"Anyway, I'm Camille and if you are among those who pay attention," she said looking straight at Raphael, "then you should also know I'll be your instructor the next 6 years."

Raphael knew the comment was directed at him and he felt it wasn't fair. His only true offense was not liking speeches, but nobody did.

It was like they kept presenting him with the promise of a delicious dessert he wasn't allowed to eat it until a full week later.

Damn, now he was hungry as well. The frustration was getting to him.

To Raphael it was very simple, stop talking and start teaching. Not that he was expecting Camille to care, she didn't seem like the type.

Not paying attention to Raphael's brooding, Camille went on without stopping.

"So far I've managed to reach the 5th sphere. It might not mean anything to you now, but it will after this day is over," she promised them.

Raphael nodded, pretending it meant something to him.

"Before we begin, let's get a few things straight! My role isn't that of a babysitter, but an instructor! As such, I will teach you the art of sentinels. If you're having trouble I'll help point you in the right direction, however, whether or not you succeed will depend on your effort and luck."

Raphael was only half listening at this point, but he did catch what she said concerning luck. If she was right, he would most likely be forced to double his effort for his bad luck.

"I'll do my best to make your talents bloom and polish your instincts, but I can't walk the path for you. That's a burden one must always carry alone," Camille finished her speech and begun their first 'true' lecture.

Raphael had been on the receiving end of rudimentary lectures on content read in books, but nothing concrete about what sentinels were and how they did those things from the previous spar.

"Do anyone of you know what a sentinel is?" Camille asked the entire class.

"No one knows?" Not quite believing nobody knew.

"Miss, I don't think anyone of us has been privy to that information yet," a girl the front row answered.

"Okay... you little man," she pointed at a boy, "take a guess from what you've seen today."

"I don't know, someone who fights other people?" He guessed not knowing whether it was the right or wrong.

"That's a child's answer, and none of you is children! Children have families; fathers, mothers, siblings. Do you have any of that?" She questioned the same boy.

"No," he responded in a low voice.

"Right you are! And if you're not a child then what are you?" Camille asked once more.

"I don't know," almost crying now.

"You're nothing, that's what you are... and until you manage to become a sentinel that's how you'll remain." She stated.

Raphael looked around and found quite a few crying in silence. Some even reaching for their tails, seeking comfort by holding on to it. Others seemed too shocked to mentally process anything of what just occurred and did nothing. Raphael was probably somewhere in the middle. He didn't feel like crying, but he could still feel a painful stabbing sensation in his chest, it hurt.

"To answer the original question myself," Camille continued, "In today's society, the title 'practitioner' is a general term given to anyone who's able to absorb arcane energy and manipulate their own genetic energy. Sentinels are commonly referred to as practitioners who specialize in combat aspects, but that's only part of what we are," she said disappearing from her spot in of everyone. No blur, just gone.

She instantly reappeared in front of the same boy she'd ridden hard only minutes earlier. With a small smile, she bent over his table getting right in his face.

"Don't hold your tail like it's some damn pet. You might as well suck your thumb," Camille instructed him.

At the same time Raphael felt sorry for the other guy, he was also most pleased Camille had replaced him with another target.

"Don't smile Raphael... I haven't forgotten you," she said straightening her back, gazing directly at him.

"It never even crossed my mind," he lied.

"Sure you did," not believing him for a second, "good try though!" she commended him for his effort.

It felt weird, being praised for attempting to lie.

"How did you know?" Raphael questioned her as she went back in front of everyone.

"Your tail is quite the little storyteller," was all she said.

Twisting around, he gave his swaying tail a mean stare. It betrayed him once again! This couldn't keep happening. Next time, he would make sure to control it.

Answering Raphael she went on explaining, "sentinels are feared and respected because they can do what most can't. Unlike the non-combat categories of practitioners, sentinels take the potential of our species to its very limits by integrating the use of pure genetic energy and arcane blueprints thereby increasing their combat prowess exponentially."

Raphael did his best to memorize everything she said.

"For example, me moving from here... to here," once again moving faster than they could see, "is accomplished using genetic energy in its pure form and what you saw Amarah perform during the spar was a combination of both," she explained.

"Until now, your physical bodies and genetic points haven't been able to handle the strain required for such moves, both too fragile. Usually, this would remain true till you reached the age of 8, however, by us creating a living environment with increased amounts of arcane energy in the atmosphere, this period has been shortened. What I'm talking about is this," Camille tapped her tablet and a holographic body of a woman appeared next to her.

She directed their attention to several points marked throughout the chest, stomach, legs, tail, back, and head.

"These are commonly referred to as 'genetic points' and to the furthest extent of our knowledge a prerequisite for life. Their most basic function is to absorb arcane energy, thereby allowing our bodies to convert it into genetic energy. For most, it's a complete involuntary action, like the beating of our hearts," holding a hand over her heart.

"The path of cultivation was created by taking advantage of this mechanism and learning to control it... It's the very foundation of all practitioners powers, including sentinels. The ability to manipulate emission points is a basic requirement all of you must pass in order to learn the required skills for sentinels," she said.