Shackles Of Reality

Adam didn't correct him because there was no way he was telling Owen that Aurora saved him. If he did that, he would never hear the end of it.

Not long after two men came through the hotel doors, seeing them Luke rushed to them and started explaining what happened. 'I guess they're the instructors sent to get us' thought Adam. The two instructors were in contrast with each other, one with long hair tied in a ponytail and the other with a shiny bald head.

"You can calm down now, we're here and we'll be taking you back to the academy safe and sound"said the bald instructor. "Look at them coming after everything's over, saying they'll protect us" Owen whispered to Adam.

"It's not their fault though, the city was cut off from the outside world using a special barrier.

At first I thought it was a spatial barrier until Luke said that he couldn't send an alert to the academy until the barrier came down. So they didn't even know in the first place until around just five minutes ago".

Adam explained. "Well you've got a point there" said Owen.

Adam looked around the lobby trying to count the cadets he knew to distract himself but only recognized a few people, the rest were either in the normal and elite classes or even second and third years.

'Come to think of it I haven't seen Quinn and emo dude since earlier this morning during breakfast' thought Adam. "Where are your friends though?, it's strange that they're not here" Adam asked. "Which ones?". "Damien and Quinn". Adam clarified.

"Oh lily invited them to go with us but they declined opting to stay in their rooms and... speak of the devil, they're here" he said gesturing to the elevator which just opened revealing two guys.

**Adam Walker's POV**

"Cadets get ready we're leaving in five minutes" said one of the instructors. I saw some of the cadets rushing to get into the elevator maybe they left their stuffs in the hotel room. Once everyone came back, we were counted to ensure everyone was around before we each hand over the hotel keys to the hotel staffs.

After that we headed for the portal station, when we got there we were organized and grouped to enter the portal in two's. Entering the portal I got out in a familiar surrounding. "Move away you're blocking the portal" said a voice from my back breaking me out of my thoughts. "Oh Sorry" I said as I moved away from the portal.

After everyone had arrived, one of the instructors came and said "you all are required to give a report, after that you're free to leave". Have I ever mention that i hate paperwork? Well not paperwork since it's not paper per se but instead a holographic typing. I gave my report and entered a portal to get back to the dorms.

As soon as I emerged from the portal, I saw Owen standing a few meters before the portal, I knew he was waiting for me. "What are you doing here?" I asked. "Wait don't tell me, you're waiting for your girlfriend right?" I teased causing his face to go dark.

"I guess you want to thank her for having your back as you two fought valiantly against the black robed man" I continued. "shut up" he shouted. "I've told you so many times that she's not my girlfriend, infact she's not even my friend" he rasped. "Yeah whatever makes you sleep at night" I countered.

"See you most likely tomorrow, I don't think I'll come out today". I said as I started flying up. "Wait at least drop me on my floor" he said. "All right which floor?" I asked as I came back down. "You seriously don't know?" he asked with a bewildered expression. "Nope". "And you've never been curious?" he pressed. "Well I have but It's only about how the top ten dorms look like, I never calculated which floor is yours" I said matter of factly.

"Sigh it's the fifty ninth floor" he said. I held his arm and we flew up passing my floor and until we reached the balcony of the fifty ninth floor before I dropped him. "Remind me to check out your dorm later" I said but then added "And also you do realize you're in gold rank right?". "So"? he asked. "It means you forgot you can fly" I replied before flying downwards.

Meanwhile with Owen, fuck, fuck, fuck I actually forgot about it when I was fighting in the air just a few hours ago, now he's never gonna let me hear the end of it.

'Home sweet home' I thought. I took off the tattered clothes I was wearing and threw them in the bin. I entered the bathroom and washed off the dirt and blood on my body before I sank into the tub to have my favourite, a nice and relaxing hot bath.

After I finished my bath, I sat down and thought about everything that happened earlier today. I almost died today, when that man thrust the katana towards me, I felt on the verge despair which was concerning because I was suppose to feel way more than that.

Despair or whatever feeling it was I don't care but I know that I don't ever want to be in that situation ever again. If Aurora hadn't been there I wouldn't be here now.

I have to breakthrough to gold rank as soon as I can but the problem is ever since I got to mid silver rank, my bloodlines have stopped condensed, they stayed at about just fifty five percent condensation.

It seems I will have to consult instructor Blake on the matter. But for now let's get training. I tried condensing my bloodline for six hours straight but nothing changed. Some would have already given up after the first hour of seeing no change but I guess I have immense patience.

Looking at the clock it was already eight pm, so I ordered some food from the cafeteria before going to sleep, it was really a tiring day, heck I almost died.

Waking up at twenty minutes after four am, I freshened up and got ready to go the academic building.

The moment I pushed the door to the combat grounds, "Where the hell were you yesterday kid" bellowed instructor Blake. I knew I was forgetting something, I just didn't know what. I heaved a sigh before replying "The club I joined had a trip the day before yesterday, and we only returned yesterday in the afternoon so I couldn't make it".