Tales of the First World

"Enough with you lot. While you're in my cafeteria, you either get some food or get out. So, how many of you am I feeding and how many will I be beating?" One of the caterers had reached his wits end with the commotion.

"..."

"Yes, can I please get two burger combos...wait Erai you want one? Yeah, you probably do, make that three." Tersia nudged Torren with her elbow as he made the request, and with an inquisitive look from her, he changed the order to add another meal.

"Eh, four...oww, seriously, fine five, could we get five combos over here."

"Alright Sujing, as for the rest of you, if you want some good food, you come to me else you can step out of the line, there's no fighting in my cafeteria."

"Yes sir."

With them leaving the cafeteria, Ketsu snuck a word in with Charlotte before returning to his group and informing Erai that he would be facing his opponent tomorrow during their break. Giving him a pat on the back and telling him to bring back Stephen before approaching Sergei as they walked off together.

"Erai, if you really plan on fighting against Class 1A, then you need to prepare yourself. In spite of what he may think of him, Raon would not have found himself in their class if he wasn't possessed of some degree of talent..." Vaceris warned.

"You think he could end up being a threat?" He turned to hear what she had to say.

"I really can't say for certain, the only thing I know is that you seem to do your best when you take the time to prepare. Now, considering the type of person your opponent may be, would you not want to gather as many advantages to your side?"

"If I fall in tomorrow's battle, our class loses two of its members and...I won't be able to keep my promise, knowing that, there's no option but to win. So I'll do everything I can, that I can assure you." Erai's conviction had managed to bring her some relief as she knew that the challenge ahead had only begun.

Torren returned to the group alongside Tersia with lunch in tow, they all moved towards their class, though not before making a brief stop by the Medical Ward. Shynerai then went into one of the rooms looking for the Doctor while everyone stood waiting in the corridor.

As Torren tore through each carton of fries, his thoughts wandered for a moment as to if Erai went and got himself injured again when they weren't looking. A statement that drew a fierce look of frustration over Tersia and Vaceris.

"That idiot, we aren't going to play nurse if he keeps getting himself hurt."

"Alright, Dr. Arturion said that Jaret's at the Questing Committee Room, we can find him there."

"You mean the Student General, the one with the crazy eyes? Why...why are you looking for him, did something happen?" Torren asked as Erai stepped out of the room, hoping to stop him from dragging them along in his insane plans.

"Crazy eyes…" Erai's imagination trailed off into the swirl of memories of his last interaction with him, noting to have been so concerned with pitying himself to have actually gotten a good look at him. 

"We thought you were here for treatment or something?" The pair asked, still bearing intense and scolding stares, which he tried to calm as he told them that he was looking for Jaret since he knows that the doctor and he are close, noting how often he received lectures from the both of them.

Avoiding any more of their ferocity, he moved ahead of them, leading them towards the Questing Committee's room.

While he paced along the halls of the Medical Ward, his chat with the doctor reminded him of a much older conversation, while he was recovering from his fight with Creivolt, Dr. Arturion had warned him not to ever face a SoulArm unarmed again, lest he was looking to lose his arms.

However, today he was looking for a way to handle an encounter with them, leading to the doctor advising that he speak to Jaret who he described as potentially having the greatest amount of variable combat experience of any student.

Knock-Knock

"Come in. Young Astraprodt, it's good to see you." Lotarim greeted him kindly as he entered.

"Hey Erai, are you ready to get back into the saddle...we've got brand new Quests if you're interested and–" Luciana joined after, tugging at his braids as she asked, before being reigned in by a sighing Lotarim.

"I'm doing a lot better now, thank you. Just came here because Dr. Arturion told me I would find Jaret here."

"Oh really? Well he's busy with the President but I'm sure that she can spare a moment for you." Entering the smaller office built into the far side of the Committee room, the wooden doors were slid open after Lotarim offered an alerting knock.

 "Ms. Aurelia, do you have a moment? We have visitors."

"Yes, Lotarim. Oh my, Mr. Astrapordt, it has been some time since I've last seen you. I hope you are doing well?"

"Hello, Ms. Aurelia. Yes I am doing well, thanks to the doctor and everything they did." Pointing at the group behind him.

"Huh...wait why are you here kid, did the old man send you again? Ugh, I told him that if it starts aching I'll stop by, he doesn't have to keep worrying about me, I don't want what's left of him to keep withering away." Voicing his annoyance as he waved Erai off.

"He didn't send me here, I asked him where I could find you. Hmm…" As he spoke, Erai finally caught on to what Torren had talked about. His eyes were quite unusual, as if they were burning white hot, the silver light glowing from them was almost blinding the longer you starred.

"Kid! Snap out of it! Oh damn it." Pulling out a thin visor-like cloth and wrapping it over his eyes.

"...I came to ask you for your help." Jaret walked towards him while the rest of the group entered, greeting Luciana and Lotarim as they welcomed them inside, with the still eager Luciana being reigned in once more as she tried getting them to join their committee.

"Help? With what exactly?" His eyes narrowed and his voice thinned into a whisper.

Erai wondered if he'd be making a mistake but as Vaceris had said, he needed to prepare,

"Nothing...well...how would you fight against a SoulArm?"

"Seriously, you came all this way just for that. Like how everyone does it, with my own SoulArm."

"Okay now let's say I didn't know what a SoulArm was or where to get one?"

"...Wait...but..." Erai stared blankly waiting to hear his next words, while Jaret remained slack-jawed.

"...But you fought Arno's brat? Crei...something?"

"You mean Mikhail Creivolt? Are you saying Astrapordt fought him, unarmed?" Kiara added in a curious tone, her words had the instant attention of Lotarim and Luciana.

"Yeah...you must have had one then."

"I don't think so, I mean I don't remember using anything like that. He had some kind of strange weapon though, it looked like he pulled it from thin air."

"So...when you were fighting in Whitewater, you didn't have one either?"

Jaret's back and forth continued and each time Erai responded with a look of confusion or by explaining that he did not know of it before speaking to Dr. Arturion.

"Well...I'm not really sure what to say. Considering everything you've just said, you're possibly the luckiest or craziest person I've ever met. Naturally, the best deterrent for a SoulArm is another SoulArm, past that it's a matter of skill, technique and experience of using it."

"Skill and technique huh?"

"Hmm...Ahh, I guess simply telling you might not cut it, besides...I really want to see how you got by so far, seriously you're one interesting little freak." Staring intently at him, making him a little tense as he did. His gaze moved up and down on him.

"Freak?" His face scrunched up.

"That settles it. I still have some business to clear up with Ki-Ki before I need to see Arno, so let's meet by the Eroden Fountains at 19h00. Oh and bring your Notebook, you're going to need it."

The school bell tolled throughout the building.

Wanting to question him further, Erai was dragged away by his braids with Tersia apologizing to the Student Generals for the inconvenience before closing the door and heading off.

As the group moved along, Terisa was quick to remind Torren and him that was still stuffing his face that Reiss wouldn't be kind to them if they were late.

A statement that brought the image of his piercing crimson eyes clearly to their minds, frightening the pair into a dash towards their classroom, leaving Vaceris and Tersia laughing as she asked her how long it would take before they realized their next class was P.E with Dr. Colt but she simply scoffed as she finished the rest of her fries.

Soon after the bell rang for the end of the day, Torren and Erai left for the tram station with Torren deciding to join him, whilst picking his brain as to what Jaret had planned for him.

But for Erai, he had far more questions, from what he noted when he actually saw Jaret to what he was telling him about SoulArms, knowing that he wouldn't be facing the challenge alone, turned his anxious feelings into a curious excitement.

The pair arrived at the estate, and got through most of their work, before his Notebook lit up with a glow illuminating the time clearly, with the sudden knocking on the door informing him that it was time to go.

Grabbing a navy blue jacket and strapping his Notebook into its holster, Erai joined Torren in the hallway and they made their way to the Fountain.

"Alright, you made it. Now, you…ah."

"Torren–Torren Sujing?"

"Good. Torren, I need you to get me two boxes of Gardenian Milk and Hazelnut Chocolate and a box of Dark Freesian assorted candies. I got on the girl's bad side after bringing home a baby Aggressor."

"What were you doing with an Aggressor, where would you even find one?"

"If you travel often enough, you find there's pretty much nothing you can't find. Anyways, apparently none of them were a fan of Red, so when Lotarim tried to get rid of her, she gave him a nasty bite. Now, I need those snacks so that the next time I see Dr. Arturion, he doesn't think of pulling the plug on me."

"I…forget I asked." Torren took Erai's Notebook and ran off to purchase the confectionaries.

"So where's the Aggressor now?" Erai questioned him when his eyes widened with the answer. Slithering from behind him before coiling itself up his arm and coming up to his cheek.

"Well, she's still pretty young so until I've house-broken her, Red has to stick with me." Jaret's real reason for keeping the beastling,

'It looked cool.' Granted, Aggressors with bright chromatic colored scales are exceptionally rare so much so that they are actually hunted down on sight.

Jaret had explained that he couldn't imagine killing it after his last trip from Ardyntorra. The continent is known to be plagued by draconian beasts, having picked up little Red after passing through the Albion Groves, clearing them of Deadroot, which was poisoning the local fauna and flora.

"I guess that isn't the strangest thing I've seen at this school." Acting without any hint of fear for the beast, Erai approached Jaret with his arm stretched out…he waited for a few seconds before Red slowly approached, flicking its forked tongue before slowly creeping towards him. 

The moment the creature reached his hand, it slithered about him, moving down his arm and to his leg before rising up to his chest and coiling around his neck.

"Hey Erai, this stuff wasn't cheap so I hope you aren't mad…Why is there a snake around your neck?" Torren returned with a handful of bags before coming to a stop as he tried to make sense of what he was looking at.

"This is Red."

"I…forget I asked."

"Now, let's head to the gym, we don't want to wake everyone up." Jaret called to them as they went to the South Residency.

Their time together had already gone beyond midnight, with Torren lying asleep against one of the benches with exhausted Red coiled within the palm of his hand. A choice Jaret made partly without much consideration and with little he had convinced him of how funny watching him panic would be.

While Jaret asked Erai if he wanted to stop and take a nap, the Daumier urged him to continue if his back hadn't already given out. Obviously annoyed by his snide comment.

"Alright, since you're such hot stuff, you can test 'it' out on me. Let's see how you do in an actual sparring match."

"Ahh, that doesn't sound fair, especially since you just showed me how to use it."

"That's exactly why I want to see it. It's going to be morning soon and we'll both have class so less moaning and more fighting."

And with that the pair continued to spar into the early morning, with Jaret growing more and more intrigued as they exchanged blow after blow, wanting to see how close Erai would be to getting it.

"That's enough, Hurry along and wake Torren so you can go and get ready." He said, as he lifted the still sleeping Torren over his shoulder.

Erai sat panting on the floor before asking Jaret how well he thinks he might do, something Jaret was surprised by though he still answered unabashedly, simply stating that he doesn't expect him to get it right on the first try, though he was interested in seeing his fight.

As he helped him up, the two left the gym and went on to get ready for school with Erai carrying the worn-out Torren to his room and readying himself to head for school.

As the familiar blue glow of his Notebook indicated the time as he scrambled to pack his things for the day ahead, Torren could be heard knocking with an obvious impatience, warning his companion that he would leave him in the next few minutes, prompting him to rush out while running his hands through his snowy mane in attempt to look presentable.

Torren questioned Erai if he managed to get much rest while they left for the estate's tram station,

"I know I said I'd join you but I ended up passing out didn't I?"

Surprising Torren as he pushed him into the emptied tram cabin while he simply assured him that he would be okay,

"I don't get much sleep anyway...especially when I've got a lot on my mind. But it's okay, I don't plan on losing." Hoping to offer him a share of the hope he had with a raised fist.

Feeling the certainty in his words, he met the exchange as they bumped fists just before the tram came along to a halt allowing them to descend into the school station.

"Hey, Erai. Over here, kid." While the pair walked past the gates into the courtyard, a familiar voice called out.

Jaret approached alongside both Arno and surprisingly Aurelia. With Arno calling out to Jaret to lower his voice on the school grounds, both Erai and Torren were left stumped by the coming group.

His cast-off gaze was brought back down to earth with a swift slap to the back of his head.

"Alright, when you asked me for help, I thought it was for training or combat class, not fighting against a noble, from your A class no doubt."

"Yeah...I wasn't sure how to bring it up, that's why I didn't say anything to you or Dr. Arturion."

"You know if I heard that before, I would have been a lot more clear with my advice...listen if you're really going to go for the win, you can't hold back"

Surprising the group, Aurelia returned the gesture as she called Jaret attention, bludgeoning him over the head:

"You shouldn't turn Astrapordt into a delinquent, that's terrible advice."

"Owww...I'm serious, I think I bit myself. Look if he holds back against those kids they'll tear him apart. You could probably get by holding back, but there's no telling what they can do, those kids are powerhouses."

"..." Erai fell silent, trying to come to terms with what he was saying.

"He's not exactly wrong, I saw a few of them during the entrance exams." Arno added.

"Arno, I thought you'd talk some sense into him?"

Jaret moved to Erai and Torren, resting on their shoulders, he spoke with a candid smile.

"You've got a decent head on your shoulders, so with that, you just need to give it your all and you'll be fine. If you bring your A-game, that's all that matters kid"

"C'mon, we have a Student Council meeting before class. You two, make sure to be careful today, alright." Aurelia wished them well as she walked off with Jaret and Arno in tow.

"Sounds like we should head to class too, Ketsu's probably got some ideas for you." Torren said as they made their way into the school building.

During most of the day, the air surrounding the two classes grew in intensity, with the rest of them taking to supporting whom they felt would win, annoying both Creivolt and Malleus with the amount of 'uld' they had to confiscate from the student's bets.

With the match between 1A and 1F drawing near as recess marked the end of the Standard Classes. Letting them know that it was time.

Erai stepped out of his classroom alongside Ketsu who wanted to speak to him before the duel, asking for a moment with him while the rest of his classmates made their way to one of the Academy's Combat Arena at his request.

Eventually joining up with the rest of them among the stands, Vaceris asked a surprisingly calm Ketsu what he was talking about. He answered with a slight grin and a gesture towards the Arena floor below as he spoke:

"Just giving him a little inside information. Though the rest, you'll just have to wait and see"

Knowing that there wasn't much she could do, Vaceris sat down awaiting the battle to begin, with the stands quickly filling with eager eyes. Sitting not too far from them was Class 1A though despite Torren's many attempts to catch Stephen's attention, the latter's focus lay squarely on the field below.

"Jaret, was it necessary for us to be up here, any seat would suffice!"

"Arno, you didn't have to come. Besides, this view is going to be worth it when things start getting crazy."

"The both of you need to behave yourselves, remember that you're also Student Generals." Aurelia scolded the two as they made their way through the crowds and found themselves in an open seat nearby Class 1F. Ignoring the pairs bickering, she went on to greet the anxious group before seating herself between Jaret and Arno, breaking up the fight.

Stepping out from the gates of the Arena, one of the most notable Combat Instructors Ms. Yuria stood at the ready. Announcing the entrance of the combatants into the Arena, Vetmier Raon and Shynerai Astrapordt entered to meet one another where she stood.

Under her authority, they shook hands. Heeding her words that she would step in if anyone was in danger and wanting an honest duel amongst her students. The two stood in agreement with her, leaving the Arena floor to observe from above, and by her command, she began the duel.

"Did they really have to get Ms. Yuria as the referee? Guess I can kiss all my winnings goodbye."

"Seriously, I've been dealing with all the betting today. You're not helping" Arno shot Jaret a cold stare at his disappointment.

"MR. REIDER AND MR. ZIRKUS. PLEASE BEHAVE YOURSELVES!" Her strict tone straightened them much to Aurelia's delight.

Down on the dusty grounds of the Arena floor

"Astrapordt, do you see? The stands are filled with those eager to see your defeat. And I shall gladly indulge them." Raon spoke boldly but found Shynerai unmoved.

Letting out a deep breath, he planted himself firmly, when he took in another breath, even deeper this time...

A brilliant column of green light erupted from within him drawing in chilled winds that rocked past the boisterous Raon before wrapping around Shynerai in green wisps, with the shining light fading away just as fast.

"Tsk. Nothing more than a cheap parlor—" Just as he spoke, Shynerai dashed towards him, appearing akin to a green haze that rushed past him, scarring the earth as he did.

Raon had barely caught a glance of the blur that now stood stationary.

But something felt off to him, looking down at his hands that still glowed with the familiar tint, Shynerai wasn't sure how he shot right past him.

"Whoa he vanished?"

"What was that light, was it his magic?"

"What kind of attack was that, I could hardly see what happened." The crowds roared to life after Shynerai made the first move, while Raon was taken aback, looking back on the suddenly immobile Shynerai, he quickly regained his poise, baring an unmistakable look of satisfaction.

"Looks like, it works just as well on that strange light of his." Charlotte mumbled under her breath, managing to only catch the attention of Stephen, whom by her order was to remain close by.

As his look of growing curiosity became more noticeable, he turned to speak to her in an assured tone.

Looking past his own surprise, Shynerai prepared himself for another assault. Once again moving as a faint blur that masked itself with boreal winds before moving towards Raon–

Not wasting a moment to raise the shock of everyone in the stands with another sudden attack...but still happening to miss his opponent again. What followed were repeated attacks giving either one barely enough time to catch their breath, but through the entire assault, Raon still managed to stay out of his reach.

Though within Raon himself, frustration towards Shynerai began to smolder as his focus on Charlotte's words continued to ring from within

Still, they both turned their focus to their ongoing battle with them working to keep up the pressure while relying on whichever plans they made to seize an opportunity the moment one presented itself.

"Enough games, Astrapordt. I have no interest in prolonging this fight." Raon turned the tables by going on the offensive, making his way towards Shynerai.

Raising an outstretched hand as he drew closer, a vapor-like mirage engulfed its entirety, with him clenching his fist around it before striking down Shynerai with a sword drawn from deep within the translucent mist.

Believing himself to have the advantage, he moved to disable him.

Striking at him with no other option left to Shynerai but to move as far away from him as he could.

And follow along he did, Raon mused to himself as he watched him, leaping back and making him take notice of his diminishing strength, happening faster than he expected.

But with a clenched fist, Shynerai did his best to calm his nerves and took to facing his opponent after resuming his stance.

Pushing himself as hard as he could to avoid his attacks.

Once Raon halted his assault, Shynerai took to applying more pressure on him while he tried to catch his breath.

This time, he forced himself to close the gap as fast as he could, launching himself at Raon at a terrifying speed...

Hoping to blindside him with his thunderous approach, but after getting too close Shynerai felt his knees give way under him with vision blurring and his balance shifting....the result of the confusion disturbed his coordination allowing Raon more than enough opening to avoid his assault.

And meeting his approach instead, with a decisive slash to his torso, only for Shynerai in his daze, he instinctively knocked away the balance of his strike, sparing all but his arm in the process.

Toppling over with a light spray pouring out of the gash in his clothing, Shynerai responded by trying to stanch the bleeding all the while never shifting his gaze from the resolute Raon who looked on with a pronounced expression of triumph.

'What's going on? Every time I get close, it feels like I might just lose my lunch. My Will Force e is still flowing through me but it feels like I might just keel over. My strength...'

"What? With his speed, he should have landed that blow." Stephen spoke with a sense of uncertainty in his voice.

"It's as I said. Your little friend down there won't harm Vetmier, no matter how hard he may try...take a look you might even notice it." Charlotte pointed at the space between the duelists.

Trying his best to scan the area, nothing seemed to catch his eye, leaving him to question her sanity, to which she scoffed all while pulling him closer, as she pointed him towards the battle.

Repeating once more that he should focus on the space between them...but that he should also focus on Erai's reaction when he enters that space...

Their sights followed along with the flickering green light as it kept zipping past Raon until...Stephen began to notice something–

Each time Erai drew too close to Raon, he would stumble or rush past him entirely, even when it seemed like he had him cornered, Raon would always manage to slip by.

"Initially, this was a precaution in case he decided to use those White flames of his. I've seen what they are capable of during our time in the Violain Woods. But it seems to be working even better than planned."

"White flames? I don't know–" Stephen wasn't sure what she was talking about, having never heard of any White flames.

"He had a small scuffle with a few beasts and managed to get through them with little effort...but as powerful as the flames were, they seemed like a heavy burden.

He would often turn them off when he wasn't ready to battle but when he did...they would most certainly wreak havoc"

"A burden? Are you suggesting that he cannot sustain the flames for very long?" Stephen's eyes lit up with a look of revelation as he spoke.

"You see it now, don't you? He won't be able to harm him. Whether he uses his White flames or that Green light, we've made sure that he won't be able to sustain it."

"A powerful weapon is useless if you don't have the endurance to wield it." Charlotte answered candidly though surprising him even more as she did so with the ominous look of his grin accompanying her words.