Nocturnio (20.10.9978 AS)

Tristan was watching Abigail type like a maniac on a holographic keyboard as he munched on a croissant. He was used to the sight, but he still couldn’t help but feel impressed by her active. “Want one?” He asked her, pointing towards a fresh croissant, he had just gotten from a bakery. “No thanks, I already have this.” She said taking a pink lollipop out of her mouth and putting it back in.

Tristan glared at the girl who was always wearing her hazel hair to a bun. “How many times have I told you not to eat these?! We haven’t tested them out yet!” Tristan could see Abigail rolling her eyes behind her glasses that seemed too big for her small face. “That’s why I’m testing them.” She smiled brightly. “And they are awesome; I don’t feel fatigue or hunger after I started to lick on this one. And the berry taste isn’t bad either.”

Tristan sighed. “If you say so, but don’t hold me responsible if something happens to you. The magic circle I enchanted into it wasn’t perfect.”  Abigail’s brown eyes stared deep into Tristan’s greenish grey eyes that were almost hidden behind his long, wild black hair.

“Can’t you stop being so modest? Your inventions have the power to change the world, you know! And I decided to be your number one minion, so be a little proud of yourself. You’ve got brain, talent, money and a beauty!” she put on a victory pose. “So be more confident in your inventions! If we fuck up with both of our abilities, then… I don’t know… Then the world is probably about to go down!”

Abigail’s speech made Tristan smile.  When he had first had told her about his abilities, he thought it was a bad idea. But in the past five years she had helped him more than enough. Not only thanks to her encouraging speeches, but also thanks to her active ability: ‘Archive’.

“Anyways, how is the gauntlet coming along? Have you found a way to use them without me losing an arm? A barrier wouldn’t be bad, but I want to avoid charging that thing with more information so it doesn’t blow up even before using it.”

Abigail looked at the holographic monitor in front of her and sighed. “Sorry, it seems that a barrier is our only option.” The smile on Tristan’s pale face disappeared. “We will have to abandon that project for now then.”

“Why? We have never abandoned a project! And we have reached so many magnificent things just by keeping up our research!” Abigail retorted.

“Calm down for a bid. I never said we will abandon it forever, but we can’t keep up with this time consuming project since we have so many other projects to work on. And don’t forget, from today on we are members of the military course. We will even go on our first patrol today.” Tristan explained calmly.

“Why did you even choose the military course? Don’t most elder take the political courses?” Tristan continued.

“Well, most of the Elders in the academy don’t have faith in their powers. And when you finish that thing you are working on, most of the people with archive magic will lose their use.” She pointed at the item Tristan had been working on, that looked like the material version of her holographic computer. “I also told you, I’m your number one minion, so how am I supposed to be far away from my boss?” Abigail pushed her glasses slightly up and smiled brightly.

“Ok, ok.” Tristan answered. “But you know, even if I succeed in building one of those, I don’t think I would sell it to the masses like the Commu. I’ve already enough money to fill this lab with items and books, so I don’t need more money.” He pointed at his laboratory that wasn’t only filled with shelves full of books, but also full with high grade magical items. Many of them build by him and Abigail in their free time.

“So you won’t be opposing ‘them’?” Abigail looked curious towards Tristan. “Didn’t you say your powers told you, you’d have to face ‘them’ one day?”  Tristan looked at Abigail in disbelieve. “You know who my mom is and you also know she is afraid of ‘them’. So how am I supposed to oppose ‘them’ right now?”

Abigail’s eyes wandered around them room. “With your cool inventions? Didn’t your mom tell you ‘they’ didn’t like Siegfried Corp. because it broke the order of the world?” Tristan sighed. “They don’t only use more aggressive methods to find Siegfried, because mom convinced them, Siegfried won’t do anything reckless anymore. Do you really believe they will leave Siegfried alive if I go on and sell one of our babies here to the public?”

“Kyaahh you said our babies! I can’t believe you had such fantasies. I’m not ready for a family yet!” Abigail hid her face with her hands, making sure she could see Tristan’s face between her fingers. Tristan just looked bored. “Come on don’t be such a spoilsport. You are supposed to blush a little or to get mad at me for acting like a kid or something.” She said, throwing a pencil at Tristan, who caught it effortlessly.

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“Anyways, have you packed everything you need for the next week? If I remember correctly, we won’t be allowed to go home, till the week is over.” Tristan changed the topic. Abigail waved her hands. “Yes, yes, I have everything I need. And you aren’t my mom, to be telling me stuff like that.”

Tristan pretended not to hear her comment. “Very well then, come take my hand and I will drop you at your place.”  

As soon as she had taken one of Tristan’s hands, they both appeared in Abigail’s room. “How is it to be alone with a girl in her bedroom” she whispered in his ears. “How should it be? You ask every time I bring you back, and my answer won’t change from one day to the next.” Abigail looked disappointed a Tristan, who never reacted to her teasing.

Tristan was already used to how annoying Abigail could get with her pranks when she didn’t sleep enough. The lollipop she was eating would give her body energy and relieve her sense of fatigue, but her body would still crave for sleep unconsciously, so she could become quite a bitch after not sleeping for so long.

“See you at school.” He said as he disappeared, leaving her alone in the big room.

 “Good! Glad you are awake!” Ernesti entered the room without knocking. “Hey! Didn’t I tell you not to come in without knocking?” She screamed at her brother throwing a plushy on his face.

***

Everybody was already waiting in their classroom as Tristan and Laura arrived, carrying big backpacks. “Everybody is finally here.” Miss Doctri said with a sad voice. “I hope you all ready for today’s patrol. Please keep in mind, everything I taught you.” Tears were welling up her eyes. “Now everybody, I wish you best of luck you can now move to the assembly room.”

They walked to the assembly room, filled with students from other classes. Tristan could feel the tension in the air. Everybody here wanted to see in what group they ended up with and where their first patrol would take them.

The principal walked on the stage and read the short speech he had prepared. “Dear students, today is a really important day in your lives; the day you take your first step towards our continent’s military. Today you start your practical lessons with your first patrols.

The world you’re about to step into is different to the one you have been practicing in. But still you must not forget the lessons we have taught you here at the academy, no matter in what situation you might be in.

Keep in mind every single lesson, you had in the past five years, and I promise you: No one is going to stop you from fulfilling your mission. Just remember to always keep a cool head and neither ‘Monsters’ nor ‘Clanless’ will be an obstacle for you.

Well then, without further redo Miss Kuro the stage is all yours.” He signaled towards the tanned beauty sitting in the front row.

Sabrina smiled and leaped on the stage. “Yay, the moment you all have been waiting for!” She shouted in the voice amplifying item. All of the present students covered their ears. “Oops, that was too loud, I’m sorry. You see I’m as excited as you guys. It’s my first time working as leader after all.” She bowed slightly.

“Okay, now we will separate you into different groups.” She took out a piece of paper from her pocket and started reading names. “Tristan Halblicht, Laura Verheerung, Abigail Lettum, Annie Kuro, Seria Lucifer, Ernesti Tod, Leo Luci, Oriana Cassio and Richard Lucifer; you will follow me. The rest, well, have fun with your group leader. Steph the rest is up to you!” She said, throwing the voice amplifier to a dumbfounded brunette.

The surprised Tristan and his friends followed Sabrina. They walked into an empty classroom. “Hi again, nice to meet you all! Most of you know me already. I’m Sabrina Kuro and this girl here is Caitlyn.” A pale girl no one had even noticed before bowed.  “Hi, I’m Caitlyn Lum and I will be supporting Sabrina in taking care of you guys.”

 “You probably realized by now, you guys are the top nine students in your year. You may ask you why we did put all of you guys here in this group together.” Sabrina’s full lips curled into a bright smile. “The answer is simple, you guys are way more talented than the other students. Therefore, you will be going under special training.”

“What does that mean?” A small pale girl with big black eyes asked. “That means you guys will be the future group leaders. In five years from, now you guys will be the ones leading the groups of newbies into their first patrol. But it also means that you guys will reach a higher MR level after graduating. Usually, most of the students graduate at ‘Demon Lord’ level, but you guys will graduate as ‘Conquerors’. Any other questions?”

Sabrina looked around and continued since no one asked her anything. “Very well then, we don’t have much time… But still I want you guys to introduce yourselves with your name, and your preferred fighting style. I will start. My name is Sabrina Kuro and I’m a melee fighter. Now you Trist.”

Tristan who had been sitting on a chair stood up. “I’m Tristan Halbicht and I’m also a melee fighter.” As he sat down, Laura stood up. “I’m Laura Verheerung and I’m also a martial artist.” Next to her Abigail stood up. “I’m Abigail Lettum and I’m a ranged caster.”

“I’m Annie Kuro and I’m also a ranged caster” Annie said still sitting. “I’m Seria Lucifer and I’m a melee fighter.” Seria said proud.

 After being brutally beaten down by Laura’s melee fighting style, Seria had decided to also learn martial arts, to be able to defend against such an overwhelming force charging at her.

“I’m Ernesti Tod and I’m a caster.” Ernesti said waving his arms.  “I… I’m… I’m Leo Luci and a healer.” Leo said with a rather scared voice. The small black haired girl, who had asked the question graciously stood up and bowed slightly before introducing herself to the others. “I’m Oriana Cassio and I’m also a ranged caster.” Lastly, Richard stood up and introduced himself as ranged caster.

Sabrina clapped her hands. “By the way Caitlyn is also a ranged caster. Now that we got the introductions out of the way, I will start with the information about your first patrol.”