Edan’s joy was short-lived. All it took was seeing the dissatisfaction in the eyes of most of his classmates for him to realize he was about to be challenged again.
They didn’t need to win with skill. They just had to grind him down until he lost from exhaustion. Already Edan was having trouble standing, his ankle throbbed and he winced when he tried putting weight on it. He fought to get his breathing under control. Sweat matted his hair, sticking the curls to his forehead and neck.
To make it worse, Edan could see the cold calculation in Aser's eyes.
“I challenge Ashina for rank 2!” Called out a cheerful, bubbly voice.
Edan almost fell over with happiness. He cast thankful eyes at Lorien and she grinned back at him, her pearly white teeth on display. Ashina, a dour-looking brunette barely taller than Edan and almost as slim, cast an irritated look at Lorien. The dark bags under the girl's eyes made her look in desperate need of rest but she rose to her feet gracefully from beside the other members of the Golden Throne Sect.
Edan hobbled from the makeshift ring, pushing past classmates who didn’t give him space, and stepping around those that looked ready to fight back. He made it to his window and turned around, leaning against the wall he slid down, his sore leg stuck out before him.
The Titan was off talking to a group of students across the room. They looked distinctly uncomfortable having the massive woman so close and shifted awkwardly under her gaze. Given her height, Edan assumed she was used to looming.
Turning away, Edan focused on the match between Lorien and Ashina. One bubbly and bright, the other all doom and gloom. Edan watched Lorien’s button nose twitch and she rubbed at it with the shaft of her trident. Ashina pulled a short sword from the sheath at her waist, its metal blade gleamed as if freshly polished. The hilt matched the girl's gold-accented robes.
Master Sims approached the two to enchant their weapons.
“It seems very few of you wish to continue challenging for a better rank. In fact, some of you haven’t even been challenged.”
This was a not-so-subtle jab at Aser. The number 1 rank just smiled a cocky smile. Members of his group eyed him with envy.
“This will be the last match.” Master Sims decided. The smile slipped from Aser’s face as his eyes flickered towards Edan. “It’s get-”
“I’m sure there's time for another match!” Aser cut in before belatedly adding “Sir.”
“Aser of the Four Star Heavenly Sect, as you are unable to issue a challenge, kindly shut the fuck up.” Master Sims growled, an invisible wave of aura washing off him making several of the students closest to Aser wince as they caught up in it.
“As I was saying. It's getting late and there are some talking points I need to go over before you all head out.”
There was mumbled acknowledgment. Aser still didn’t look happy, but he knew better than to push his luck.
There were the now familiar taps to each weapon from Master Sims before he called the match to start. Edan turned his ankle, testing it. It still throbbed, but he should be fine by the time they called it a day.
Lorien and Ashina started the match slowly. Each testing the other as they tried to find their range. Lorien had the longer reach, but the trident was heavy. Ashina was fast, and surprisingly powerful if the wince from Lorien was anything to go by as she blocked an overhead slash.
The two shuffled back and forth. Breaking apart and circling before resuming their dance. Edan wondered how it would look once they birthed their system and could start using skills.
The Academy only provided education until you birthed your system, or reached the age of 21. If you couldn’t gain a grade by that age, you likely never would, and the sects would want nothing to do with you.
Ashina gasped, her blade caught between the prongs of Loriens trident. Lorien spun her weapon, trying to wrench the sword from her opponent's hand. Ashina twisted in the air in an incredible feat of dexterity. Even Lorien looked impressed. Ashina pushed against the trident, forcing it down, then she flipped over her own sword and stepped onto the shaft of Loriens weapon. The trident was wrenched from Loriens hands.
Ashina punched Lorien in the throat, making the other girl gag.
Edan expected the match to end up Lorien grabbed Ashina by the collar of her robes and dragged her close. She slammed her forehead into the smaller womans nose. Once, twice, three times. There was a crunch and blood spurted from the wound, drenching both of them.
A few of the class cheered. Edan nodded in appreciation.
Weaponless the two women turned to unarmed combat. Lorien was taller and had the weight advantage. Ashina though was lightning fast and from a sect that threw money around like it was paper. She had likely been trained by some of the best instructors her parents could afford.
Ashina showed why she was ranked second.
She slipped a punch, danced around another, and pushed a knee aside. Under Loriens guard she rattled off a quick succession of blows, rocking the taller woman, before slipping out of reach.
The match was over. All that was left was for Lorien to topple.
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It didn’t come quickly. Lorien made Ashina work for it. Both of them were breathing hard by the time it ended. Lorien smiled, her usually white teeth stained with blood, then fell over backward.
“I lose!” She called from her place on the ground.
Ashina whipped blood from her upper lip. A useless gesture as her nose still bled profusely.
“Ashina of the Golden Throne Sect retains her rank. Lorien of the World Union has lost…oh right. That's the last match. Sorry about that,” Master Sims scratched the back of his head. “Sort of became a habit.”
Ashina walked back to her group. They clapped her on the back and congratulated her, though Edan noticed they made a point to not touch any parts of her covered in blood.
Edan considered going over to help Lorien but Nose and Teeth were already on their way.
“Alright, alright! If you lot could give me your attention for five minutes, then you can all bugger off.”
The idle chatter died down as a few students shuffled around so they could see what Master Sims had to say.
“First off, congrats to those of you who increased your rank. You earned it. For those of you who lost your rank, well, just remember, you aren't the only one aiming for the top, and slacking off doesn't get you rewarded.” Master Sims took a second to look around at everyone. “In light of today, you all get tomorrow off from class.”
There was a cheer at that. It was a day away from the weekend so with tomorrow off they had three whole days to themselves.
“I do ask that the top nine come by my office the day after tomorrow. Say an hour after lunch.”
Edan perked up as he realized that included him. Pride warmed him. He had done it. Top nine!
“I’m sure several of you have also noticed our…spectator…though she’s gone now.”
Edan looked around, surprised to realize the Titan had indeed left. He hadn’t even noticed. Once again he wondered at her earlier interest in him before deciding that such things were best left alone.
“She may approach several of you throughout the following days. She may not. The school asks that you give her some of your time and answer what questions she has…no, I don’t know what she wants.” Kumi’s hand dropped. “But I do know she will be assisting me with Practical classes from next week, so you’ll all get a chance to know her better then.”
There was a pause as he looked at the students, his bushy eyebrows raising.
“Well? What are you waiting for? Get lost!”
As one the students jumped to their feet, some pulling on their friends to help them up. Others laughed as they pushed their friends down. The weight of the day and the stress from the class were gone. They were once more teenagers, free to do what they wanted.
Edan continued to sit down. He wasn’t in a rush to join the line at the door, and his foot could use a few extra minutes to heal. He would need to cultivate tonight. Hopefully, he had enough Vitalis to break through to the next level. He really needed to increase his stat cap.
If he was being honest with himself, he really needed to increase his Strength as well. And his Soul level.
Edan let out a sigh. So much to do.
The crowd had thinned. Master Sims remained standing in the same place, his hands clasped behind his back. It only served to make his stomach look larger, and rounder. Dark eyes noticed Edan watching him and the instructor strolled over.
“So, Mawe, proud of yourself?”
Edan couldn’t keep the smile off his face. He didn’t even need to say anything.
Master Sims shook his head sadly.
“You sure you did the right thing, lad? A lot of the other students had the same idea you did, they were just smart enough to wait. There’ll be another ranking day, closer to the end of the year, when nearly all of you have your levels and stats capped. That's when they’ll make the push.” Master Sims looked down at Edan. “All you’ve done is paint the target on your back early.”
Edan pushed against the wall, using it as leverage to get to his feet.
“You’re probably right sir, but I need the benefits from being in the top nine. Figure it's worth the risk.”
“The benefits were never meant for you, lad.” Master Sims spoke quietly, his voice a low rumble Edan had to strain to hear. “It's all a farce. The sects send their kids here so that selection is ‘equal’. Really though it's to show everyone and the guilds how much better their children are. The rewards you want? They were meant to only go to the sect children. They won't be happy you’re getting it.”
Edan kept the shock from his face. He knew what Master Sims was saying. Harvey had talked to him about it when he first decided to join the academy. Edan was just shocked Master Sims, an instructor, would actually say it.
He looked at the older man with new respect.
“Thanks for the heads up sir, but I’m aiming for the Prooving Tournament at the end of this year, and to get there, I need every extra little bit of help I can get.”
They were currently in the Season of Seeding, but once the year ended and they entered the Season of Prooving, the annual tournament would be held in Solaris. Traditionally it had been used to mark the beginning of the Season of Prooving, but that had changed over time as the Sects began to use it as the hunting ground for new recruits. Edan, being a student of the Academy, was qualified to enter, so long as he birthed his system before then.
Every faction, guild, or Sect on Terra would be present at that tournament. If Edan wanted sponsorship, that was the place to get it.
“Are you sure?” Master Sims asked.
“I know age matters to the Sects. Well, the age you birthed your system, at least. When was the last time a student was selected by one of the sects?” Edan fired back.
“It happens every year!”
“I meant one that wasn’t already affiliated with a sect, sir.”
The answer was slower in coming this time. “That's....harder to remember.”
“Exactly. So I need to show them I can hang with the best. I can match their rate of progression.”
“And you can't wait until next year?” Master Sims insisted.
Edan rubbed the side of his jaw. Technically he could. He wasn't in danger of being kicked out of the academy due to the age limit. His eighteenth birthday was coming up, in fact. No, the reason it had to be this year was personal. And petty.
Master Sims saw right through him.
“Aser of the Four Star Heavenly Sect?”
“He’ll graduate this year. He has to have already leveled everything to twenty-nine and capped his stats. He’ll light his spark and birth his system any day now. If I want to challenge him, it has to be this year.” Edan’s smile turned vicious. “Imagine what it’ll look like when the star of the Four Star Heavenly Sect loses to the son of a commoner. They’ll have to accept me.”
Master Sims let out a sad sigh, shaking his head. He clasped Edan on the shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
“It won’t be as easy as all that, Mawe. Aser is a big fish in a little pond. There are true monsters out there, still growing...but if this is your path then it's your path.” Master Sims jerked his head towards the door. “You best get out of here. You look like shit.”