The first month and a half of training ended on a high note, and the group had been allotted an entire day to relax and bond. Finally, he was done capturing the cores for his spirits, and he was forced to go through various trials that left him questioning himself more and more as he was tasked with killing or capturing simulated criminals. Some were strong, and others were cunning. Few were manipulators, while some seemed to follow orders blindly.

During the free day, Some discussed their training, others spared. Kyrion, in particular, was using the day to unwind and meditate.

Kyrion was finally enjoying his day off. No fights, no drama, and no people trying to kidnap him. He had been soaking in the open-air bath for over six hours in perfect serenity. While he hadn’t been able to enjoy the face-down reverse starfish method of soaking. As people thought he had died, so he compromised by enjoying the large rock he had molded into a perfect resting stone. In this ideal serenity, Kyrion heard footsteps enter the changing rooms.

“I can’t believe that she made me. Ughh! I can’t even speak of it.” Brion entered the bath with a sour expression on his face.

“You know that when you talk like that it makes it seem like you’re insinuating that something impure happened.” Ander said with a straight face.

“It did. Who in their right minds would ever… I swear. I have never been so poorly handled. It was barbaric I tell you.” Brion shivered despite being in hot water.

“I don’t think you’ve ever been handled before.” Ander sighed.

“She made me think I was special and then just tossed me aside when my training time elapsed.”

“You know. This is one of the weirdest conversations I’ve heard.” Kyrion said from behind a rock.

“Yeah. Well that’s because someone is too shy to elaborate. Despite the truth being rather tame,” Ander poked Brion in the ribs.

“It’s too embarrassing.” Brion flushed.

“I see.” Kyrion did not in fact, see.

“Well if your training is going well then relax. We all meet up on Sunday for a team event.”

An older man carrying a tray full of small cups and multiple bottles. “Greetings young ones. Would any of you care for a drink? These are special spirits that are beneficial to spirit masters. There are drawbacks but you have a healer here who can heal the brain damage, so they are almost negligible. It forces open the floodgates in your mind that keep the quality of your mana in check which does cause physical damage and memory loss but like I said you have a skilled healer so take advantage of the opportunity and drink up.”

Kyrion pouts. “Lucky you. I’m still too young to drink.”

“You look at least eighteen. Could just be the height though.”

“I’m fifteen, I’m also the healer you mentioned, impaired brain healing is dangerous work.”

“Well I’m not a healer so that makes little sense to me. But your friends could use the boost. One of the servants is doing the same on the women’s side.”

“Great, I’ll need to heal more brain damage.” Kyrion sighed.

“A healer’s work is never done.” Ander said as he grabbed a cup filled with a clear liquid before downing it like medicine. The green-haired young man winced.

Brion also took a cup and drank the liquid inside. Again, he didn’t wince, but he did grimace. “It does not taste good.”

“Tas cause your not goos to it,” Ander said. He had gotten drunk a bit too quickly.

“What does that mean? Ander? Why are your eyes half open?” Brion asked as he looked at the flushed young man.

“Just relaxing…” Ander collapsed into the water and started laughing.

“Uh…”

“Huh, didn’t expect him to be a lightweight. But then again I’m not too surprised. He is quite scrawny.” Kyrion muttered. Surprising himself.

“I’ll hab you know… What was I gonna say?” Ander turned his head towards a wooden bucket and a floor brush.

“Brion? Mind holding him down before he starts electrocuting everyone?”

“He needs his spear to create sparks. So long as he doesn’t have that we should be fine.” Brion waved his hand.

“Uh huh. Are you feeling funny?”

“No, not really. I think I will have a light buzz later but I’m fine now.”

Max walked into the room stinking to high heaven with an owl next to him.

“Please wash off before getting in.” The booze carrier stated.

“Oh right. Yeah I’ll do that.”

“When you’re done, hand me my helmet and spear. I gots training to do.” Ander said.

“Please don’t.” Kyrion said sheepishly.

“Killjoy.” Ander slumped back into his resting position.

“Did I miss anything?” Max asked.

“Ander’s a bit of a lightweight,” Brion stated as he pointed a thumb toward the booze tray.

“Why are you drinking in the first place?”

“To be fair, there isn’t any real alcohol in here. It has similar effects but it’s made from concentrated mana before being processed for consumption. It could also be used to awaken someone’s mana, but that ritual is long out of fashion.”

Max had finished washing off and joined the pool. His skin scared up to a bizarre level. He really needed to learn how to dodge.

“You know. I’m never going to ask if you’re a girl again.” Kyrion said stoically.

“Very funny. Can you get rid of these scars?” Max pointed to a gash on his head that didn’t heal properly.

“Geeze. You need to learn how to dodge.” Kyrion said, trying to hide a smirk.

“Very funny.” Max shivered as the scabs healed and slid off as perfect skin could now be seen.

“You could make a lot of money if you sold that power.”

“I do sell it. I know my worth and to the right buyer I am very expensive. Healers are hard to find normally. Some will pay alot for vanity. Used to do it for free as practice. Sadly there isn’t a shortage of people asking for my expertise. Especially after training incidents. Calluses built while a fledgling can be healed over and the endurance gained won’t decrease if they already reached practitioner.”

“Interesting.” The man took a cup and downed all of the liquid inside.

The group stayed silent as the next person entered. This was a young blond man with a surprisingly athletic figure and piercing blue eyes. He surveyed the group before washing off and entering the bath.

“So. Who are you?” Max asked about the new arrival.

“Cecil, and you? Wait.. Your Max right?” Cecil squinted.

“Cecil? No…You look too good to be Cecil.” Max said as he examined the intruder.

“He’s one of those people who looks much different without glasses. He can’t see well without them so he rarely takes them off.” Kyrion explained.

“Oh gods I’m in a bottle episode.” Cecil began spouting nonsense.

“A battle? I’ll take one.” Ander said.

The server cleared his throat. “Legend tells of a battlefield just over this wall. One where even the strongest tend to fall. A place so dangerous that only the brave and idiotic ever attempt to go. The place is right over that stone wall.”

“That’s the wall that leads to the girl’s side….” Kyrion eyed the man with suspicion.

“So what you’re saying is that the girls are fighting while we’re just sitting around?” Brion asked as he began to flush and sway.

“That’s not fair!” Ander climbed out of the tub.

“You aren’t fighting without me!” Brion also climbed out.

“Bravery from the two of you deserves aesthetics give me a moment. I’ll go get some towels. Don’t go anywhere.” Cecil got out of the water.

Kyrion followed suit. “I’ll go help him find the towels. He can’t see well anyhow.”

“So we’re going to warn the girls right?” Kyrion asked.

“Most definitely. Drunk idiots they may be but we don’t need to ruin potential team cohesion.”

“Think they bought it?”

“Ander seems to be the innocent and gullible type naturally. That trait is boosted in this state.”

“I see.” Kyrion waved his hand, and in seconds he and Cecil were covered in robes.

“Why do you have a robe my size?”

“I have an absurd amount of space. So why wouldn’t I use it?

“You’re dodging my question.”

“Maybe your question is wrong.”

“What?”

“I said…”

“Fine. How do you know my size?”

“I don’t. The headmaster paid for the work to get done and he had me carry most of the excess luggage. I’m still carrying most of it. Suffice it to say the headmaster knows your size.”

Max had realized that the odd duo was up to something but decided not to call them out. He had finally gotten to relax. His only respite during training seemed to have been when his teacher left him alone; 3 days out of seven, he’d have to survive on his own. Days he had soon learned were light in comparison.

“I’m never leaving this spring.”

Or so he thought.

A one-eyed snake popped out of the water in front of him. It had a purple-scaled coloration, and it was quite angry looking.

Arthur looked at the creature and decided to land on Max’s shoulder, acting as his protection.

The snake opened its mouth and spoke.“Your real training begins now. Have a restful sleep.”

Before Max could react, he had been stunned by a paralytic position. Then, the magic went off, and a purple power hit him in the face knocking him out.

Brion and Ander had fallen unconscious as well. Only their falls were quite a bit harder.

Bacchus sighed. “It’s time to get to work. What is Lok planning?”

Bachus shook his head as he returned to his natural form as the headmaster of Drisil.

“Looks like Kyrion hasn’t returned yet which means he’s busy. Time to begin phase two of this plan.”

Kyrion saw Tiffany and the others dressed in light clothing playing pool in what seemed to be a recreation room.

“We’ve been set up.” Kyrion said quietly.

Cecil scowled. “That appears to be the case.”

A sign over the woman’s bath read. “Closed for cleaning.”

The two looked at each other before nodding.

“Kyrion. Why didn’t you tell me your son wasn’t potty trained when you dropped him off?” Tiffany looked at Kyrion with a glare, her face much redder.

“What?” Kyrion raised his hands. “I haven’t seen Bastion all week. And he isn’t my son.” Kyrion partially lied. He’d kept an eye on the boy but hadn’t interfered with his training.

“Your a… dead beat. Why do I put up with you!” Tiffany raised her hands up in frustration.

“She’s drunk.” Cecil stated.

“Shush. You… Who are you?” Tiffany eyed Cecil in confusion.

Cecil sighed. “Some have referred to me as a casanova.”

“Cecil! I’m surprised that you came out so early. Shouldn’t you be corrupting the minds of the other boys.” Bella approached. She wasn’t nearly as affected by the stuff in her system due to her natural resilience.

“I am not that kind of main character. We actually came to warn you. But it appears something happened.”

“Right. Kyrion, since you’re here, why don’t you get rid of this knot in my shoulders.” Bella looked

Kyrion looked at the pink-haired woman and sighed in resignation.

“Remember to lift with your legs Bella. Not your back. You’re starting to get a slouch.” Kyrion did not seem bothered by the situation.

Kyrion approached Bella and placed a hand on her spine and another on her left shoulder to get a solid grip. He’d have put her on the table, but he didn’t want to interrupt the table tennis match.

A series of pops, howls, and healing passed. Afterward, Bella stood straight up, visibly taller and healthier.

“Good stuff. How much would this cost me in your clinic?”

“5 Gold. This is simple and with that much I can afford to bankroll Cecil’s Harem for three months.”

“Please don’t make it sound like you’re selling your services to keep it going.” Cecil stated.

“That’s exactly what I’m doing. Most can’t actually fix bones due to a lack of physical strength and those who can will charge a lot more. But I could get in trouble for charging students that much for something that takes me minimal effort. Pure cosmetics, though. That I can charge as much as I want. I will outright turn down requests for pure appendage alterations. Once you do it, customers don’t stop trying to buy your services.” Kyrion looked off into the middle distance with a glassy-eyed expression as though he had given up on humanity.

“You make it sound like you’re doing something you don’t want to do.” Bella stated.

“Cecil, Where do you even come up with all these ideas?”

“I stole almost all of them. Answer Bella’s question.” Cecil scowled.

“I don’t mind doing it, its just. Some request can be ridiculious. While flesh is like clay in my hands there are limits, some request can cause adverse effects to ones well being if unatural. Now anyone else need bone restoration while I feel generous?”

“Shouldn’t we be getting back?” Cecil asked.

Minah looked up and then looked to Hel, who seemed to nod.

“I guess I’m next. Don’t do anything weird now.”

Kyrion eyed his friend’s sister and sighed. “Your ribs are a bit too brittle. Which creates an abnormallity, incomplete bodilly enhancemnt seems to be the cause. Create an issue when fighting anyone who can counter.”

“I’ll have you know I fixed that weakness.”

“The brittle ribs?” Kyrion placed a hand on her shoulder and closed his eyes, looking into her bone structure before wincing.

“What are you doing?!” Minah yelled.

“Are you trying to kill yourself?” Kyrion took a step back in shock.

“What?” Minah scowled.

“Oh this is quite bad indeed. At this rate you’ll be bed bound if you don’t reach expert by 23.” Kyrion began walking back and forth.

“Aren’t you supposed to be more comforting in cases like this?”

“I mean. I would, but this is truly something worth thinking about. You’ve been burning your candles at both ends.” Kyrion shook his head.

“Spit it out before I start wringing your neck.” Minah wasn’t playing.

“Well you see. If word got out that I did this for free I’ll be ruined. I normally charge 2000 gold for this level of damage.” Kyrion began pacing.

“So I’m not dying.”

“I mean. You’re making yourself more vulnerable to attacks. Have you been eating well?” Kyrion seemed frustrated as he paced.

“I’m not following.”

Kyrion looked around and found a corner as he pulled a patient table out of his domain before walling the area off with curtains. He then returned to the group. “Minah I’ll need you to trust me and lay on your back, on that table.”

“Where no one can see me? Why would I do that?”

“Fine. You may take one of the others. Just thought you’d want some privacy.” Kyrion sighed.

“Hel? Make sure he doesn’t do anything strange.”

Hel gulped as she looked at the stern-faced Kyrion.

Minah followed Kyrion’s instructions, with Hel ready to strike should anything happen.

“Remember, this will hurt me more than it hurts you. Although I must ask this. Do you intend to keep dressing Max? It isn’t healthy, as a physician, I need to tell you this.”

“My secrets are out and it’s not like I can fool my father. But what does that have to do with anything?”

“You’ll see. Just to be certain, how old are you?”

“Max and I are twins. What do you think?”

“...Am I really the youngest in our group?” Kyrion sighed.

“I’m sixteen. Awakening happens at eleven for most back home.” Hel looked at Kyrion with a blank expression.

“Bah. This isn’t fair.” Kyrion felt exasperated.

“How old are you….” Minah eyed her captain.

“Fifteen… I’ll be sixteen soon.” Kyrion lied. He was a spring baby, which meant no birthday until after the tournament began.

“You sure don’t look fifteen.” Minah scowled.

“It’s the height, and muscles. Now then. You’re old enough to make decisions like this yourself.”

“If it will make me stronger then go ahead.”

Kyrion began the process of healing his senior. This must have been what Asela had felt in her group.

After ten minutes, Kyrion left the curtained-off area and looked for the exit.

“How’d it go?” Cecil asked.

Kyrion didn’t say anything and just started speed-walking toward the exit.

Kyrion did not want to be here when the aftermath of what he had just done got around.

“What crawled up his robe. Sheesh.”

Minah walked out of the tent, her robe noticeably tighter than it had been when she went in.

Hel followed, her mouth wide open as the words wouldn’t form.

“I haven’t breathed this well in years! You were right. He is a decent healer.” Minah let out a deep breath.

“I can see why he doesn’t heal those injuries lightly,” Cecil said casually, summoning a pair of glasses and aiming to put them on.

“He did that much?” Bella casually reached down and crushed said glasses.

“Much of what? He just healed me.” Minah stated.

Cecil sighed and took a seat facing away from Minah after Bella shot him a look.

The other women in the bathhouse seemed to sneer at Minah. Tiffany was among them as she looked down and then up. “It’s so sad.”

“He made me ugly didn’t he.” Minah looked down as well before looking up in confusion.

“What’s wrong?” Eden asked the only one not affected by the change.

“I can’t see my feet. Did he make me fat? I’m not wearing my armor either.” Minah seemed confused.

“Law of conservation of mass. He technically can’t. He just repaired what was already there.” Cecil stated aptly, not turning around, knowing he was preserving his life.

Minah felt around her body, her ribs were not sore anymore, and she stood straighter. In fact, she had more tone. But that didn’t explain why she couldn’t see her toes. Until it did.

“Are these my?” Minah started.

“Yup.” Bella nodded.

“But.”

“We know.” Bella finished.

“How?”

“Healers are mysterious beings.” Cecil said with a closed eye smile.

“How will I fight?”

“Make adjustments, but I’ll need to alter your suit.”

“I see. Do you know where he went?” Minah held up a fist.

“He ran away to keep from being hounded. You should probably keep this matter private. If word gets out Kyrion won’t be able to show his face anywhere.” Cecil sighed.

“So he knew this was going to happen.”

“That’s probably why you got a curtain.”

“I need to go check on the boys. Take it easy.” Cecil got up and made an effort not to stare despite being somewhat blind without his glasses.

“Bastion’s log. Day 27, condishons poor. I haven’t been given any snacks since I got here. Still don’t know what I did wrong. The girls just started screaming for no reason.”

Bastion sat in a corner, huddled as he talked to himself while tracing a circle on the ground.

“Kyrion, where are you!”

As though he descended from the heavens, Kyrion arrived quickly and ran right past him.

“No! Come…” Bastion began.

Kyrion clamped his hand over Bastion’s mouth from behind.

“Shh! You can come, just stay quiet.” Kyrion stated.

Bastion spoke his muffled agreement.

“Next time just nod.” Kyrion tossed Bastion over his shoulder and opened the door to leave when he stepped into a field of never-ending darkness. The duo disappeared. The only thing left behind was a note that neither of them had written.