Chapter 49 - The Secrets Of The Void (½)

“Well done.” The teacher said, and walked to the front of the cave. “School is almost over for the day. We should hurry back.”

As the students began to move away from the clearing and walk back through the forest, four glowing eyes appeared in the darkness behind him.

Wait a minute. Hadn’t there been… five?

“Watch out-”

Splurt.

Droplets of scarlet peppered the ground, staining the grass. The blue eyes disappeared, and I heard something thud as it hit the ground.

A tall man wearing a black suit wiped the blood off his hand.

“Thank you for your assistance, Athreial.” The teacher said.

“You are welcome.” He replied, straightening his suit casually.

An information window appeared in front of me.

___________________________________________

Species: Shadow Mongrel (Alpha)

Combat Power: 1052%

Other Information:

This monster has dog-like features. Unlike most monsters, it attacks when it feels threatened. However, it is still classified as a monster due to the overwhelming aggression that the creatures will display once threatened. They will never retreat and will only stop attacking once killed. They are more powerful in the darkness and have the ability to teleport and use limited dark magic. They are also able to phase through walls and items. Physical attacks are not recommended. Alphas are invincible in the darkness.

Recommended Forms Of Attack:

Light Magic Long Range Magic

Weaknesses:

Light

___________________________________________

By the time we returned to school, the bell signalling the end of the day had begun to ring. I couldn’t stop thinking about Athreial. Just how insanely strong was he? To be able to kill two monsters over ten times my combat power… And in less than a second too. Also, wasn’t he a wyvern? Why didn’t his information window show up?

“That’s because he’s a third year, obviously.”

“I’m sorry, what?” I asked, coming to a stop. So lost in thought, I hadn’t been listening to Tath’s rambling.

“I said, the reason why they were able to take down the monsters was because they're in their third year. Do you think that we can be like that too one day?” She asked expectantly.

I raised an eyebrow. “Well maybe I can. Don’t know about you, though.”

She pouted and looked away. “Hmph. You’re mean. I don’t want to be your friend anymore.”

I nudged her gently and laughed. “Sure, then I’ll stop helping you with magic theory, ok?”

All of a sudden, her mood changed and she hugged my arm affectionately. “Aw come on… don’t be like that. You know I didn’t mean that, right?”

“Yeah, me neither.” I laughed. “Anyway, do you want-”

“June Harding. The headmaster wishes to see you.” A voice from my left interrupted me.

I turned, surprised to see Athreial standing beside me.

“You’ve got to stop doing that.” I muttered angrily.

“Looks like you’ve got to go…” Tath said. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then?”

I sighed. “Sorry about this. Yeah, catch you later.”

She skipped off down the street, waving back at me.

Once she was out of sight, I turned to Athreial once more. “Now, what is it? I’m pretty sure I haven’t done anything wrong lately…”

“The headmaster wishes to see you.” He repeated blankly, ignoring me completely.

“You’ve already said that once.” I rolled my eyes. Surely it wasn’t possible to act less human. “Whatever, let’s just get this over with.”

I’d begun to feel tingly and fidgety. Eve had told me this was another side effect of staying in my human body for too long.

Without saying another word, Athreial put a hand on my shoulder and the world disappeared.

We landed in the hallway, just outside the Leanea’s office. I could tell it was hers because of the flashy, expensive looking double doors. A part of me was slightly jealous.

Athreial opened the doors and gestured for me to walk in.

“Why don’t you ever enter the room?” I asked, suddenly curious.

“It is rude to enter your master’s room.” He shot back.

“Huh.” I said dumbly, and strode through the doors.

Leanea’s office was as ornate and pristine as ever. Today, she wore a white, long sleeved formal shirt and a smoothed black skirt. She was by the side, skimming over the titles in the bookshelf.

“What did you call me for?” I asked.

She turned and gave me a warm smile, which I did not return. “Why, you sure get straight to the point, don’t you?”

This was the first time I’d seen her in a week. After proper consolidation in my potato form- I didn’t want ‘human’ instincts to influence me, after all, I came to the conclusion that the headmaster was not to be trusted.

I remained silent and didn’t move from my spot by the door.

She sighed. “Before I tell you, I’d like to congratulate you on your studies. You have made the furthest progress out of your class in all aspects in just one week at school. You should be proud of yourself.”

I wanted to roll my eyes so badly. But that probably wasn’t the right action to make when in front of my headmaster. “It’s nothing to be proud of.”

Of all three aspects; magic, academics and physical, I had a ‘cheat’. My affinity with all the elements allowed me to learn much faster. I’d already been through school once, so most of the topics were things I’d been taught before. Though I hadn’t remembered much, since this was my first year, the knowledge wasn’t as comprehensive. This was a magic school, meaning that it focused much more on magic than the school I went to as a child, so I was still learning new things.

And of course, in terms of physical tests and lessons, I was top of the class. My human body was… inhuman.

“You can expect to be promoted to a higher class soon, if you keep this up.” Leanea said airily.

I shook my head. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter much to me, anyways.”

“Very well. Let me tell you what I called you here for.”

“About time.” I muttered.

“What was that?” She asked, an eyebrow raised.

“Nothing.” I looked down. How did she have such good hearing?

“Red notified me this morning that you would start your training today.”

At this, my head snapped up and I stepped forward. “What?”

She smiled again. “I’m glad you’re excited by that. There’ll be a… ‘means of transportation’ in your room, which you need to take to begin your training.”

‘Means of tran-’ Actually, that didn’t matter. “What am I doing? What’s it going to be like?”

“You’ll find out in due time.”

“So do I go now?” I asked expectantly, practically jumping in excitement.

“When you arrive home.”

I nodded profusely and rushed out of the door, stopping midway to awkwardly look back and mumble a thank you and goodbye.

Athreial stood silently by the doorway, and I almost missed him as I ran.

Thankfully I did though, because I remembered he could teleport.

“Hey, Athreial!” I smiled and sidled up beside him.

His face remained impassive as he replied. “I assume the conversation went well. School is over for the day. You are dismissed and may leave now.”

“Yeah, it has… Could you send me back ho-” I began, but he cut me off before I could finish.

“No.”

Creak.

The door slid open and I tiptoed through, cleaning my feet on the doormat before entering. The smell of roast pork wafted through the corridor. I put a hand to my chest to slow my breathing, which took a while, as I’d just ran the entire way home from school.

Not wanting Rya’de and Ma’ra to know I was home, I stuck to the wall and stayed low as I passed the doorway to the dining room. Kai’ra and Cle’de’s room doors were closed.

“Oh hello, June! I thought I heard you get back.” Rya’de called, peeking his head out from the living room.

I froze and turned around slowly. “Uh… Hi, Rya’de…”

He cocked his head to the side. “How was school?”

“School was fine.” I bit my lip. “Um, I really have to go…”

A look of concern passed over his face. “Go ahead.”

As I turned back and dashed off to my room, I felt a little guilty. Rya’de was just trying to play his part as a foster parent. But I didn’t need him. I was an adult. Though at times I acted like an immature teenager, I was still an adult. An adult that had once been a baron.

I shook the thought out of my head and slammed open my room door, excited to see whatever this ‘means of transport’ Red had provided for me.

A horse? Some sort of futuristic carriage?

But no. Of course not.

Instead, beside my bed was a large black… hole. Just lining the wall, tall enough for me to walk through without ducking and wide enough for an entire horse to fit through. It hovered slightly above the ground, it's dark purple border swirling. Specks of darkness seemed to flick off of it at times, skittering on the floor before fizzing out.

A slip of paper, a card, lay on my desk.

A card that said:

Your training begins now. Enter the gate to proceed.

I sighed. This was something only Red would, and could do.

Shoving the card in the pocket of my blazer, I stepped up to the front of the portal. A cool wind blew gently in my face.

I poked my finger through, and felt an electrifying sensation travel through my body.

“Oh well, here goes nothing.” I muttered, and ducked through.