Chapter 27

A large fist charged with energy sliced through the air, aimed at Nate’s face. Nate leaned back, letting the fist pass harmlessly in front of him. But before he could counter, the energy in the fist exploded, blowing Nate several dozen paces back.

“You had enough yet?” The scarred instructor- whose name was Lenny, but everyone called Scar- looked down at Nate from across the field. His body rippling with power.

Today was Nate’s first day in the Advanced combat class and instead of being introduced to everyone, like in a normal class, the scarred instructor decided to spar with Nate. He assured him that everyone went through a similar process upon joining the Advanced combat class.

“The students who’re referred to our program often have bad fighting habits. It’s my duty to learn what those bad habits are and break them.” He’d said, right before he began pummeling on Nate.

Nate had used all of his abilities, yet he couldn’t beat the scarred instructor.

I got something for your ass.

Nate stood up and recalled the God’s spear from where it lay across the arena. The instructor eyed it warily as it moved. Spotting his chance, Nate moved with all the enhanced speed his mental energy threads could muster.

The spear attacked the instructor from the back, while Nate attacked from the front. He was fast. Not only was he infusing his mental energy threads into his limbs, controlling every aspect of his movement. But he also had spirit energy coursing through his system.

But the instructor was faster. He rotated and struck the spear down into the sand with a meaty palm and gave Nate a roundhouse kick that was too fast to avoid. Nate’s world exploded into brilliant colors as the foot connected with his face.

He found himself on the arena floor, again.

“That’s enough.” The instructor pulled Nate up off the ground and brushed the dirt off his back. His meaty palm beating on his back added on to the aches and pains already there. “You’ve done all right for your first bout. But you’re spirit energy maintenance is god-awful. Why the Academy heads would send you to the School of Magic instead of the Spirit School is beyond me.”

“Good job Nate.” He heard Ahri call from the stands. She and the other students of the Advanced combat class were all sitting in the stands watching his battle with the instructor.

“I got my ass handed to me.” Nate chuckled.

“It’s to be expected, it’s not like you’ve had training before. You can barely handle the spear, let alone your spirit energy. I’ll work with you on those, but I can’t help you when it comes to mental energy. That’s for Inquisitor Citlali to teach you.” Scar said.

“Thank you.”

“Not so fast. You aren’t my student yet.”

Nate was confused. “But I thought?”

“Look, what I teach in my class is dangerous. Not to you, but to the people you’ll come across. If I’m going to turn you into a killing machine, you have to make a pledge. A pledge every one of my students has made, and one you’re required to make if you want instruction from me.”

Nate paused for a second. “Okay… what is it?”

“Close your eyes. Now, make a fist and put it over your heart. Good. Now kneel on one knee and bow your head.”

Nate opened his eyes and gave the instructor a look. The scarred instructor grinned. “You’re not kneeling to me. I’ll leave the area if that’ll make you feel more comfortable. Now, repeat after me…”

Scar retreated a few steps and Nate kneeled and bowed his head, eyes closed and fist over his heart. He began to recite the words as the instructor said them. “I promise to use the skills I learn in this class with forethought and intelligence, not impulse and passion. I promise to honor those I hold dear in my heart, as well as the Gods that favor me. I will not take advantage of the weak, I will not become a tyrant, this I promise.”

On the last word, cheers rang out from the students in the bleachers. Nate felt awkward as he stood up and brushed the dirt off his knee. The pledge seemed like something a knight in the medieval ages would say.

Nate didn’t really have loved ones. All his loved ones were dead. And he didn’t believe in gods, or goddesses. Whatever, He thought as he accepted the congratulations from the other students. It’s not like I plan on becoming a tyrant anyways.

…

“Finally, we have a class together.” Ahri sidled up to Nate as he sat down for lunch at the cafeteria.

He was done with his classes for the day, but he still had a training session with Inquisitor Citlali later on at the mage tower. Nate was grabbing a quick meal before leaving the university grounds.

“What class is that?” Snog asked as he sat down across from them with a mountain of food.

“Advanced combat class.” Ahri answered.

“Oh? What an honor, Nate. Not bad!” Snog congratulated him.

“Thanks.” Nate said as he dove into the food before him. “Still can’t believe how bad he whooped my ass though.”

“Its to be expected, Nate.” Ahri said grabbing his braided hair and shaking his head. “I’ve told you, Scar has just as much strength as a full-fledged Inquisitor. Don’t underestimate him.”

Snog looked at Nate, and then turned to Ahri who was comforting Nate. He realized they resembled each other. “Are you two related?”

“What makes you think that?” Nate asked as he looked up from his food.

“Snog’s making a black joke.” Ahri chuckled, but deep down her heart was beating furiously.

Nate smiled at Snog. “Ah, they’ve tainted our friend from the NetherRealm. What a shame.”

“What?” Snog had no idea what they were talking about. “I just mean, with your braids and your facial features…”

“Drop it Snog, we get it.” Ahri laughed a little too loudly.

Snog shook his head, dismissing the whole thing. “Anyways, do you guys know how amazing the internet is?!”

“You’re just now discovering the internet?” Nate asked.

“Well, yes. It’s not like they tell us about the internet when we cross over. Anyways, I can’t believe we don’t have something like this in the NetherRealm! In the NetherRealm, to find ingredients for a spell requires a tremendous amount of effort. But with the internet, I can buy anything I need! Hahaha!” Snog slammed a fist on the table as he cackled with laughter.

Snog’s laughter was infectious, and soon Nate couldn’t help but join in. Snog’s rambunctious laughter soon had Ahri laughing along as well and their laughter seemed to multiply and grow as it fed off one another.

“I mean… it’s just so amazing.” Snog said once his laughter calmed down. “I can buy anything I need. I can literally buy the rarest ingredient, like fairy droppings. Do you know how difficult it is to purchase fairy dropping in any market in the NetherRealm? And forget about trying to ask a fairy for their waste, they’ll just look at you like you’re the vilest creature in the world.”

Snog shook his head in frustration. “I remember one time, my mother made me go fetch some fairy droppings and I spent the whole day stalking a fairy in the forest. I was literally hiding in a shrub bush for hours, waiting for the fairy to go to the bathroom so that I could run out and collect it. The indignity!”

“Wait, you bought fairy droppings online?” Nate turned to Ahri with a skeptical expression. “I think you’ve been scammed, my friend.”

“What?” Snog’s face scrunched into a look of confusion. Nate had to control himself to keep from laughing.

“The human world wouldn’t carry something like fairy droppings. So, if you bought this online, chances are its fake. How did you even make the purchase? Last I remember, you needed a credit or debit card and an address to send to.”

“No, he’s right.” Ahri said to Nate. “The school has its own network set up. Each student is able to access the student store where they can buy goods in exchange for services.”

Snog leaned forward. “Am I, or am I not getting my fairy droppings?”

Ahri smiled and nodded. “Yes, you’re getting your fairy droppings.”

Snog blew out a breath in relief. “Asshole, you almost scared me.”

“Wait, what is this network, and why haven’t I heard of it?” Nate wondered.

“You will, eventually. Snog is a shaman so he’s probably taking alchemy already. They need to purchase products in order to practice making potions. You’ll be introduced to the student store as soon as one of your classes requires items from there.”

An instructor interrupted the trio’s conversation. “Ahri Romero, your presence is requested at the Mage’s tower.”

“The Mage’s tower?” Ahri looked confused. “What do they want from me?”

The instructor shrugged. “Let it be known I’ve delivered their message.” He said as he began walking away. “If you don’t answer their summons, they will send people to come fetch you. I’d suggest you go there as soon as possible.”

Ahri frowned as she stood up. “I’ll see ya’ll later.”

Nate and Snog looked at each other, sharing a look of confusion. They watched as Ahri left the cafeteria.

Before they could turn back to their food, there was an uproar among the students dining on the other side of the cafeteria. There was a duel going on between two students.

Nate was surprised to find one of the students in the duel was Aidan. He was squaring off against a much larger, heavily muscled man with a square jaw and a buzzcut. Nate thought the man looked familiar.

As the two began to fight, instructors closed in and began to chant, setting up barriers to protect the rest of the students from the two that were fighting. They did nothing to stop the altercation though. They watched on as Aidan transformed into full werewolf and began to fight against the other student as if he would kill him right then and there.

The other student wasn’t a pushover though, he too was a spirit user. And when the battle began, it was clear to Nate that he was stronger than Aidan and would most likely win the battle. It was then Nate remembered where he recognized the other student from. He was amongst those congratulating Nate on joining the Advanced combat class.

Nate stood up and moved across the room. He shouldered aside the other students watching and made his way towards one of the instructors. “Aren’t you going to stop this? That other student is clearly out-matched.” Nate said, gesturing to Aidan.

“The duel was mutually agreed upon.” The instructor didn’t bother looking at him. “We can only stop the duel if one admits defeat or is incapacitated.”

Nate shook his head at the school’s behavior. Aidan was clearly weaker than his opponent, yet they wouldn’t do anything to intervene. What if Aidan ended up dying? Nate thought about intervening on Aidan’s behalf, but he couldn’t. This was Aidan’s fight.

The fight ended with Aidan on the floor, bleeding, and the other student smiling in victory. Nate stared at the man Aidan fought. The demon in him wanted to behave impulsively, to lash out and attack. He thought it was disgusting someone from the advanced combat class would take advantage of someone clearly weaker than him, but the man reveled in his victory over Aidan.

Although every fibre of Nate’s being told him he should challenge the man to a duel, and teach him a lesson, he ignored them. Nate went towards Aidan to check up on him and walked by the smiling victor, who made eye contact with him as he passed.

“He wasn’t bad at all, eh? Looks like we have another recruit for our class. Two recruits in one week! We’re fortunate, indeed.” The man said while patting Nate's shoulder.

Nate felt like an idiot. "How'd you know about Aidan?"

"His chaperone on the field trip vouched for him. If you knew he was a good fighter you should've recommended him. Alright, I gotta get going. See you tomorrow."