“Tullian said that he wasn’t feeling well, so he wanted to sit this one out... I think it’s my fault really. We went out last night and, well, we had a great time! But we ate some really questionable fish that just didn’t sit well...” Amy said.

“Not a problem. I assume you can brief him on your return to the dorms then. Do wish him well for me when you do, please.” Rodrick said.

Amy nodded. She shot Rai and Sin a gentle smile as they walked in. They returned it.

This outcome with Tullian not being present was definitely better for them all.

“Right. Please settle down all of you.” Rodrick said, to the group that was already settled down. “I’ll begin by saying that this briefing is intended to be short, so don’t expect much of your time to be taken up here.

Now, as I’ve recently learned, Rai is your leader. As per Academy society rules, Rai can elect someone to be his co-leader. This is especially important for your society, as you will often split into 2 parties on expeditions into dungeons and ruins. Adventurers do the same thing, but on a slightly different scale.

So, Rai, who would you like to elect as a co-leader?”

“Sin.”

Everyone nodded as if they knew that to be the obvious answer.

Sin didn’t think much of it either, since in her eyes she was obviously the next best candidate to lead.

“Very well. In that case, you will both head two groups going into your first dungeon. To balance out the groups best, Lina and Amy will have to go separately with either group.”

Amy raised her hand.

“I’ll go with Sindyl. I think my support skills would be redundant if I went with Rai. Lina’s defensives are stronger than her buffs, so she would do well in Rai’s group.”

“I... see...” Rodrick said.

“Fuck it! I’ll join the Princess as well! She’s got power, but that’s it! I’ll cover her weaknesses.” Feris yelled.

“I think I’ll also join the Princess. Having two short ranged fighters on Rai’s team would probably just highlight our weaknesses even more.” Maya said.

“Mhmm. Thanks for the suggestion, pancake!” Sin said to Maya.

“Did... you just call me pancake?”

“Yep.”

“I know it’s not ‘cuz of my ass, I mean just look at me, I’m way thicker than you.”

“Wh-...” Sin blushed. “Nonononono! It’s because you’re sweet, and you made me pancakes! That’s all! Gosh, not everything is about ass!...”

“Oh... thank you! And... I wasn’t saying your ass was a pancake! You’ve got a cute ass, even though I said that.”

Sin eyed her strangely without a response.

“I mean! It fits your frame, and your hips are really cute too...” She mumbled.

Rodrick facepalmed.

“Please, no vulgar talk in the classroom.”

“Sorry sir.” Sin and Maya said together.

Rai couldn’t help but giggle to himself.

Feris and Amy were both hiding themselves away to avoid second-hand embarrassment.

Hiron clearly didn’t know what was going on. He wasn’t paying attention to anything going on in the room, and stared out into space.

After her apology, Maya instinctively glanced at Lina, whose face was red hot right now. Maya’s cheeks became just as red.

“Swiftly moving on. That leaves Hiron and Tullian. Hiron, you’ll have to join Rai’s team for the dungeon, to balance out the numbers.”

“... Whatever.”

“For Tullian... Well, we have 3 on one team, and 4 on the other, so he’ll also have to join Rai’s team. Could you tell him that please, Amy?”

Amy nodded.

“Great. Now, let me tell you all about the dungeon that you’ll be visiting.”

The group all started to pay proper attention. This was the exciting part of today for most of them.

“I will preface this by saying that you are NOT going to dungeons to loot and plunder. Any and all loot that you gather will be confiscated by the Academy. This is strictly for you all to gain experience, and improve in your studies.

I know Feris has mentioned it, but I’ll repeat it again. DO NOT under ANY circumstances, attempt to read the texts in the language of the Ancients. You’ll know it by its similar shape to the language used in our incantations. If you try to read more than a sentence of it, your mind will fracture.”

Rai and Sin looked at each other. They could both probably read the Ancients’ scriptures without having to deal with that pain thanks to their forbidden spells.

“The dungeon you will be exploring is the House of the Brave, Domus Fortius. It exists in the Lands In-between. The areas that few of you have been to, where no clan governs its peoples... That is the kind of area you will be travelling to. They may be considered lawless, but there are more civilised people there than you might think.

This dungeon specifically is simple. The majority of it is in the form of an overground ruins of a mausoleum, which leads into 2 underground layers. Your objective is to learn what you can about the fallen society that was once built around that mausoleum. You will all report back to me with your findings on your return to the Academy.

How you gather such information will depend on your skills. My advice would be to look through artifacts that were left behind to ascertain what kind of people lived there, and what kind of lives they led. You are unlikely to find many expensive spoils there, but given that this is your first exploration, I wouldn’t have expected that anyway.

This next piece of information is vital. Please pay attention.”

By this point, Sin, Amy, and Lina, had all begun writing the information down in their notebooks.

“The main ‘enemy’ that you’re likely to encounter is the undead.”

Amy audibly gulped.

Rai recalled the Daemon that called up the dead. It was so grotesque that he never wanted to see such a thing again.

“These are naturally occurring undead. Their souls exist in a vacuum, trapped between here and the afterlife. This is why their bodies cannot rest. So long as you do not anger them, they will not attack you. What this means is that you must treat the area with respect, and show that you aren’t there to defile their graves. Understand?”

They all expressed that they understood. Though, Rai was surprised that there were forms of undead that weren’t naturally aggressive.

“Good. Now, you will leave the Academy at 9 o’clock, Monday morning. Take a portal to Acies from the portal house, and take the path that leads to the town called Kigglesbury. There will be road signs leading there, and it should take just less than half a day’s travel. The roads are relatively safe, but you still have to be wary of bandits and highwaymen. But knowing you all... that won’t be a problem.

We have arranged lodging for you all in Kigglesbury’s inn, which is not far from the mausoleum. You will stay there through the night on Monday, and explore the mausoleum on Tuesday. On the Wednesday morning, you will make your return to the Academy and arrive by the end of the school day, and report your findings directly to me, here in this classroom. You will return to your normal school schedule on Thursday.

I’ve covered your classes for the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but you will have to complete any of the compulsory tasks that they set you.

Now... any questions?”

Rai looked around at the group. Rodrick seemed to cover all of the important information, which left no room for any real questions. He probably did that on purpose.

“Good. With that, I announce this meeting to be over. Gather yourselves, and prepare for your first dungeon next week! Also, don’t forget to complete your history assignment this week! It will contribute heavily to your grade, so make sure you allocate enough days to complete it.

Take care, and I look forward to seeing you all next Monday!”

He vanished.

Rai looked around the room again.

Sin looked excited. Feris and Maya had the same looks of joy on their faces. Amy and Lina shared a kind of positive anticipation, while Hiron’s expression was ever unchanging. He seemed apathetic about everything, more or less.

“Alright. We’ll see you all on Monday then! Me and Sin are going to Udra today, so take care all!” Rai said.

Sin mirrored him.

“Have fun exploring your capitals!”

The group bid them farewell, as they all discussed the information together.

While they were leaving, Rai noticed something off about the Academy gates.

“Hey... You feel that?”

“Yep. It’s heavy... but I can’t say it’s unfamiliar...”

The sound of wings fluttering echoed from the Academy gates.

Rai looked at Sin, who looked at him. They both ran towards the gates.

Upon passing through them, they met a familiar face. He was leaning against the outside of the gate.

“Tullian? I... thought you weren’t coming in today?”

“I wasn’t going to, but then something within me pushed me to come...” He looked at Sin.

Sin looked back at him. She didn’t know what exactly to say. Tullian clearly knew that she was using a forbidden spell, but he seemed like he didn’t want to say anything.

Sin decided that if Tullian wasn’t going to bring it up, then she wouldn’t either.

“We’re leaving.” She said.

Sin grabbed Rai’s arm and pulled him along. They left together.

Tullian watched as they left. He pondered. In Tullian’s hand was a pure white feather. He pondered and pondered, about whether or not his choice was the right one. But he’d made it now, and his clan's future hinged on it.

Rai poked Sin’s arm. Twice. Three times, actually.

“Why are you poking me?”

“Hehehehe.”

Sin stopped in her tracks, turned around, and stared at Rai. She was pouting already. Then Sin reached around Rai’s body and tickled his hips.

“OhohohhoahahahahaIHIHIHIHIHI!!!”

He grabbed Sin’s hands.

“Oh-kay... th-... that’s eh... eh... enough... WHEW.”

Sin smirked at him.

“Next time, I’ll...” She got up real close and whispered something inaudible in his ear.

Rai’s eyes widened as she whispered.

“R... right... I hope there’s a next time then.” He whispered under his breath.

Sin winked at him, before turning around and continuing on her path.

“C’mon, I’m excited to meet your mum! And to see your farm! So let’s go and grab our stuff from the Secret, and get going!”

Rai held Sin’s hand as they walked.

The streets of Aurum’s capital city were quiet at this time of day, which made their walk together all the more calm and enjoyable.