"Michael... I’m sorry." Rudy said, his head lowered, "because of —"
"Don’t worry about it," Michael replied, nudging him with his elbow softly, "let’s focus on the next class for now—I’ll take you to the infirmary after."
Rudy looked like he wanted to object, but he rely nodded in response—accepting his friend’s concern.
anwhile, Michael’s gaze was on lody’s back as she stord away, her words ringing in his mind. While he would admit that he got a little out of control earlier, it wasn’t without reason.
Of course Braydon couldn’t have known about Rudy’s wounds, and if he did, he probably wouldn’t have been so blatant by attacking them directly. There were plenty of other ways to do so—ways that would avoid suspicion.
Even so, he could not contain his anger. Rudy was his first friend, a fact that had only occurred to him after this incident, surprising even himself.
Though they had only known each other for less than a day—Michael felt quite close to the guy. Not to ntion they were both victims of the strange happenings around the ti the mana spring’s dried up.
So when he saw his friend in pain, he was instantly provoked.
She’s right... Getting angry will only leave vulnerable, he thought silently, walking solemnly behind the crowd of first-years.
But Michael held no remorse for his actions. His mother would be disappointed if he hadn’t stuck up for his friend—of this he was certain.
The group trudged through the hallways like a mindless school of fish, eventually reaching the opposite end of the castle where a large set of doors led outside.
Michael recognized the place right away, it was the open area outside his window—but it seed different. Where there was once only an open field, now was a fenced off area around a hundred feet in length and width.
On the end closest to the castle, four mannequin-like figures stood sentinel, their bodies crudely made. However, there seed to be a layer of protection around them—forming prismatic hexagons that reflected the light of the morning sun.
"Hurry along soldiers!" An voice filled with authority called out, whipping the first-years into action.
Soldiers?
His gaze moved to the lone figure within the enclosure, surprised to see a woman dressed in a tight-fitting bodysuit. It was sleek and black, clinging to every inch of her body like a second skin.
Michael felt his cheeks redden at the sight, not knowing where to look. Each curve was on display, leaving nothing to the imagination.
"By dose is bleeding..." Rudy said, pinching his nose, but his eyes remained glued to the woman.
It wasn’t just him, many of the teens within the class began to mutter among themselves, casting obvious gazes towards the center of the enclosure.
Michael felt a glare burning into the side of his face, but he didn’t need to turn to know who it was. Instead, he pointed towards the second floor of the castle and nudged Rudy, "hey, there’s our dorm..."
"I don’t gib a shit." Rudy replied his nose still pinched tightly to stem the bleeding.
"MOVE SOLDIERS!" The woman shouted, her voice echoing off the castle walls and startling the hell out of the first-years. It was as if an explosion sounded in their minds—dispersing whatever thoughts they had before.
Like a bunch of herded sheep, the students filed into the partitioned area, taking up position in front of who they could only assu was the professor for the combat class.
The woman stood akimbo, her hands positioned on her waist with legs spread slightly apart. Her eyes scanned the row of students, evaluating them with an impassive expression, giving nothing away.
"I am Professor Quinn, your combat teacher," She stated succinctly. "It is my job to turn your pathetic and weak bodies into sothing useful."
Eh? That seed a little harsh, Michael thought, though not entirely untrue...
"For many of you, this class will be hell—for others..." she paused, her brown eyes scanning the students, "It will be even worse than hell."
Michael noticed that her eyes were locked onto lody as she said this, causing him to raise an eyebrow. He wasn’t sure if it was intentional—but rembering the girl’s state after he had dragged her for a run last night, he wouldn’t be surprised if it was intentional.
"Um, professor... Do we not cast spells in combat class?" Lilly raised her hand, her tone unsure.
"Spells?" Professor Quinn raised an eyebrow, her brown eyes narrowing in on Lilly’s small and petite fra. "Sure, we’ll cast so spells..." she added eventually, a small smile pulling at the corner of her lips.
"But not yet. First, you need so strength and conditioning." She announced, "now, ten laps of the field—those of you passed by will do an additional ten!"
Before anyone could react, Professor Quinn took a ready stance and broke into a run—heading towards the area where the mannequins were.
Many of the boys were busy watching the curves bounce with every stride, too enamored with the sight to react to the professors words.
"Shit, let’s go." Michael grabbed Rudy by the arm and followed after her, realizing the danger of failing. While the area wasn’t exactly large, ten laps was still over four-thousand feet.
Having to do this twice would be quite troubleso.
The duo were the first to follow behind the professor. Their actions seed to cause a domino effect as the other first-years began to realize they should start running.
Yet the professor was too fast. Even Rudy and Michael who had not been that far behind the woman to begin with, watched her slowly get faster and faster as they completed their laps.
Not even two laps in, Professor Quinn surged past the student at the back—lody Winterborne. She was already huffing and puffing, clearly not fit enough to keep up.
"Damn it!" she cried out with anger.
In the next mont she waved her left hand—a brilliant orange mana circle appearing from her palm. Winds startled to rattle the wooden fence, sending her hair into a frenzy.
"Ventus... Accelerate!"
lody’s body shot forward, the wind at her back as she flew—overtaking the professor in a single mont and drawing gasps of shock from the other students.
Oh man... what has she done? Michael sighed inwardly, seeing the professor’s eyes narrow.
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