law between them. I know of the standard uses of Woe, Misery, and Suffering. However, according to Meius, the Woe Cultists in this battle used the term "Temptation". It was a term they were very intent on delivering. Does that ring any bells?"
"'Fraid not...actually...this does remind me...there was a time some years ago. Velix Felsta and I were working on a job together. We had tracked down a Woe Cult who were actively and brazenly attacking people. They used the term "Arrogance". And leading them was...was..." George had frozen in place. His grip tightened on his bottle of booze. Temptation...Woe Cult?...George shattered the bottle in his hands, piercing his skin with shards of glass as the alcohol hit the ground.
"Oy-oy! George!" Zen snapped his fingers in front of his face a few times.
"Sorry!...its just...if the term Temptation is being used, then I know what's going on. But, I don't really see a reason for whoever is in charge of that sect to help Ozix Cultists." George started pulling the glass shards out of his hand.
"Hmm...then that's the wild card in all of this. I can see the answers lying there somewhere...but, secondly now...Ozix's Cult. If I'm not mistaken, there's an inner circle of Grand Priests, and the one above them...correct?"
"That is...correct." George finished pulling the glass out of his hand, and started wrapping it in a bandage. "The one above them is called The Flow Priest. That person has final say in the entire cult. It's a namesake born of Ozix's dark energy that he put into the world."
"And how does one achieve that position?"
"Huh?...well, firstly, you'd have to become a Grand Priest yourself. Which means that Ozix has to show some parcel of favor towards ya. And then, it's a matter of succession. If the Flow Priest dies, the next most senior Grand Priest ascends to that title."
"Right...and we're very certain that was a Flow Priest who died in battle. So, George...would it be too far off to say...that with those cultists being no where near prepared to battle a force like ours...that this could have been intentionally done for someone within their ranks to get a promotion?"
"Hmm...you're also implying...that one of the people who know of Xilvas's secret...is whoever orchestrated all of this..." George rubbed his chin as he looked towards the two books.
"It lines up too well. From top to bottom. Godan is busy with business a long ways away from here. And of course, the son of Tobias wouldn't do this. Not to mention, with how precisely this had to go down...with those cultists seemingly not knowing anything pertaining to the force that would greet them, to all the leadership for them present dying as well...there's no way that someone so far away could have done it. Someone within that meeting, was the one who did this."
"I can't say...that I disagree with your theory. But two immediate things come to mind for me." George raised a finger. "One, it doesn't seem like this hurts the Academy in the end. So, I'm not certain of the severity of all of this."
"On the contrary..." Zen sighed. "If someone was devoted enough to be in the cult, and manipulate them like so...and that same person was also high ranking in the Academy...who's to say that we won't be used as a pawn like them? Besides, playing two opposing sides...I'm not sure about that."
"Fair point. Then two." George raised another finger. "Xilvas can detect lies and truths without any prompt. If there was a mole, he surely could have sniffed them out by now."
"True, unless..."
"Unless?..."
"Someone has a way to bypass Xilvas's shade."
"You think someone has a way to do that?" George shook his head. "I suppose one could craft a shade with the sole intent of countering another..."
"But...just about everyone knows the shade of each other person within that circle. Which also leaves some pretty harsh implications." Zen sternly looked at the table. "This is the part I'm really confused about..."
"Ya could be working yourself up over nothing too. There is a chance that this was just Godan betraying y'all." George sighed and stood up.
"That's the problem, though. If I don't come up with any sort of confirmation...Godan is going to be killed. Xilvas has already sent Meius out, and Godan is supposedly on his way back." Zen shook his head and stood up as well.
"As awful as it sounds...it might be a needed casualty. If it was Godan...then all will be well. If not...then it lowers the amount of suspects..."
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"Damn...so you're really just gonna sit there and meditate all day?" Bif crossed his arms as he stood in Avures's room.
"You know, Rael already hounds me for that. Do you really need to add to it?" Avures sighed and opened his eyes to see Bif standing at his open door.
"Well. You were like this yesterday...and the day before that...and the day before that...basically for this whole week since they all left for the month." Bif shut the door behind him and took a seat in Avures's desk chair.
"What else am I supposed to do?" Avures shrugged and maneuvered himself against the wall while he sat on his bed.
"Get better at fighting...duh." Bif jokingly smacked the side of his head.
"Aren't you supposed to be getting better at reading and writing?" Avures crossed his arms.
"Hey hey...c'mon now. No need to get all mad." Bif smiled and put his hands up.
"I'm not mad."
"Sure you aren't, bud."
"Whatever..." Avures sighed.
"Hmm. So, you and red-head share this room...not to sound weird, but I've noticed you guys don't leave the room when getting changed...does she...get undressed in front of you?" Bif face sported a toothy grin.
"Yes?..." Avures raised an eyebrow.
"Oh man! That's hot! No wonder you can't focus in entirely on a fight! You're thinking about the hottie!" Bif doubled over in laughter, almost falling out of the chair.
"You've got the completely wrong idea! It's not like that!" Avures frowned as his face turned slightly red. "We turn around when one of us is changing clothes! I'm not a creep..."
"Huh?...oh...well, I guess it makes sense." Bif calmed himself down, but he wasn't done. "Do you think...she looks over?"
"What?! I don't-..." Avures froze in his rebuttal...a silent image in his head was conjured, consisting of Rael looking over at him while he was naked. He could see her smug face with her hand over her mouth, trying to contain her laughter. "I don't think she does."
"You don't look so sure, bro." Bif stood up from Avures's chair.
"I'd like to think she doesn't." Avures uncrossed his arms and put his face in his hands. "Do you have...anything of importance to say or add, Bif?"
"Uh..." Bif stood up from the chair and meandered to the door. "No."
Bif then opened the door, and exited Avures's room. Alone again...though, Avures didn't feel like going back to meditate. As annoying as Bif had been in those moments, his observation was correct. Meditating is all Avures had been doing.
The truth of the situation he found himself in was that Avures had no clue how to improve. The statement they had given him: "You lack intensity". It could honestly mean anything. It frustrated Avures internally, and no matter how much he asked Zen about it, he never quite got a good answer. Avures could solve the inherit problems with his own casting, and could practice the sword for however long he wanted, but it wouldn't satisfy his teachers.
It felt...futile. Avures was stuck with no solution in sight. And as the days passed by, Avures's mood and mental stability decayed. He could train, he could study, he could grow...but no matter what, his "intensity" didn't seem to improve.
Eventually, Avures started to feel that he was hopeless in the matter. He had been here for around nine months, and he would have nothing to show for it. He'd get kicked out of the Academy, and he'd be on his own. All of his life, all he had ever known was the orphanage and this place. Avures didn't know how to live on his own, much less, what he would even do to survive. But beyond that, deep down...he knew he'd be left behind from the only people he ever knew.
He wouldn't be able to keep his promise to Ventrix. He wouldn't be able to hang out with Lylas or Bif. He wouldn't be able to talk to or help Olicia. But ultimately, and worst of all...he wouldn't be able to see Rael again. The thought of being separated from his friend permanently...his first and truest friend.
Along with all of that, Avures would lose the first, and most likely only, prospect at a future he'd have. Avures had no clue if he even wanted to do Lancer work. He had no clue what would come after graduating, or even after the first year. Was this even for him?...It seemed as if he was only going along with this in the first place for Rael's sake. After all, she chose him. She chose him...but it was more than that too. Avures had found joy in doing the things he did day to day here. Learning, improving...he had found a small glint of hope within the passion of learning these new things like magic, and even swordplay to some degree.
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So, when it came down to it...Avures felt strongly about these things. Though, he wouldn't show it, Avures enjoyed being here. Not just for the sake of others, but for his own sake too.
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"Hey!" Avures slammed open the door to Bif's room. Avures immediately spotted the boy, punching a book on literature. He stopped and looked to Avures.
"Ever heard of knocking, dick-weed? Can't you see I'm busy here?" Bif took an immediate hostile tone. But, Bif himself was fairly surprised at the sudden assertiveness of Avures, so he listened.
"Let's make a deal." Avures walked up to Bif's desk. "I know you like to keep it simple, so how about this?...I'll teach you how to read and write...and you teach me what "fighting with intensity" means. How does that sound?"
"Huh?...look, I'm not too keen on accepting your help, bud. It's not personal, I swear. If I can't do it on my own, what's the point?" Bif shrugged and stopped punching the book.
"Look, Bif. I used to think the same thing. In fact, I was intent on trying to figure this thing out on my own too...but..." Avures sighed and extended out his hand. "I really need your help...and I want to make sure you'll be here with me too moving forward."
"You know, Avures. You confuse me sometimes. Sometimes, you don't want anything to do with anyone else. Then, you're either asking or offering help." Bif stood up from his desk and scratched the back of his head. "Be a little consistent or open with me...what's gotten into you?"
"It's nothing in particular, I swear. But, I have had a bit of an awakening recently...being here is too important to me to give up."
"Oh...I get it. Well, look." Bif took Avures's hand and shook it. "You're in for a hell of a time. Lylas struggled to help me learn, and Olicia gave up on it. But, I can do my best for you."
"No."
"No?..."
"We're going to work on you first. We have three weeks...We'll spend the first two weeks improving your grades, and teaching you."
"Avures...look, it's not that I don't have faith in you...but I got that animal brain...so I'm basically a lost ca-hey!"
Avures had pulled his hand away from Bif's own. Bif felt a strange tingling feeling in his hand. Like there was some magic just used on it. As Bif looked at his hand, Avures walked over to Bif's dresser and opened up the top drawer. Bif went to protest, but Avures instantly pulled out the cracked mask in front of him.
"How are you going to be better than them if you give up?" Avures pointed to the white owl mask as he held it up.
"You-...Ha...You've got a lot of nerve...pulling that out in front of me and saying that...but, you are right." Bif sighed, grabbing the mask out of Avures's hand and setting it back in the drawer. "Alright, bud...teach me then, eh?"
It was a bit of a gamble, but Avures was glad it paid off. Truth be told, he was unsure of the exact properties of his left hand. But, his assumption was correct. He could use it to see into the past. The moment he had grabbed Bif's hand, and channeled that energy into it, he could instantly see where that mask was. Though, it wasn't exactly what he was going for, Avures's memory was quite astute. He still remembered the story Bif had told him and Olicia about The Prime Owl. And now...Avures got Bif to agree to his proposal.
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The next two weeks were filled with nothing but Avures teaching Bif what he knew about reading and writing. Avures was no teacher himself, but he didn't let that stop him from trying his hardest. Bif's comprehension of words and letters were completely nonexistent. Avures equated it to teaching a small child how to read for the first time. Using the same method he had learned from Misses Greene back when he was growing up, Avures was able to get Bif to understand the very basics of reading. That was the first step, and took most of the time.
Truthfully, that was the biggest hill hurdled. No teacher here was going to teach him how to read. And, expecting Lylas or Olicia to do it when it's not their responsibility yielded the result of where Bif was. Bif should have had the opportunity to learn, but he never did. Avures didn't blame him. He didn't feel Bif was stupid for it either. And Avures would let Bif know what he thought. And perhaps...Bif respected that about Avures, as he was willing to do whatever Avures told him to do in order to learn.
The last of the three weeks involved Avures making deals with the teacher of the general ed classes. Through his own sacrifices of his own grades, Avures got Bif the chance to retake some of the tests and such he failed. The teacher, at least somewhat appreciating Avures's sacrifice, made the tests a little easier. When the time came, Bif retook the tests...and, to everyone's surprise, he did alright. He didn't ace them, or fail them, but it's clear he could somewhat understand the words on the paper.
Bif had successfully fixed his grades, and in doing so, secured his next year at the Academy. Words couldn't describe the pressure and weight alleviated from him. But now, it was Bif's turn to help Avures in a similar manner. And though they only had one week to do so, Bif would do whatever it takes to make sure his friend got to the next year with him.
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"So, we're doing this out in the open?..." Avures held his sword in his hand.
"Might as well. Plus, I got some buddies who might be able to help you understand." Bif smiled, holding the two clubs over his back.
The two of them stood in the side yard of the Academy. Some people occasionally came out this way to train, but for the most part would stick inside with the arenas in there. Avures still swore that there was non-euclidean magic at play, but it didn't really matter for the most part. As they waited, eventually, a group of three older students came by.
"Yo, Bif, you called?" The one in the middle walked up to the two of them.
"Yeah. This is my pal, Avures. He's having some major struggles, and our teachers aren't really giving him good advice on how to fix it." Bif shrugged.
"Ah. So what's the problem, my guy?" The student looked to Avures.
"Uh...they keep saying I don't fight with "intensity"...and I'm not really sure what to do with that." Avures looked away from the guy, fearing some sort of insult.
"Hmm. That is quite the conundrum, eh?" The student rubbed his chin. "I suppose, what your teacher means...is that you aren't focused enough."
"But I do focus." Avures scratched his head.
"You do, huh?" The student frowned. "Hey guys, go off without me, I'll take care of this."
"Alright, see ya around, Pontin." The other two who came with him walked off.
"Tell me something, Avures. Think of how many times you...fought? Sparred? And tell me how many you have won." Pontin put his hands on his hips.
"Zero." Avures bowed his head. "I've won zero..."
"Do you know why?"
"Because I lack intensity...?"
"Sure, that's the baseline, but think of it more simply. What exactly can't you do which causes you to lose fights?"
"Avures...I'd say he learns pretty quick. Adaptable. If given the chance, he can defend himself in all sorts of ways." Bif brought his clubs in front of him, crossing them. "But..."
"I'm no good at attacking. Anytime I try to pull an offensive, it blows up in my face, or it's not substantial enough...or I don't even try at all because I know I'll fail." Avures sighed, still holding his head low. Though a lot of the sparring blurred together, he still vividly remembered his one-on-one versus Lylas. He never once took a real offensive to him. Everything he did was defensively minded, or a setup.
"See, there it is. That's what they mean." Pontin put his hand on Avures's shoulder. "Intensity is a mixture of focus, confidence, and a third thing I'll name as "Willingness". You must use all three."
"So...how do I do that?..." Avures slowly brought his gaze up.
"Well...intensity is something that comes naturally. You can't learn it. But, you can train it. Take this goofball for example." Pontin pointed to Bif. "I've known this kid for years. He fought every single day of his life that he spent on the streets. Eventually, he started winning..."
"Hey, bro! C'mon!" Bif shouted as Pontin laughed.
"Anyways, Bif trained that instinct in him. That pure, unadulterated urge to win no matter what."
"In every single fight I've watched of Bif's..." Avures thought back through all the times he's seen Bif wildly charge and swing at his classmates. "He's always doing something different. From the basics of combat, to the strategy involved."
"That's because...Bif doesn't fear losing, he doesn't fear making a mistake. Because if he does...it's all over." Pontin took his hand off of Avures's shoulder. "Think about it. Being a Lancer, or any sort of sword swinger, there are usually no second chances. Your teacher might say it a lot, but it's true...You can very easily die in this profession. If you don't have what it takes to go out there and put your life on the line, then you can't do this. You don't have intensity."
"Fight to live...Avures. Fight to live another day. That should be how you approach battle." Bif slammed his clubs against the ground.
"He's right. Look. I'll help as best as I can with my..." Pontin adjusted his uniform, and slicked back his hair. "Third-year experience!...so, why don't you two fight here, and I'll watch."
And so, they did just that. This would be how the two of them would spend their remaining time before their classmates returned. Every day, every hour they weren't eating or resting, they were out in the yard training. Pontin would occasionally stop by to watch, but also had duties of his own. Avures and Bif would fight more and more.
At first, it was safe to say that Bif won in just about every battle interaction they had. Even with his lack of magic use outside of the basic Enchantment magic he used, Bif outmaneuvered, overpowered, and even out-thought Avures. But, what was important above all of that, was Avures wasn't holding back. There was no class, no lesson, on how to go on the offensive. The best teacher was experience. No amount of book knowledge could give information on something that only the fiery pits of battle could teach.
Avures struggled mightily at first, often falling flat on his own face when trying to be offensive. Bif, being a good training partner about it, often gave Avures the chances and opportunities to learn and try new things. Practice was the best teacher, and trial and error were the lessons. Each failure a new thing he learned. And to make sure that Avures wasn't simply adapting to Bif, Pontin would occasionally step in. Though, this affair was even more one-sided than the ones against Bif.
After a couple of days, and with only a few remaining, Avures started to show progress. A lot of the inhibitions that once dulled his attacks had disappeared. The difference was so apparent that it shocked Pontin and Bif. Avures had come to agree with that sentiment. Do or die. And though he still struggled, he found that moving around and trying new things was a lot easier than before.
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In the final days, Avures had even found himself winning some of the battles with Bif...
"See, you guys are gonna want to check this out. This kid is starting to push Bif." Pontin lead the other two classmates of his from the other day towards the yard where Bif and Avures were going at it.
"Perfect Dark." Avures stood completely still. The ground became overshadowed by the darkness of Avures's magic.
"No kidding! He knows how to do that?" One of the student's put his hands on his head. "And without any signs either?"
"I told ya, these guys are the real deal. Check it." Pontin gestured back towards the fight.
Bif jumped into the air, avoiding the darkness. But, dark tendrils emerged from the ground and shot towards Bif. Unable to really maneuver himself in the air, the tendril easily grabbed Bif's ankle. Upon grabbing him, the tendril hardened, much to Bif's surprise. He tried smacking it with a club, but it didn't give. It immediately pulled him back to the ground and slammed him onto the grass below. Avures lunged forward with his sword drawn. He pointed the blade straight at Bif's neck as the boy was still held down by the tendril.
Avures had him in checkmate. He was ready to put the sword away, but that's when he felt something cold...no, it wasn't just something. It felt like the entire area around them had just lost fifty degrees. Avures felt his heart bound. He saw his rapid breaths materialize in front of him as a sort of chilled wind. He watched as Bif kicked his leg back and completely shattered the tendril. The boy slowly stood himself to his feet, his gaze cast downwards. But as his head came up, Avures saw Bif's cold, blue eyes stare at him. The whites of his eyes had gone dark, and the light blue color of his irises shone brightly...but then it all stopped. The heat returned, and Bif scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile on his face. His eyes had returned to normal as well, leaving Avures perplexed.
"Sorry. I nearly got carried away there." Bif sighed and dropped his clubs.
"What was that?" Avures stood there confused as he sheathed his sword.
"Ah, just uh..."
"You overwhelmed him." Pontin clapped with a smile on his face. "Like a wild animal pushed into a corner, he was about to lash out in whatever way he could to win."
"Shut up!" Bif turned his attention towards the older student and flipped his middle finger at him.
"Still...that buddy of yours has really improved. I hope it's enough for him to stay here...any-who...I just wanted to catch a glimpse of this...so we'll be going. See ya, Bif." Pontin waved as he walked off with his classmates.
"So...how do you know those guys?" Avures looked at Bif.
"Well...they were around when I was fighting in the streets. They were going to the Academy while I was fighting for scraps and all..." Bif picked up his clubs and started sheathing them. "They actually vouched for me to get enrolled here."
"I thought coming here was a matter of having the potential..."
"Well, they've taken recommendations...plus, I did pass their little test when they came to me. So really, it's because of guys like Pontin that I got to come here." Bif shrugged. "He is kind of an asshole, though."
"I see...Bif..." Avures bowed his head and sighed, before raising to look him in the eyes again. "Thank you."
"Huh?...hey, you don't gotta thank me. Just make sure that you won't be kicked out tomorrow, huh?" Bif slapped Avures on the back. "Actually, I should be thanking you...my friend..."
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Before either of them had known it, time was up. The next day, Grula and the other classmates returned. There was no class that day, instead, opting to have it tomorrow. Everyone hung out like normal until lunch was over. Avures and Rael sat in their room. Avures was reading, while Rael watched him from the other side of the room. Rael was humming as she kicked her feet over the side of her bed.
"So...don't you want to know how it went?" Rael kept happily moving about on her bed.
"Huh? Sure." Avures closed the book and sat it down. "How was it?"
"Boring..." Rael stopped moving and sighed. "Miss Grula said it was going to be like that, but still...all we did was slay some overgrown bugs, and help repair a wall..."
"I think I remember something about them telling us that it could be life or death, or boredom." Avures rested his head on his hand.
"Mhm. Yep. Speaking of boredom...you missed me, right?" Rael smiled as she looked over to Avures.
"I guess. It was kind of peaceful...I'm not used to that."
"Avures..."
"I'm kidding. I missed your company..." Avures sighed, looking away from Rael.
"Good!...so, I heard Bif fixed his grades...did you uh...fix your problem?" Rael intently looked at Avures.
"Well...maybe? I think so. I guess we'll just have to see if Mister Zen and Miss Grula like the progress I've made..." Avures shrugged, turning back to his desk.
"You're really going to leave it up to chance?" Rael frowned.
"What other choice do I have? I've done what I could to improve. If they don't like it...then I guess it's goodbye." Avures opened the book back up to where he left off.
"And you're just willing to accept that?" Rael gripped the edges of her bed.
"I'll have to. In the end, Rael...no matter how hard I push myself to improve, no matter how much I keep it together and hold it in when thinking about how much I want to stay...it's fifty-fifty. Do or die." Avures put his finger to the words in the book. "I don't know what I'll do after if it's all for nothing, but...I'll at least have had fun."
"You-..." Rael could see the corner of Avures's lips perk up ever-so slightly. She was completely taken aback. To have seen him really smile, for one of the first times ever. In her mind, she didn't want to lose that. Even though, Avures had gone back to his book at this point. The image of that small smile was now burned into her mind. Rael huffed as she shot up from her bed. She speed-walked over to the door, opening it and shutting it behind her.
Avures was a bit confused on the sudden aggression, but he shrugged and went back to his book.
Rael would be damned if she would go a whole month without seeing Avures, and then be without him for the rest of her time at the Academy. As much as he had his own problems, and she had her own as well...Rael needed Avures. And she knew that he needed her as well. And after all that's happened...after that night with the diary, that night with the date, going to those ruins, and to that old burned down village...Rael knew what she and Avures were. She was going to do whatever it took to get him to stay.
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"Yeah. It turns out when you have to care for four kids...you can't really take them on the real juicy and exciting contracts." Grula sighed as she leaned against the entrance hall to the arena. "Did you at least make the best of it?"
"I suppose...I was able to confirm with Mottis most of my assumptions. We're still in the gray area with the same parts though..." Zen leaned up against the other side, his arms crossed. "As unfortunate as it is, I don't have any sort of evidence on Godan's behalf...so I suppose there's no saving him."
"Damn...I was never keen on the guy...but I just don't see him as a traitor. I suppose Meius will deliver justice, and hopefully confirmation on the whole thing." Grula shook her head. "How were Bif and Avures?"
"Bif fixed his grades thanks to Avures...and from the glimpses I've seen, Avures improved a lot thanks to Bif's help."
"How cute..." Grula smiled. "Would you say it's enough?"
"Probably. We could use the New Age Festival as a showcase if you're not too sure."
"Good point, Zen. We'll do that-" Grula had gotten off the wall when she heard a fast set of footsteps approach.
"Miss Grula! Mister Zen!" Rael ran through the entrance hall and was greeted to the sight of both of them.
"Oh...Rael, sweetie, do you need something?" Grula walked to Zen's side.
"It's...it's about Avures." Rael looked at them, her eyes were shaky. "Is he going to be able to stay?"
"Hmm?..." Grula leaned against the wall right beside Zen. She stealthily nudged him with her elbow. "I don't know, honey...from what I've heard, he doesn't look much better."
"That's right...it might be too late..." Zen shook his head, playing along with Grula.
"Then..." Rael clenched her fist. If Avures wouldn't take the initiative to make sure he'd stay...if he wouldn't do whatever it takes to stay by her side... "Since that's the case...Avures wanted me to tell you that in order to show his growth...he wants to challenge you to a duel, Miss Grula."
"Huh?! No kidding?!" Grula's face went through a mixture of confusion, anger, and happiness. "Well then, we'll just do that tomorrow, huh? Avures will fight for his right to stay here..."
"Scurry along now, Rael..." Zen shooed Rael away.
"Ah!-...okay." Rael nodded her head and slowly backed away. The easiness of which Grula had accepted those terms made her shocked, but nonetheless, the result she wanted was there. Though Avures wouldn't be happy with her lying on his behalf, Rael saw it as the only way to really show that he was meant to stay here.
After Rael had completely left their vision, both Grula and Zen chuckled.
"I didn't think he had it in him." Zen shrugged as he stepped away from the wall.
"He doesn't. At least, I don't think he would propose something like that." Grula smirked.
"Oh...so you're saying that Rael might have just made that up." Zen smiled. "It's kinda cute."
"Oh it definitely is. However, we're gonna turn this on it's head..."