Chapter 31

“So how’d you end up with those Mystics?” They had reached the table Keith mentioned, which had not only Naomi at it, but Rasha and another fourth year, Mark, as well. Keith’s comment brought all the attention at the table to Nick.

“I was eating with Becca.” Speaking of eating, he looked down quickly to make sure he had cleaned all of the spilt food off himself.

“Becca….I’ve heard you mention that name before.” Keith took a bite, and then smiled. “Oh yeah, that little cutie is your sister.”

“She’s my twin, and is off limits.” He smiled at Keith, who simply laughed. “Hey now, my eyes are set on only one girl.” Nick had a hard time believing that. “But Rasha might be interested in her. Pretty, blonde hair, seems rather proud.”

“Does sound like my type.” Rasha smiled at Nick. “What do you say, can I have a go at her?” He couldn’t tell if she was serious or not. “I’m going to take your silence as a yes.” She disappeared.

“Was she, serious?” The others around the table laughed.

“She has a thing for strong women, can’t say I blame her.” Nick noticed Naomi blushing at Keith’s comment. There seemed to be a lot about the fourth years he still had to learn.

“Anyways, what’s on your agenda for the rest of the day?” Nick turned his wrist up, and pulled up his screen. He had almost forgotten to check what other classes he had to day.

1115-1245 LUNCH -1.5H-

1300-1400 FIRST YEAR PHYSICAL TRAINING -1H- GYMNASIUM

1415-1615 SPECIAL TRAINING -2H- LIBRARY

1630-1730 -1H- RECREATIONAL

“Hmm, wonder what that special training is.”

“President Hunter assigned it.” Nick knew exactly what it was, special classes to help him control his powers.

“Well that’s a bummer, usually we have some free time during that period, was going to show ya around some more.” Keith looked at the table, “Maybe I’ll go bug the Mystics somewhere while you’re stuck in classes.” Nick decided to pull the subject away from anything related to Becca.

“What’s the First Year physical training?” They had already done morning physical training, and it was stated they would be separated by their abilities, no their classes when it came to training.

“Ah, that’s a different type of training than this morning.” It’s like Keith read his mind. “This morning’s training, was Naomi helping train the first years and help them draw more power, and fight against those at their skill level.”

“Something I hope you will join in tomorrow Nicky.” Naomi winked at him, and he blushed. If Keith noticed, he ignored them and kept going.

“This training you have coming up, is year specific. First years train in various martial arts weapons and fighting styles. Second years training in defensive aura manipulation, third years train in offensive aura projection-“

“Like what you did to Dave?”

“Yeah, I can give ya a private lesson or two later if you want.” Keith winked and continued. “And fourth years do additional DRAGOON training and cover squad tactics.” He placed his hands on Nick’s shoulders. “I’m sorry Nicky, but I was told you can’t play in the DRAGOONs with us anymore” He grinned. “At least, not during class hours.”

“Keith…” Mark cleared his throat.

“Oh, right.” He pulled pointed at the recreational hour. “Mark wants to know if you’d be willing to try out for the scatterball team.”

“Scatterball?” Nick had never heard of it.

“It’s a team sport we play. Every year there are tryouts from the new physicals who join, to find those worthy of replacing us awesome fourth years when we graduate. It’s a pretty fun game, if I do say so myself.”

“And, you get to play against teams from other schools.” Mark cut in, he seemed rather excited about this scatterball game.

“Other schools?” First time Nick had heard of them.

“Oh, right, that hasn’t been covered yet. Did you think the Academy was the only one of its kind?” Keith laughed. “With how large the human race has gotten, different schools are spread out throughout the galaxy. Each school funnels students from their respective solar system. Everyone you see at this Academy, is from the same solar system, but some may have come from the comfort of a space colony, like you.”

“-And others come from the planets, like me.” Rasha was back.

“Oh…” All Nick knew of the planets, was that those who couldn’t enter the Academy were sent there to mine for resources for the CCUP, which meant.

“Yes, my parents didn’t make it in.” Rasha’s eyes warned him against asking anything else. “In other news, the pretty one was gone.” Nick assumed she was referring to Becca. He hoped she had recovered enough for her next set of classes.

“Guess I scared them all away. I’ll try a gentler approach next time.” He laughed and stood, flexing his arms. “Sometimes I don’t know my own strength.”

“It’s below mine.” Naomi laughed as and the others stood. Nick guessed it was time to leave.

“Race to the gym?” Keith was speaking to the other fourth years, who all smiled and nodded. Nick knew he didn’t have a chance beating any of them.

“See you at scatterball tryouts, yeah?” Mark asked before the others could leave. Nick nodded, wondering just what type of game it was. The fourth year smiled, nodded at the others, and suddenly they were gone.

Not taking part in the race? Dagr glided aimlessly from the ceiling, to wrap around Nick’s shoulders.

“We can’t beat them in a race, but we can still get their before them.” He could sense Dagr’s amusement, as the dragon was granted access to his powers. Together, they stepped through a portal, and onto the empty field of the gymnasium.