p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 200%;"strongChapter 9: New World/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 200%;"January 11supth/sup, A.D. 2039/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""I need to duel someone." Caeden proclaimed in his upright position on his bed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""But you're wound isn't healed up yet! Just take it easy until you're better." Jiro replied as he supressed Caeden from getting off his bed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""I can't waste any more time laying around on a bed. The more I wait, the more my skills will dull."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""I'm pretty sure that's not how it works Caeden."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Whatever, I need to get stronger Jiro!" Shouted Caeden as he shoved Jiro's arm away, colliding with his face in the process./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Jiro…"/p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;""I guess I show myself out then." Jiro concluded as he left the room./p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 200%;"January 15supth/sup, A.D. 2039/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Hey looks like fresh meat showed up at our doorstep boys." A burly man covered in a mix mash of metal plating, leather chest piece wielding a tarnished steel mace exclaimed./p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;""I'll gladly end you scum for stealing from the chief's office." Cladded in his fur armor and shell layered armor, Caeden replied and readied his sabers./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;""Oh look if it isn't the fake warlock, are you here make us scum to our tears in pity?" Another voice added./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"An angry smirk ran through Caeden's face as he charged his adversaries. *Ring* "I'll let my blades answer that for you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"January 13supth/sup, A.D. 2039/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"*Crash* dust flown into air as Caeden struck the ground./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;""Ngh…" Rolling back onto his arms and legs in pain/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;""My win again." A familiar feminine voice declared with her blades burning in the background./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"*cough* "One…more…time…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;""The result will still be the same no matter how hard you try. A blademaster like yourself will never be able to best a warlock of the same level."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"Lifting his view off the ground, Hikari stood dominantly before him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;""Tch…stop lying to me…and fight!" Caeden roared./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;""I've come all this way without needing the elements, what makes you any different from the elementalists and warlocks I have fought?!" With each word Caeden shouted his wild slashes were blocked by Hikari's swords./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;""You've reached the limit with your swordsmanship!" Hikari shouted back and forcing Caeden's sabers out of his hand, landing beside his rear shadow. Stumbling backwards, he tumbles to the ground without a word. With sad eyes, Hikari turns and walks away, enveloping Caeden with her shadow./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"January 15supth/sup, A.D. 2039/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;" "I'll show you! I'll show you all, being a warlock means nothing!"/p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Inside the classroom a group of four students, Selene sat on her chair near the front asleep while other three stood by their desks talked amongst themselves. Within the group of students were Illiyana and Hikari./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Class feels more empty than usual…" Illiyana said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""A lot of our classmates already put in a request to be switched to a different class." A student with a red scarf and a pair of green headphones had replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Have you guys seen Jirou recently? I saw him going out of the southern city borders a few days. I hope nothing bad has happened to him." Illiyana said worriedly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Speaking of which, Caeden also disappeared lately. I haven't seen him in the gymnasium at all." Hikari added./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Oh no, it's almost time for my lecture. Later!" The student wrapped in the red scarf leaped out of the window./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Ashura walked into the room, placing a bag of objects and his document bag behind his wide desk./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Good morning sensei." All but Hikari greeted Ashura/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Good morning class." Ashura responded stoically./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Today we will be covering the basics of weapons and quality identification. You will-"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Hikari walked up to Ashura. "You wouldn't happen to know where Caeden has gone to, do you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""I do not, why do you insist that anything that happens with him automatically involves me?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Because after you defeated him in the duel, he's been recklessly engaging in duels with other students and players. I'm done wasting my time with a professor that thinks none of their students." Hikari left the classroom without looking back./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Sorry sensei, I'll go and have a talk with her." Illiyana added before leaving the classroom as well./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""So much for the taking the initiative..., I guess I'll work on the project for the day then."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"*Sniff, sniff* "Ngh…, is that metal that I smell?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Well now sleepy beauty you seem to have a great nose."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Heh, heh sensei called me beauty. But wait I smell…a metal…one that I don't normally smell." Selene exclaimed as she rushed towards the direction of Ashura's bag./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Hey now, that's classified stuff." Ashura said as he obstructed Selene./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""I bet you're looking for a place to refined those ores." Selene replied with a smirk./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Why do you say they are ores?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Well, judging from your response as well as the smell of minerals mixed with the metal. I can safely assume they are ores. So, how about it? Tell me what they are and where you got them from, in return I'll show you to the academy workshop./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Throw in that you will keep the location a secret plus helping me with the refining process, and we can call it a deal." Ashura negotiated./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Deal!" Selene exclaimed, extending her hand out in the process./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Ashura accepted her handshake./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""I would have refined for free in your place sensei."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Who knows if you would do it correctly."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Geez, I'll have you know my crafting level is forty-four!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""This metal needs a crafting level of at least fifty to have a sixty percent chance of success."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Seriously?!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Opening the bag deep purple crystals protruding out of a rock gave off a metallic shine./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""That…can't be! Is that…Cosmicite!?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""It is."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Quickly grabbing her belongings from her desk, Selene ran out into the hallway./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Come on sensei, what are you waiting for?!" Shouted Selene before she ran off./p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"'Well, at least I got one student now…'/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;""Here Selene-san, go nuts. I remembered I had an errand to take care of today."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;""Oh, uh ok." Selene takes the bag of ore from Ashura./p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: 200%;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"A player with a scimitar charged towards Caeden, but was evaded by a side step and the player received a stab that followed into a laceration in return. "Ahh!" A player with a tall shield proceeded to thrust his lance but deflected to the ground by Caeden's body weight as he leapt on top of the lance. "Shield Assault!" As a last resort the lancer bashed his shield forward with all his might. Using the player with a scimitar as a kick-off platform, Caeden somersaulted over the advancing 'shield assault', however a third player with an axe struck Caeden's sabers in mid-flight, forcing him into the ground with a loud slam./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Hargh!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Got you now, dead meat!" The axe player yelled out before pulling back for a second chop./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""I don't think so!" Pulling his legs towards his body and pushing off with his arms, Caeden kicked his legs and striking the face and chest of the axe player. Barely missing Caeden's body the axe splits the earth beside Caeden's chest. The body of axe player collides with the lancer. Causing him stumble backwards for a brief moment./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Shuugeki!" Leaping forward between the players, Caeden swept both of his blades to the sides, launching away the two players./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Blood decorated the floor and wall surrounding Kaeden. Groans and whimpers of pain came the beaten bodies. More players could be seen on the floors above. Some hesitant while others itching for battle./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Tell me where _ is!" Caeden shouted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Well, if it isn't the brat. I wondering what the commotion was all about. "/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""I finally found you bastard, and it's time to pay up." Caeden announced with heavy breaths./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Big barks mean for nothing in this world, if you've got something prove then prove it with your moves!" Retorted a low masculine voice./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""It's now or never Nikenshiko!" The veins coursed with a red glow in Caeden's sabers. The white edges of the sabers pulsated with a dim crimson radiance akin to Caeden's eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Ready for more huh? Then take it!" A figure leaped from a platform towards Caeden./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"A spiked metal club was stopped by Caeden's sabers. A brown bearded man was holding onto the club with a scar that ran across his left cheek. Leaping back, the metal club crashes against the ground. The man quickly swipes upwards with the club, however Caeden twists his body to the side causing the club to whiff. '"Hiyah! Whirling blades!" With arms outstretched, the sabers slashed towards the man. The metal armguard was sliced in two and brought forth a streak of crimson fluid. The metal club quickly swept towards Caeden, striking his abdomen despite his effort to block with his right saber and sent his body towards a pile of pipes./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Hmph, how weak you have become in such a short time. Just when I thought some entertainment showed up at my doorstep."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Cheers began to ensue from the beaten players. Under extreme pain, his body collapsed after multiple attempts to return to his feet./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Serves you right!" "There's no way you can beat Grey!" "Show him how it's done Grey!"br / "Give it up kid, there's no way you can beat me at your current state." Said Grey./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""No, it's no over yet…It ain't close to being over!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"A surge of energy exploded within Caeden. A veil of aura encircled his body and rose as if he never received any injuries./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"'Rekta activated: Rising Soul' Appeared on Caeden's heads up display./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Rising soul huh? You know there's no point in beating me if you're going to burn out halfway."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"'Rising soul, a last resort strengthening rekta that allows the user to fight until their bodies physically cannot continue by numbing their sense of pain and redirecting all reserve energy to the muscles and specific organs such as the brain and the heart, however the user will receive great pain and tremendous fatigue when it's effects expires.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;" Neon reddish-orange trails of light began to encircle around Grey./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""We'll see about that…" Whispered Caeden behind Grey./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""…!" Grey with a frustrated expression as he turned to his back./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"A quick uppercut followed by a downward slash with both sabers easily sliced through the back of Grey's armor./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Missing Caeden by a centimeter with his club, Caeden proceeded to anchor his body with his blades as he performed a sweeping kick and knocking Grey off balance. Transferring the momentum of his legs into his arms, the dual sabers slammed into Grey's body with brutal force, however the cuts were rather shallow as opposed to his armor./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""…?" During the hesitation between Caeden's assault Grey retaliated with a punch to Caeden's arms followed by a swing of his metal club, slamming him into a concrete column./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Haaa…." With no air to push out a yell of pain, a pained sigh was all he could muster./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Despite his attempts to pick up his sabers, his trembling hands could no longer make a move./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""You did well to get this far for a blademaster, but there's no way you will beat a warlock like me. I'd imagine the only thing keeping you awake right now is your survive rekta. Now then, farewell kid..."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Dusk to dawn, dawn to dusk, no pain will be felt, no joy will be held, all shall fall silent before the cover of darkness. First darkness of the exalts, night…" A wave of black encased both Caeden and Grey/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""…fall." A black figure appears behind Grey./p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;""Ngh…" Both collapsed to the ground./p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Plains of greenery stretched as far as the eye could see. A gentle wind blows the wisps of clouds across the night sky, with the moonlight clouded. A young man laid on the grass, eyes closed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Where…am I? Have I…died?" Caeden asks as he opens his eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""It's much too early for your place here…Caeden." A voice called out./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Pulling his head up to find the source of the voice, a brown haired girl stares towards the horizon in a white frilly dress./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Milla? Wait what do you mean? What is this place?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""All will be answered with time…" A smile came from the girl in the white dress as a bright circle of light rose from the horizon./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Nghh…" Blocking the light with his arms./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Huh?" An image of a tree came into view./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Attempting lift his upper body into sitting position his arms began to ache and throb in pain. Thus causing him to fall backwards in pain./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Hmm? So you're awake." A low familiar voice came from above his vision./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Tilting his head backwards a black cladded Ashura came into view./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Why are you here?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""I had something to pick up nearby and I saw a student of mine enter a suspicious ruin of a factory."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Why did you interrupt my fight?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Your fight? Did you mean your loss?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""If I could move right now, I would have punched your face by now."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""A great way to repay your saviour I must say."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Why are you wasting your time with such a failure of a warlock?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Is that what this is all about? You had to find _ of all people to prove your superiority or otherwise you can't be a student? If you are being bullied, there are easier ways to go out."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""That's not the point!...People I used to know had such great hopes for me, even when I found out my low affinity towards elements and the impossibility being a successful elementalist or warlock even, I still honed my skills on being the best blademaster in the academy. But what's the point of becoming the greatest blademaster in the academy if I will always be inferior to warlocks?!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Answer me!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""I don't particularly enjoy seeing potential go to waste."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""You know, this is an awful time for jokes."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""I already feel bad for the professors who taught you previously. It's true I have no doubts with you being the worst warlock in the academy, however…you must also be the worst idiot in the school as well. You may be lacking in a certain field and other aspects that you accel at may not be combat useful, but there will always be a field where only you will accel in."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""So why am I the worst idiot?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Because only idiots fail to recognize their own talents." Ashura replied as he stood up./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Now let's return to the academy, I can't babysit you forever."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Dumbstruck for a moment Caeden remarked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Now you're starting to sound like a real prof, but I think I'm going to lay here for a bit longer."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Suit yourself, I have work to tend to."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""I thought you had to babysit me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""You're a half kilometer from town, unless a warwolf comes along, I doubt they will be any harm to you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"After checking his surroundings, a group of buildings stood in the distance./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""But…it's not that simple…sensei."/p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"'I've only said half the story.'/p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Opening the door to his room Hayate sat in a chair as if waiting for his return./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""I'd imagine things went well?" Hayate asked with a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""More like it almost went FUBAR." Closing the door with his right hand./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Ngh…" Ashura groaned in pain as he stumbled to his bed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Seriously Shura?! I've told ya not to keep using it. Ow that's hot!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""No choice for that. There was a whole bunch of them this time."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Stay there! I'll go and get you some ice crystals!" Hayate commanded as he leapt out the window./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Herrggghh…" Trying his hardest to suppress the cries of pain./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Outside the door, a fist stopped before making contact with the door./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"'Huh? What's going on? Should I go in?'/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"A red bordered yellow figure in a world of blue entered into Ashura's right eye./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Is someone there?" Ashura called out./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"The entity quickly left Ashura's sight./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;""Damn, what terrible luck I've got."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 8.0cm; line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"END/p
/div
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Author's notes/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-indent: 36.0pt; line-height: 200%;"Hey everyone final chapter for volume 1, I would like to thank for bearing with the poor grammar since I wanted to post it as soon it was finished even if English is my second language. If you're a stickler for proper English, I will be posting an undated version of this chapter in the proceeding week. For those reading, how's the novel going so far? Too fast? Too slow? Too awkward? Would enjoy some reviews or feedback so I can improve the next volume. Epilogue will be coming to wrap this volume up. Please spread the word if you really enjoy it span style="font-family: Wingdings;"J/span. Be on the lookout for the next volume Project New World: Conquest/p