Blue Archive: An Otherworldly Sensei - Foreclosure

by Kansas Moth

Following an experiment gone wrong, the legendary Dragonborn of Skyrim finds himself in the city of Kivotos where he helps various students with their problems. [VOLUME ONE]

Chapter One - Sky Blue Archive

For the past several months, the mages of Sjel Blad Castle have been seeking to expand their research beyond not just the borders of Skyrim, but beyond the boundaries of Nirn itself. The lord of the castle has already had some experience in visiting these realms beyond the mortal plane, but his ventures into these realms isn't nearly enough. They desired more; their recent experiments revolving around the potential of exploring the Deadlands, the Daedric Realm of Mehrunes Dagon. Months of near constant study and preparation had gone into it, and when the promised day finally came; Ja'vassa himself volunteered to enter the portal. As not only the leader of Sjel Blad Castle and the strongest member of the faction, it made sense to him that he'd be the one to take the risk and see if their efforts weren't in vain.

However, before entering the portal, Ja'vassa took some time to make a few preparations; he took a few days to ensure his equipment was in top condition, prepared some potions and poisons for emergencies, and made sure he had plenty of materials to write with just in case he needed to send messages back to his companions. Once everything was said and done, Ja'vassa returned to the ritual site.

"Whenever you're ready, activate the portal. I'll send a message to you within twenty-four hours." The Dragonborn stated as he watched Relumara activate the runes on the ground. The group at the ritual site collectively held their breath, and at the moment the portal appeared, they released a number of relieved sighs.

With the portal opened, Ja'vassa approached it with an eager grin plastered to his face. "You're in charge until I return, Relumara. I'm planning for the expedition to last at least two weeks. I'll send back reports periodically, so keep an eye on the Void Conduits across the castle."

The Dunmer battlemage nodded in response, bowing slightly out of respect. "I look forward to your return. Safe travels, my Lord."

After stepping through the portal, it quickly closed behind Ja'vassa in a brilliant flash of light. Holding his breath and closing his eyes, he awaited for the feeling of solid ground beneath his feet. It felt like an eternity, but as he finally had solid footing once more, his eyes fluttered open. The typical calm disposition had been replaced by a look of utter shock and confusion. He knew the stories of the Deadlands; they always mentioned that it was a desolate wasteland filled with rivers of lava, ruined towers, dead plants, and vicious daedra looking to turn any foolish mortal who entered into their new plaything. However, as he stepped from the portal, he'd find that this was anything but the hellish landscape the stories claimed it to be.

He had found himself in the middle of a strange office overlooking perhaps the largest cityscape the old Khajiit had ever seen in his life. Though he could see a number of civilians walking on the ground from where he was staring out of the window; they didn't strike him as typical daedra. Some of them were seemingly normal looking girls with strange halos over their heads while others appeared to be humanoid dogs, cats, and rabbits. Yet, the office he arrived in seemed devoid of life and all was quiet. Curious and somewhat concerned, Ja'vassa began to explore the office to see if he couldn't find any information about this place.

Approaching an empty desk, he'd come across a strange tablet resting atop of it. Something about the tablet drew him closer, prompting him to pick it up. "What is this...?" He muttered. At the moment he'd pick it up, the tablet came to life; the screen filled with a variety of vivid colors and eventually, a cheerful, energetic girl popped up. Despite the ever increasing confusion within his mind, he couldn't peel himself away from whatever was happening. This might not have been his intended destination, but this was an interesting development all the same.

"Welcome to Kivotos, Sensei!" The girl spoke, her cheerful tone matching the glowing smile on her face. "Judging by the look on your face, you have no idea where you are. Lucky for you, I'm here to help! You can call me Arona, the AI of the Shittim Chest you hold now."

Though he now knows the name of the strange place, it did little to help his confusion. "Kivotos? Yeah, I can't say I was intending to come here..." Ja'vassa admits, briefly glancing around the room. The technology surrounding him was almost overwhelming, but he did well to mask his nervousness. "What is this place? Why do you call me 'Sensei'?"

A few playful giggles escaped Arona. "Kivotos is a massive city home to a number of different academies, you'll find both the academies and the students that reside within them to have great stories to tell! You're currently within SCHALE, the Independent Federal Investigation Club. I call you Sensei because you were able to activate the Shittim Chest, you were summoned here to aid the students with their problems."

The explanation did alleviate some of his confusion, but it only created more questions in his mind. "So.. my experiment failed and somehow brought me here? To be a teacher? I... I'm not entirely sure if any of my expertise would be beneficial to the students here." Ja'vassa stated, his ears flattening slightly as he spoke.

"Oh! You're not here to teach them, but rather, just to support them." Arona assured him, her cheerful smile never leaving her face. "Don't worry; I've already called for someone to better assist you in figuring out your mission. She's the Vice President of the General Student Council, the ruling body of Kivotos. She should be here soon."

As Ja'vassa waited for the Vice President's arrival, he found himself curiously wandering about the office; picking up a few of the books scattered on the shelves and skimming through them. While his experiment had failed, there was something highly intriguing about the world he ended up in. Sooner than later, he'd need to make a report and send it back home; he wasn't sure how his Inner Council would react, but he figured this would be an incredible discovery in and of itself.

After a few moments, a young woman had entered the room; the lights in the office brightening slightly. "So, you're the Sensei that Arona claimed was summoned to our world." She stated, staring at him with an unreadable expression. Her eyes never left him, as if she was studying his every move, gauging his intentions. "I'm not sure if you're the one we summoned, but if you activated the Shittim Chest, then perhaps you're the one we're seeking."

She approached him, her hand outstretched. "Nanagami Rin, Vice President of the General Student Council. Perhaps you'd be willing to tell me your name and where you came from, Sensei?"

Hesitating ever so slightly, Ja'vassa firmly shook her hand. "Ja'vassa Anair, Lord of Sjel Blad Castle. I hail from the province of Skyrim, a land beyond this realm." He started, releasing her hand after a moment. "Arona claimed I was summoned here.. strange the summoning would happen in the middle of my group's latest project."

His mention of the project caught her attention. "What exactly was this project of yours?" Rin asked, raising her eyebrows slightly.

"We were attempting to create a portal to the Deadlands, one of the many planes of Oblivion for study and research. Something went wrong.. or was poorly timed, and instead of ending up where I had planned, I wound up here." Ja'vassa explained, crossing his arms as he spoke. "This may not have been my intended destination, but.. I can't say I'm upset by the results. There is still much to be learned here."

Satisfied by his explanation, Rin looked him up and down; a light smile crossing her face as she took in his apparel. "Judging by your clothing, I'd suspect this Skyrim is a little... primitive. You should fit in well enough, as I'm sure you can see some of the citizens from here."

There was a slight pause from him as Ja'vassa looked towards the clothing he had on. While the coat, boots, and gloves were fine, they clearly looked a bit outdated compared to the more refined uniform that Rin wore. His Goldbrand sword resting on his hip seemed just as ancient in comparison. "I... I suppose we're not nearly as advanced. Admittedly, in the centuries I've lived, I've never seen anything like this. I'm quite sure the entirety of Whiterun could fit within this stretch of road. The buildings make even the White-Gold Tower look small."

A soft chuckle escaped her as he listened to him. "It seems you'll be learning from our students just as much as they'll be learning from you, Sensei." Rin replied, an amused smile crossing her face. "Give me a few moments to enter your information into our database."

Silence had filled the room as Rin began to enter the information Ja'vassa had given her. After a short while, Arona spoke up with her usual gleeful tone. "You've been successfully registered as a member of SCHALE's Federal Investigation Club, Ja'vassa-Sensei! We'll probably be receiving some requests from students for aid soon; perhaps in the meantime, you should explore Kivotos a bit and introduce yourself to some of the students you'll be meeting with." She suggested.

"That's a good idea, Arona. I've already sent out memos to each of the student councils at the surrounding academies. They'll know to expect you. Gehenna and Trinity are the closest ones to us, they're also among the largest and most prestigious of the schools in Kivotos. As an official SCHALE employee, you'll probably want to use this." Rin added, handing Ja'vassa a credit card and an ID badge. "You can use this for payment for anything you might need while you're working with us, and the lanyard will identify you. Arona can help you find the academies in question. I'll be in contact with you if anything comes up."

Ja'vassa nodded as he took the card, staring at it with some slight confusion, though he figured that Arona could likely help him with it at some point. If all else failed, he still had plenty of supplies within his Deep Storage and could always contact his companions through the Void Storage.

After Rin had left the room, Ja'vassa had followed suit and made his way to the city streets. Being on ground level gave him an entirely new perspective of the city, and his nerves were acting up a little. His ears twitch nervously as he glanced around him; he's been alive for nearly two thousand years and has visited nearly every point on Tamriel, and yet, nothing could've prepared him for the sheer size of Kivotos. The Imperial City seems tiny in comparison.

"Uh... I hope you're good with directions, Arona." Ja'vassa said softly, glancing towards the tablet with a slightly sheepish smile. "I think... Maybe we should start with Trinity? Any idea where we should go from here?"

Seeing the confusion etched onto the Khajiit's voice, a few cheerful giggles escaped her. "Don't worry! I'll pull up a map for you, just follow the highlighted path." Arona assured him. She'd disappear for a moment, being replaced with a map. "Just head north from here, and then go east, then north again. It'll be difficult to miss; Trinity is a large school, after all."

With the directions given to him, Ja'vassa began his journey towards the academy. His gaze wandered towards the various buildings, his eyes sparkling with an almost childish excitement as he took in all of the different sights and smells; though his main priority was to meet with the students of Trinity and later at Gehenna, he'd make sure to properly explore the city at some point.

Chapter Two - Trinity

It wasn't entirely clear how much time had gone by since Ja'vassa had left the office, but even with the directions from Arona, it had taken long enough that the sun had already begun to set. Despite the time it had taken, he didn't seem particularly bothered by it and found himself admiring the strange patterns in them.

"You know.. I'm sure my companions might be a bit disappointed to learn that I hadn't reached our destination, but I can't say I'd mirror their emotions. Unexpected as it might've been, it's hard to deny that this is a beautiful place so far." Ja'vassa stated as he glanced back towards the tablet in hand.

Arona briefly appeared on screen, flashing him one of his usual cheerful smiles. "I'm glad you're enjoying your time in Kivotos so far, Ja'vassa-Sensei. I think you'll be happy to know that Trinity is just as beautiful as the rest of Kivotos. It's one of the oldest academies in the city and the students within do their best to preserve their history."

Her explanation caused Ja'vassa's own smile to widen slightly; knowing that the citizens of Kivotos did so well to preserve their history made him happy, especially since that meant there would be plenty of opportunity to study the land in its fullest. "Skyrim was a beautiful province. Towering mountains, lush forests, glistening rivers.. there were few places in the province that weren't awe inspiring, but Kivotos.. there's a beauty that's hard to describe here. I know Rin mentioned I'd be helping the students with their problems, but I can only hope I'll have some time to explore this place."

Just as Arona was about to respond, her cheerful smile was briefly replaced with a look of surprise. "Ah! We've finally arrived at Trinity. Given how late it is, you probably won't have a chance to meet with the Tea Party, but I can send a message to Nagisa and see if she's willing to arrange a time to speak with you."

A soft sigh escaped the Khajiit's lips as he arrived at the academy's gates. "Thank you for getting me this far, Arona. I'd suspect we likely would've gotten here on time had I not gotten myself distracted." Ja'vassa chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "But, you weren't kidding when you said Trinity is gorgeous. The sheer size of it is mind bogglingly... it puts the College of Winterhold to shame."

Arona couldn't help but giggle, a playful smirk crossing her face. "You've only seen a small fraction of what Kivotos has to offer, Ja'vassa-Sensei. Gehenna is just as large; Millennium is relatively large, too, but I'll let you find that out tomorrow."

The prospect of a school that was just as large as Trinity, and the mention of other large schools made him both nervous and excited. Though, given how late in the day it was, he suddenly remembered that he'd probably need to find somewhere to stay for the night. "Uh... I don't suppose camping out in the middle of the city is frowned upon, is it? I guess I could always return to SCHALE and come back here early the next morning." Ja'vassa asked, his ears twitching nervously.

"I suppose you could camp out here, but it might draw a few strange looks. You still have the card that Rin gave you, right? There should be a few hotels nearby that you can use. Don't... don't tell me you don't know how to use a credit card, Sensei..." Arona asked, a slight frown crossing her face.

An awkward chuckle escaped him in response. "Arona... the sword I carry isn't just for decoration. We're still using basic gold coins for payment, and rely on horse-drawn carriages to get from city to city on cobblestone roads." Ja'vassa admitted, rubbing his chin slightly.

It took several moments for Arona to respond once more, her mouth slightly agape as she listened to him. "I... I had no idea your home was so backwards, Sensei.." She admitted, but a determined smile quickly returned. "Don't worry! I'll help you with it and make sure you find a safe place to sleep tonight!"

As the two went back and forth, a student approached them with a somewhat cheerful smile glued to her face. Though Ja'vassa's appearance was a bit strange, she noticed that he seemed to be a bit lost. "Are you looking for someone?" The girl asked, carrying a strangely adorable backpack behind her.

Turning to the source of the voice, Ja'vassa nodded in response. "Yes, I was told I might want to meet with the Tea Party." He replied, briefly flashing the lanyard Rin had given him earlier in the day.

Taking a moment to study the badge, the girl's smile widened slightly. "Oh! You're the new SCHALE advisor that the Vice President mentioned in her post earlier. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sensei. I'm Ajitani Hifumi!" She replied, looking up towards him curiously. "Unfortunately, you're a little late here. The Tea Party has been dismissed for the day, but I can help you if you need some directions."

The kind offer caught Ja'vassa off guard slightly, but he smiled in response. "That'd be very kind of you, Hifumi. I'm just looking for a hotel or somewhere to stay for the night. I'm afraid I got a little distracted on my way here earlier." He admitted sheepishly.

"Don't feel bad for it, I get distracted often myself." Hifumi assured him, motioning for him to follow behind her. "But, I know of a few hotels nearby. You're not from here, are you, Sensei?" She asked, studying him with a somewhat curious expression.

"No, I'm not. I've only been in Kivotos for a short while now." Ja'vassa responded as he'd begun to follow behind her.

"Do you mind if I ask where you came from? It's not often I get to see people not from Kivotos. Are you enjoying it so far?" Hifumi asks, having about a million different questions in mind, but figured it'd probably be a good idea not to bombard him with too many just yet.

Noticing the curious glimmer in her eyes, Ja'vassa chuckled softly. "I come from a place known as Skyrim, though my arrival here is a bit of a long story. So far, it's been nice; Kivotos is beautiful. I haven't spoken with many people yet, but everybody's been rather friendly so far. You, Arona, Rin.. it's been nice." Now, it was his turn to ask a few questions. "So.. what do you and your fellow students do when you're not in class? There seems to be no shortage of things to do here."

Hifumi nodded at him, though interested in hearing the story, she figured there'd be time to ask about it later. The sudden question about her caught her off guard slightly, a light blush dusting her cheeks. "Ah.. I'm not the most fascinating person. I don't do a whole lot outside of watching anime and attending Momo Friends events. I guess I'm just an ordinary student.."

Though he had no idea what anime was or what this Momo Friends was, Ja'vassa seemed curious. "I can't say I have any clue what either of those things are, but there's nothing wrong with indulging in your hobbies after a long day of hard work. There's nothing wrong with being ordinary either, you've easily shown me how sweet you are by not even hesitating to help a lost stranger out."

The sudden praise caused the blush on her cheeks to deepen slightly, though she smiled nonetheless. "Th-Thank you, Sensei... that means a lot to me. Maybe if you get some free time in the future, you could join me for a few episodes of Momo Friends? It's an adorable show, I think you'd enjoy it. You don't have to, of course.."

Ja'vassa smiled at the idea, almost purring slightly as he spoke. "That sounds like a lovely idea. Next time we have some free time, perhaps we can meet up at the Trinity gates. I'd love to indulge in the things you love."

The blush on her cheeks had since disappeared and was replaced with a brighter smile. "Really? Thank you, Sensei! I'll look forward to it." Hifumi replied cheerfully, a slight pep in her step. "Here we are! The closest hotel to Trinity. Depending on how early you wake up, I'd be glad to help you get back to the academy in the morning." Spinning slightly to face him, her eyes sparkled with a certain joy.

"In that case, I'll be sure to get up bright and early to meet with you, then. Thank you for your help, Hifumi." Ja'vassa hummed as he'd step up to the hotel entrance. "Stay safe and I'll see you around."

Hifumi nodded happily, waving towards the Khajiit as she walked off. "Goodnight, Sensei!" She called out.

As the two separated, Ja'vassa entered the hotel and with instructions from Arona, he was able to successfully book a room for the night. Once in his room, he took a moment to change out of his traveling gear and into something more comfortable before settling in to write out the letter to Relumara as he had promised before arriving in Kivotos.

"I have arrived on the other side of the portal safely, though I hadn't arrived in the Deadlands as planned. I dropped into a place known as Kivotos and have been enlisted as an advisor of sorts. I'll remain in Kivotos for a little while longer and I'll send over any relevant information I find."

The letter was short and sweet, but that was typical Ja'vassa. As he set the letter into the Void Storage, he'd settle into the bed sitting in the center of the room. Despite his own excitement to continue aimlessly wandering about the Trinity district, he figured it'd be about time to get some shut eye; he'd need plenty of rest before he'd meet with the Tea Party.

Dusk slowly turned into dawn and as the rising sunlight began to creep into the windows, Ja'vassa had risen with it. As he had woken up, he quickly changed into something clean and ate a quick breakfast of some fresh fruits from his satchel. With himself ready for the day, he'd step out of the hotel, but just as he took his steps outside, he'd remember that he needed to see if Relumara sent him a response yet. Opening up the Void Storage, Ja'vassa grinned slightly as he pulled out the parchment.

"Kivotos? I've never heard of such a place, but given your swift response to us, it seems you're in a safe place. Why would they enlist you as an advisor? It doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but if you're insisting on staying on the other side of the portal, I'll support you. Serica in particular is highly intrigued in the information you'll be bringing us; do be careful while you're traveling in that strange land. Best of luck, my Lord."

As Ja'vassa calmly read the letter, a cheerful voice caught his attention. It seemed he wasn't the only one that was excited to get the day started; folding the parchment up and setting it into his satchel, he was greeted with the bright smile of Hifumi tugging her overstuffed plush backpack behind her.

"Good morning, Sensei!" Hifumi greeted, a slight pep in her step as she approached him. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long."

Ja'vassa shook his head, a soft smile crossing his face. "Not at all, Hifumi. I just stepped out a few moments ago. Are you always up this early for your classes?" He asked in response, wrapping his arms behind his back.

"Not always.. I suppose I was a bit excited to show you around Trinity. Since it's a bit early, I doubt the Tea Party will be available yet... but, maybe you could join me in the cafeteria for breakfast?" Hifumi suggested, giving him a slightly expectant look.

Though he had just eaten breakfast a little while ago, the look in her faces and the sparkle in her eyes was nearly impossible to turn down. With a soft sigh and light chuckle, Ja'vassa nodded in response. "I can't deny that I'm eager to sample some of the food of this place, breakfast with you sounds lovely."

With his agreement, Hifumi gladly led the way, cheerily chattering on about all kinds of subjects ranging from Peroro and the other Momo Friends, to the classes she was taking, occasionally pointing out various landmarks along the way. Even if much of what she was talking about flew over his head, Ja'vassa took genuine interest in and his own eagerness to check out a few of these landmarks, but for now, he'd have to remain focused on his current task of meeting with the student councils across Kivotos.

After a short, talkative walk, the duo had arrived at the gates of Trinity. "I know I said this yesterday, but.. this school really is gorgeous. It's almost like a palace. I can see why you enjoy it so much, Hifumi." Ja'vassa hummed, taking a brief moment to properly admire the school's architecture. The sheer size of it caught him off guard once more; it made even Sjel Blad Castle seem tiny in comparison.

Hifumi smiled proudly as she led him through the gates. "The students of Trinity are proud of their history and hold to their traditions, and so, we do our best to preserve the beauty of our school. I'm glad you appreciate its beauty as well, Sensei."

The inside of the school was just as beautiful; everything seemed to have been meticulously cleaned, there was hardly a speck of dust to be seen anywhere. The walls and floors shined, as if recently polished and even the light fixtures seemed to glitter. Even the lunchroom itself seemed to have been decorated to be fit for a queen; he couldn't help but feel as if he was devaluing the school simply by walking through its halls.

Hifumi led him towards the counter where various dishes were put out for students and staff to pick up. Many of the dishes contained familiar ingredients, but the way they were prepared and cooked were completely foreign to the old Khajiit; all of it looked and smelled delicious, however. If nothing else, Ja'vassa knew he'd enjoy the food of Kivotos and after a moment of staring at the colorful array of dishes on the counter, he decided to pick up a small bowl of miso soup and some grilled salmon, soon joining Hifumi at an empty table nearby.

"We've got a little while before I need to get to class.. I think I've talked your ear off enough. Can I ask a few questions about you, Sensei?" Hifumi asked, settling in a seat across from him. "It's not often we get advisors from outside Trinity, so I hope you don't mind me being a bit curious."

Ja'vassa chuckled softly, nodding at her request. "I'll try to answer any question you might have, but I can't promise to have answers for all of them."

Her glittering smile returned as she brought up her first question. "I've never heard of Skyrim before.. what's it like? Your outfit is... incredibly unlike anything I've seen here, I doubt I'd even see it Hyakkiyako." Hifumi paused, a light blush dusting her cheek. "Not that it's bad! It's nice, just... different."

At the apparent embarrassment in her eyes, Ja'vassa laughed softly. "Skyrim is a beautiful province of snow and ice, home to lush forests, towering mountains, and gorgeous rivers.. but, we're more than a little... behind Kivotos. Though, my clothing is often traditionally worn by the people of Elsweyr, the land of my birth. I haven't visited Elsweyr in many long years, but I still hold onto a few of our traditions."

Hifumi nodded enthusiastically, taking in the information given to her. "It sounds cold, I'd like to visit someday, but I've never been one for snow. What about Elsweyr, what's it like?" She asked, taking a notebook out of her back.

"Pretty much the opposite of Skyrim. Home to rocky canyons, arid deserts, and tropical jungles. It was beautiful, and as lovely as it was, I've long called Skyrim to be my home." Ja'vassa explained, a somewhat nostalgic smile plastered to his face, though they'd be interrupted by another student; a serene, beautiful girl with large wings on her back.

"Look at you, Hifumi. Making friends so early in the morning." She greeted; a gentle smile on her face as she and another student joined them at the table.

"With a mysterious stranger nonetheless. Why don't you introduce us to him?" The pink-haired girl asked.

Hifumi's eyes widened slightly at their sudden appearance. "Oh, good morning! Sensei; I'd like you to meet two of our Tea Party members, Kirifuji Nagisa. She's one of our student council presidents and with her is Misono Mika, another of the student council presidents." She explained, a somewhat timid smile on her face; turning back to the newcomers, she'd introduce Ja'vassa. "This Ja'vassa-Sensei from SCHALE, the one the General Vice President mentioned in her post from yesterday."

Their sudden appearance was a surprise, but a welcomed one. Ja'vassa smiled towards them. "It's a pleasure to meet you two. It seems good things happen whenever Hifumi's around. It'll save me the trouble from trying to schedule a proper meeting in the future."

Mika looked him up and down, an almost mischievous smile crossing her face. "I can't say you're what I expected when they mentioned the new SCHALE advisor, but you're much more intriguing. I hope you won't mind us contacting you for some help in the future." She replied with a soft giggle.

"Let's not put him on the spot immediately, Mika. But, yes, I believe we'll be able to rely on you, Sensei. Hifumi seems to adore you already, and that's enough for me. I'm glad we were able to meet today, we'll be in touch with you in the future." Nagisa added, her smile never fading away. "Are you intending to visit the other academies later? Or have you already visited them?"

Ja'vassa smiled softly, nodding at them. "I intend to visit Gehenna next, Trinity is the only academy I've been able to visit so far. It's been more pleasant than I expected."

A light scoff escaped Mika's lips, though she quickly disguised it as a small cough. "Be careful with Gehenna, Sensei. The students there can get a bit rowdy at times. I'd suggest you keep a close eye on your wallet, unless you're okay with losing a few credits." She warned him.

"I'll keep that in mind, Mika. Though, it seems it's getting a bit late. I probably shouldn't keep you girls any longer, I'll need to start heading towards Gehenna soon." Ja'vassa stated as he stood up, bowing towards them slightly. "It was nice to see you again, Hifumi; and it was nice to meet you Mika, Nagisa. Perhaps we'll meet again soon."

As they said their final farewells, Hifumi gladly led him back towards the entrance. Her smile never faded away as she looked towards him, "I'll see you soon, Sensei. Maybe the next time you're in the Trinity district, I'll give you a proper taste of Peroro!"

Ja'vassa chuckled softly, nodding at her. "That sounds lovely, I'll be sure to look you up the next time I'm in the area. Stay safe, Hifumi."

As the two finally parted ways, Ja'vassa began to head off towards the Gehenna district with the help of Arona and the directions lit up on his strange tablet. It'd only been a day since he arrived in Kivotos and yet, he found himself oddly comfortable in the city; more so than he had been in a long time. Perhaps their mistake with the initial portal wasn't such a bad idea after all.

Chapter Three - With Students Like These

"What did you think of Trinity, Sensei? Did it live up to what you were expecting?" Arona asked, an expectant smile on her face.

"I'm honestly not sure what I was expecting, but it was quite lovely. Even if I was only able to meet with a few students, they all seemed like wonderful people." Ja'vassa hummed, his eyes darting back and forth between the map on the screen and the road ahead of him. "If Trinity was as pleasant as it was, I can only expect good things from Gehenna as well."

A pleased chuckle escaped Arona as she looked towards him. "It is one of Kivotos' biggest academies, after all. The students there can be a bit rowdy, but I think you'll like them. When you arrive, you'll want to see if you can't arrange a meeting with the Pandemonium Society; they're Gehenna's Student Council. I'd also suggest meeting with the Prefect Team; they're one of the most powerful organizations in all of Kivotos."

Taking several mental notes, Ja'vassa nodded as he continued to wander down the street. Though he was still a bit lost, the directions Arona was giving him seemed to be helping him quite a bit. "The way the schools of this land are structured is quite... fascinating. There were numerous small guilds and groups across Skyrim, but everything here seems to have actual stability and structure."

Arona beamed with pride as she listened to him. "I'm glad to hear you think so highly of Kivotos, Sensei." She hummed, a cheerful smile growing wider.

The two continued to cheerfully converse amongst each other as Ja'vassa continued to walk down the road. The morning slowly turned to noon and it was about time for him to think about finding something for lunch. The food at Trinity was pleasant, so perhaps the food across Gehenna would be just as nice; but he didn't have a clue where he'd find a tavern in the city.

As Ja'vassa's eyes scanned the city, his attention was no longer on the road in front of him. Unfortunately, his momentary distraction caused him to unexpectedly bump into another wanderer. The moment their bodies connected, he snapped back into reality and looked towards the student he accidentally knocked to the ground.

"Oh! My apologies, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." An apologetic smile crossed his face as he reached a hand out to help her back up. "Are you alright? I hope I didn't hurt you."

Tentatively, the purple-haired girl looked towards him with an unsure expression, but she reached out and took his hand. "I-It's okay... I'm easy to overlook." She replied softly, quickly averting her gaze from him. As she returned to her feet, a few other students had stepped out of the alley.

"Haruka! There you are." A taller, red-haired girl said; releasing a sigh of relief. Her relieved expression turned to confusion as she glanced towards Ja'vassa. "You're even conversing with a stranger, that's a bit of a surprise."

Unable to form a response, Haruka awkwardly fidgeted with her hands, her gaze firmly on the ground.

Ja'vassa turned to the other students, giving a slight bow towards them. "Good afternoon. I'm Ja'vassa with the SCHALE Federal Investigation Club. I... wasn't paying the most attention when I bumped into your friend here. My apologies for any disturbance."

The short white-haired girl spoke up next, a playful smirk crossing her face. "I was wondering when we'd meet that Sensei everyone's talking about. It seems Haruka makes new friends everywhere she goes." She giggled softly, glancing towards the redhead. "Well? Aren't you going to introduce us to Sensei, Boss?"

Shooting a quick glare to her companion, the older student stammered slightly. "I-I was getting to that, Chief Mutsuki!" She snapped. Clearing her throat, a confident grin quickly appeared on her face. "I am Aru, the leader of Problem Solver 68! You've already met our entry level employee; Haruka, and with me is my department head; Kayoko, and the Chief of Operations; Mutsuki. It's nice to meet you, Sensei."

Taking in the information given to him, Ja'vassa nodded slightly. "I see... so, I take it you're an investigation club of sorts as well?"

Quickly shaking her head, Aru's confident smile widened. "Not quite. We're hard-boiled outlaws. If you've got the dime, we'll do the crime, and you'll get perfect results every time." She explained, crossing her arms slightly.

"I see. Mercenaries, then. You've certainly got an air of strength and expertise around you." Ja'vassa chuckled softly, a light smile appearing on his face. "I remember my days as a mercenary for hire... there's good money to be made if you know who to talk to."

Kayoko sighed softly, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be many willing to hire us..."

Aru huffed; her cheeks reddening slightly at Kayoko's comment. "They'll come! Just... just because our last mission had a few screw ups doesn't mean people won't be needing our services in the future."

The boss' words caused Mutsuki to giggle softly, taking pleasure in the flustered state of her leader. "How can you be so sure, Aru? We haven't received a call in days." She teased.

The teasing tone caused Aru's cheeks to turn a deeper shade of red; almost the same color as her hair at this point. "I-I... they'll call for us, I know they will! Let me worry about it, alright? Besides, we're not here to talk business, we're here to find some food, remember?" She reminded her; quivering slightly as she stood.

The mention of food caused Ja'vassa's stomach to rumble slightly. "Ah, now I remember what I was doing before I knocked over Haruka." He mused, sheepishly laughing at himself. "I could use some lunch before arriving at Gehenna; if you girls know any places nearby, I'd be glad to treat you to something."

Aru's previously embarrassed expression turned to one of surprise and gratitude. "You would do that, Sensei? Well... if you're offering, it'd be rude of us to turn you down. We were on our way to a nearby ramen shop for lunch ourselves."

Mutsuki's playful smirk grew slightly as she listened to them. "So much for that hard-boiled outlaw talk, Aru. Seems the mention of being treated melted all that away, eh?"

The playful remarks caused Ja'vassa to chuckle, looking towards Mutsuki for a moment. "Oh, come now. Even the most ruthless and heartless criminals fold at the mention of food.. and food is always better when it's free, eh?"

Without a word, Aru huffed and began to lead them towards the local ramen shop as planned. While Haruka and Kayoko were largely quiet, they'd listen to Ja'vassa as he conversed with Mutsuki and Aru; discussing what his plans were at Gehenna, where he was from, along with small talk about the weather and the food they planned to sample. Once they finally arrived at the shop, they were quickly ushered over to an empty table and given the menus. Much like in the Trinity cafeteria, there was much on the menu that was completely unfamiliar to Ja'vassa.

He was no stranger to enjoying fresh noodles and soup, but so many of the ingredients seemed foreign. Loads of options to choose from, all kinds of drinks and sweets, it was almost overwhelming to him. His ears flattened against his head as he tried to figure out what to order. Picking up on the slight discomfort, Haruka glanced towards him with a mixture of confusion and concern.

"Is everything alright, Sensei? You seem a little uncomfortable..." She asked quietly, leaning towards him slightly.

"Oh, everything's fine. It's just a little difficult to choose something. I've never seen a menu so large before.. there wasn't anything like this back home." Ja'vassa admitted, rubbing the back of his neck slightly.

"Really? What did you eat back home?" Mutsuki asked, her usual teasing smirk replaced with a genuinely curious expression.

"Venison, goat, and beef were staples of mine.. we routinely went out and hunted them. But, I do enjoy chicken and fish, too." Ja'vassa explained, setting the menu down for a moment. "So many of these ingredients are practically unheard of back home."

Mutsuki nodded, her signature grin returning. "I suppose today, you'll be able to expand your horizons a bit, then. I'd suggest the hot chicken soup, if you enjoy things with a bit of a kick to it."

Never one to turn down something spicy, Ja'vassa nodded at her suggestion. "That sounds lovely.. it was difficult getting anything with much spice in it back home."

After placing their orders, the group conversed amongst themselves for a little while. Aru seemed to have questions on her mind; setting her cup to the side, she'd speak up. "Sensei, you mentioned that you were a mercenary for hire at one point. What was it like for you? Was that before you came to Kivotos?"

Ja'vassa nodded, a somewhat nostalgic expression appearing on his face. "I suppose I technically still am one. Mercenary work was always plentiful in Skyrim and for those with courage and strength, it was one of the most profitable career choices you could make. Most of the jobs I took up in my youth involved dealing with bandits and criminals causing trouble for the local villages."

Aru's eyes glittered with a newfound admiration as she listened to his tale. "Sounds like you were quite the heroic figure, Sensei. Do you have any advice for the younger bounty hunters like us?"

His expression fell slightly as he'd answer once more. "I am no hero, Aru, don't make that mistake." Ja'vassa said quietly, shaking off the somewhat somber look on his face. "Always do your research on your employers and the folks they send you after; remain true to yourself and your allies, and you'll come out on top. Confidence is great, but be careful not to underestimate your opponents and be sure not to overestimate your own skills. When you've finally come face to face with who you were hunting; show no mercy and no hesitation. Any sign of weakness, any sign of uncertainty will almost certainly get you and your companions into a deadly situation."

Though Aru was slightly confused about his initial statement, she shook it off and soaked in the advice given to her. Confidence wasn't something she lacked, but she frequently underestimated her foes and it's gotten her into trouble more than a few times. "Thank you, Sensei..." She whispered, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"What were some of the most interesting missions you took on, Sensei?" Mutsuki asked, leaning over the table slightly.

"Most of the missions I took were pretty simple. I'd be hired to track down some criminals causing trouble, take them out, and collect payment. Though, there was the occasional mission that was more than that; one of them was tracking down a miner that had gone missing. I was able to track him down to some old ruins nearby; that wasn't too unusual, lots of people got lost in them, but the miner seemed to have gotten himself into a bit of trouble. The old ruins were infested with Falmer.. I'm not sure how he managed to survive when he was armed with nothing but an old pickaxe." Ja'vassa explained, crossing his arms slightly as he leaned back in his seat.

"...Falmer? What are those? I've never heard of anything like that." Kayoko mused, her usual stoic expression replaced with a glittering curiosity in her eyes.

"Disgusting bastards, those ones. The twisted, devolved forms of the once proud and prosperous snow elves. Savage and violent, they'll stop at nothing to rip their unfortunate victims to shreds. There are few things I loathe more than them." Ja'vassa grunted slightly, shuddering a bit as he spoke.

"Elves? It's almost like you come from a fantasy world, Sensei. The more you talk about your home, the more it sounds like something right out of the Senior Tales." Mutsuki giggled softly, though she was genuinely interested in listening to him. "I assume you were successful in getting the miner back home, right?"

Ja'vassa nodded in confirmation. "Of course. After wiping out the Falmer within the ruins, after making sure the miner was safe, I escorted him back towards a nearby settlement. Afterwards, I returned to the ruins to see if I couldn't find anything else."

Kayoko raised an eyebrow as she listened. "You went back to the ruins, despite knowing that more of those Falmer could've been there? Isn't that a bit of a reckless decision?" She asked.

A knowing grin crossed his face. "Of course I knew there'd be risks involved, but you won't learn anything by playing it safe all the time. Skyrim was a harsh mistress, just wandering the roads was a risk in and of itself. In order to become stronger and wiser, one must be willing to take chances, even if it leads to danger." Ja'vassa stated, his smile never fading away.

Though she knew Ja'vassa was right, Kayoko sighed; pinching the bridge of her nose. "Still, it doesn't seem wise to throw yourself into danger like that, Sensei." She reminded him.

"Is it any wiser to throw yourself into danger as a mercenary for hire, Kayoko? In order to move forward in life, you have to take these risks. You won't get anywhere if you let your fear and worries control you." Ja'vassa responded, an almost teasing tone in his voice.

She wanted nothing more than to argue with that statement, but she ultimately knew she couldn't. He was right; bounty hunting was a dangerous profession and even if Kayoko was a professional at it, there was little room for her to criticize him when she was routinely throwing herself into dangerous situations.

Their conversation continued on throughout their meal; with the students asking various questions and answering just as many as they had asked. Despite the unexpected meeting, there was a certain sense of camaraderie budding between them. As they finished eating and set their empty dishes to the side, they stood up and exited the building together; briefly facing each other with warm smiles as they prepared to go their separate ways.

"It was a pleasure meeting with you today, Problem Solver 68. If I have any issues going forward, I'll be sure to contact you." Ja'vassa stated, holding a hand out for Aru to shake. "Though, perhaps next time we meet, we'll share another meal like this; it was enjoyable."

Aru smiled softly, reaching out to firmly shake the outstretched hand. "I agree, it was fun, Sensei. I'll be glad to offer our services whenever you need them, so long as you're able to meet our price, of course."

Mutsuki's playful smirk quickly returned. "I'm sure she'll be glad to accept payment in ramen or cash, so I wouldn't worry too much, Sensei. Either way, I hope we get to meet again soon."

Aru rolled her eyes at her companion's tease, but didn't argue with it. "Don't be a stranger, Sensei. Our office is always open to you."

As her and Ja'vassa's hands separated, they'd give each a final nod of acknowledgement before finally separating for the day. There was still plenty of daylight left, so he had some hopes that he'd make it to Gehenna to meet with the Student Council before it had gotten too late. With how pleasant his encounter with Problem Solver 68 had gone, he could only assume the rest of the academy would be just as enjoyable to meet with.

Chapter Four - Call to Action

Following his unplanned meeting with Problem Solver 68, Ja'vassa had finally arrived at the gates of Gehenna; with his badge in sight, he'd step into the academy. While it was a stunning sight to behold, it wasn't nearly as impressive as Trinity was, but regardless, he'd wander through the halls in search of the Pandemonium Society's office. With his tablet in hand, it was much easier to navigate through the academy than it was through the surrounding district.

"Alright... to find their office, I just take a left down here and look for the red door on the right side of the hall..." Ja'vassa muttered to himself; his eyes darted back and forth between the screen and the surrounding walls, but before he could get too far, the sound of another voice caught his attention.

A shorter, white-haired student called out to him. "I was wondering when you'd pay us a visit, Sensei." She greeted; her tone matching the calm and composed expression on her face. "I intended to stop by and visit SCHALE myself, but the work of the Prefect Team is never over."

Ja'vassa glanced towards her, taking a moment to study the newcomer; a glimmer of curiosity sparkling in his eyes. "You must be the leader of the Prefect Team, correct?" He asked, crossing his arms slightly. "I can feel incredible strength and experience from you... I see Arona wasn't exaggerating when she mentioned how strong your organization was."

A pleased smirk crossed the girl's face as she listened to him. "I am the Head Prefect; Sorasaki Hina. A pleasure to meet you, Sensei. I'd assume you're here on business."

Nodding in response, Ja'vassa took a step closer to her. "Yes, I had intended to meet with the Pandemonium Society and eventually I intended to try and find you, but this made my job a lot easier. Meeting with the students across Kivotos would make it a lot easier for me to take on any problems that might arise in the future."

Listening intently, Hina crossed her arms; her stance mirroring Ja'vassa's. "Meeting with the Student Council would certainly help in making your intentions clear, but I'm afraid even for such an important visitor, they likely won't be able to meet with you; at least not until the groundwork for the Eden Treaty has been laid."

The mention of the treaty caught his attention; his ears perking upwards slightly. "Eden Treaty? Is Kivotos at war, or is this something else?" Ja'vassa asked, his mind running amok with different ideas.

"Not quite; it's a peace agreement between Trinity and Gehenna. It might not seem like much to an outsider, but our academies have always considered the other to be a bitter rival. Nothing major has happened recently, but skirmishes have occurred and the treaty is being developed to help foster more peaceful relations between us." Hina explained, motioning for Ja'vassa to follow her. "Let's walk and talk, Sensei. I'm sure you've got a few questions."

She was right; hundreds of questions flew through his mind, though Ja'vassa made sure to be careful not to bombard her with too many. "This land really is strange. I've never heard of schools having such terrible relations with each other, but..." He paused for a moment, a soft laugh escaping him. "...then again, both Trinity and Gehenna are considerably larger than anything I've seen back home. I'm quite sure Solitude could comfortably fit within the walls of this school with plenty of room to spare."

Hina listened to him with an amused smile, briefly glancing towards the sword resting on Ja'vassa's side. "I take it your homeland is a bit smaller than Kivotos, hm? That sword of yours... is that just for decoration, or do you actually do battle with it?" She asked, her head buzzing with just as many questions. His weaponry and style of clothing made her wonder just how backwards his home was in comparison to theirs.

"Aye. I've only seen a small portion of Kivotos so far, but all signs point to it being considerably larger than Skyrim." Ja'vassa explained, nodding at her next question. A proud smile crossed his face as he wrapped his hand around the hilt of his blade. "I use it frequently in combat, yes. Though, I have other swords I routinely use as well... but, I could see why you'd mistake it for decoration, it is quite beautiful, after all."

Despite the amusement in her face, Hina was slightly concerned about the idea of a person, no matter how skilled or experienced they seemed to be, engaging in battle with a bladed weapon like that. "You don't really intend to do battle here with it, Sensei, do you? I'm sure you've seen the weapons some of the students hold... you aren't worried about being outmatched by the firearms they use?" She asked, looking towards him with slight suspicion.

The suspicion was met with a prideful grin. "You seem to think that this sword is the only weapon I have on hand... how little you truly understand. Physical combat is hardly the only form in Tamriel; I count myself amongst the land's most powerful sorcerers. Perhaps those weapons you hold might pose a threat, but that doesn't mean I don't have a way to defend myself here." Ja'vassa replied as he raised his hand; electricity crackled through his fingers.

For a brief moment, the usually stoic gaze in Hina's eyes was replaced with great shock as she watched the lightning flow to his fingertips. "That's... that's incredible. Perhaps I've misjudged you, Sensei. Maybe you'll fit in just fine here, or maybe not. I suppose I'll have to wait and see if you're as powerful as you claim to be." She grinned slightly, though before either of them could say much more, a notification from Ja'vassa's tablet caught their attention.

"Sensei! You have an emergency request from Abydos High School; it's urgent. Please look into it as soon as possible!" Arona called out, the excitement and urgency in her tone was palpable. As Ja'vassa took the tablet from his satchel, a voice recording immediately began to play.

"Dear Sensei of SCHALE, this is Okusora Ayane of Abydos High School urgently requesting your help. Abydos is on the verge of shutting down and we're running out of options. If it's not too much to ask, we'd like to request your support. Any help would be greatly appreciated! The Abydos Foreclosure Task Force doesn't have much time left. I hope this message gets to you before it's too late. You're our last hope, Sensei."

As the message finished playing, Ja'vassa glanced towards Hina; his eyes meeting with hers. "Well... I hate to cut our meeting short, Hina, but it seems I've got some work to do." He stated, setting the tablet back into his satchel. "Before I go, do you have any idea what this situation is that Abydos is dealing with?"

Hina shook her head, an apologetic expression appearing on her face. "I'm afraid we haven't been keeping a close eye on Abydos due to the Eden Treaty, but from what I've heard, the school's been suffering from severe financial trouble and as a result, most of the student body has disappeared. The only student I'm really aware of there is Takanashi Hoshino; the last remaining member of the Abydos Student Council. Best of luck with the situation out there, Sensei."

Ja'vassa nodded at her, turning to leave. "Perhaps we'll meet again soon; maybe next time I can brew up some tea and we can talk some more."

Hina smiled at the suggestion, giving him a brief wave as they'd part ways. "I look forward to our next meeting then, Sensei."

With their parting words, Ja'vassa hastily made his way towards the Abydos District with the help of the map Arona had given him. The journey to the district was long, but relatively uneventful; by the time he crossed over into Abydos, the sun had fallen and risen, and with the rising sun came the scorching heat of the desert.

It was difficult to ignore just how barren it looked. Buildings buried beneath mountains of sand, the distinct lack of any kind of life; it was hard to believe that something so empty and depressing would have a school still remaining, much less any students still studying within it. "Has the Abydos District always looked this... sad? I've traveled across the deserts of Hammerfell and Elsweyr, and I've never seen anything quite so... empty before." He admitted, his ears flattening against his head as he spoke.

"No, Abydos was at one time a thriving district, home to one of the largest schools in Kivotos, but the district was devastated by a series of powerful sandstorms. Those that weren't hurt by the storms left; the school attempted to help clean the city and by doing so, accrued massive debts." Arona explained, her own tone somewhat somber as she spoke. "People left for the other districts, Abydos students dropped out, and even the president of the school's Student Council had gone missing. No one's really sure what happened to her."

Ja'vassa's expression softened a bit as he listened to her. "How sad.. I can see why they were so desperate in that message. Even if the district is nothing but sand, it's still their home. To see it go to waste would no doubt be devastating to them."

Despite his urgency and rush to get to the school, the intense heat and sunlight took its toll on him. Walking like this was already a major risk given his vampiric blood as the sunlight slowly sapped away his stamina and the heat beating down upon his heavier clothing. Unfortunately, if he were to continue walking, he'd likely pass out and that could cause even bigger problems in the long run. So, for now, he'd need to rest until night had come. Taking a seat on a fallen rock besides some ruined guardrails, he'd stare into the deserted city, a mixture of pity and curiosity in his gaze.

"Are you feeling alright, Sensei?" Arona asked, concern evident in her eyes.

Ja'vassa nodded, smiling softly. "Yes, I just need to rest for a few moments. The heat has never agreed with me. I'll be fine soon."

As they conversed, a girl could be seen riding down the road on a silver bike. As she approached, her gray hair easily stood out against the brown sand that laid strewn about the old street. Seeing the exhausted Khajiit seemingly stranded, alone in the middle of nowhere, prompted her to stop beside him. "Are you alright? You don't seem to be from around here." She asked, glancing towards him with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

Ja'vassa looked up towards her, a slightly sheepish smile crossing his face. "Yes, I'm fine. I just needed to catch my breath for a few minutes. And you're right, I'm not from around here." He pulled out his badge, trying to help ease the suspicion. "I'm with SCHALE, on my way to Abydos after receiving a message from a student named Ayane."

The mention of Ayane caused her eyes to widen slightly. "So, you're the Sensei she mentioned. We've sent requests out for help time and time again, no one's responded. I'm surprised we finally got someone out here..." She admits, though her face was largely devoid of any real expression, there was a hint of gratitude in her eyes. "I'm Sunaookami Shiroko, one of the students of Abydos. If you'd need, I could help you get there."

Ja'vassa graciously accepted her offer, climbing onto the back of her bike as she invited him to do so. "Thank you for the help, Shiroko. I probably wouldn't have arrived until much later."

Shiroko hadn't responded, but there was a hint of amusement flickered in her eyes. The duo was largely silent as Shiroko quickly cycled her way towards the school, and as Abydos came into view, the desolation of the district became more and more apparent. Ja'vassa gazed upon it, the pity in his eyes palpable. It was clearly a thriving city at one point, but to see it reduced to such a shameful state was depressing. Though he thought the students were foolish for attempting to pay off such a massive debt, he couldn't help but feel a tinge of admiration for their tenacity.

As they finally arrived at the school, the defensive walls and barriers placed around the entrance was a surprise to see. "What's with the barriers, Shiroko? Expecting trouble, are you?" Ja'vassa asked curiously.

Shiroko was silent for a brief moment before nodding at him. "We've been dealing with occasional attacks from the Kata-Kata Helmet Gang; a group of troublemakers. We're not entirely sure why they're targeting us so frequently, but the defensive set up at least gives us a chance to prepare ourselves when they arrive."

The ever increasing debt, the desertification of the city, the growing violence the students were facing. It almost seemed as if Abydos was a lost cause, but now that he had come this far, he needed to see it through to the end. Ja'vassa felt nothing but pity towards them despite not even knowing them; in his mind, they were young. They were just students. They should be able to focus on their studies, focus on having the chance to enjoy the remaining years of their youth, and yet, they were thrust into a situation people much older and more experienced would crumble at.

"...you and your fellow students have been through a lot, it seems." Ja'vassa said softly as they stepped up to the front door. "I'm not entirely sure how much help an old cat like me can provide, but I'll offer whatever support I can."

For once, a small smile appeared on the girl's face. "...thank you, Sensei. I'm sure the others will appreciate the sentiment as well. Let's not waste any time, they'll want to meet you soon."

Ja'vassa quietly followed Shiroko up to one of the classrooms to introduce him to her classmates. "They might be a bit slow to warm up to you, but I believe you'll like them, Sensei." She stated, inviting him inside as she opened the door.

The moment the two stepped inside, Shiroko was immediately greeted by the warm smile and cheerful voice of one of her classmates. "Shiroko! I was wondering if you'd be back today... and I see you've finally gone through with your plan to kidnap someone." The blonde-haired student greeted.

"No, I didn't kidnap him, Nonomi." Shiroko assured her, gesturing towards Ja'vassa. "This is Ja'vassa-Sensei from SCHALE. It seems our requests have finally been answered." As she introduced him, she'd turn back to her classmates to properly introduce them in return; vaguely gesturing towards them as she calls them by name. "These are my classmates; Izayoi Nonomi, Kuromi Serika, and the one who sent you the request, Okusora Ayane; there's also..." She paused, noticing that one of them was missing. "Is Hoshino still here, or has she left for the day?"

Ayane shook her in response, "She's probably napping somewhere. We should probably go and find her, she should be here, too."

Nodding in agreement, Shiroko stepped back out of the room. "I'll go find her and bring her back." She replied, soon disappearing from sight.

A brief silence had washed over the room as Shiroko disappeared; none of them were particularly sure what to say, as none of the students in the room actually expected for Ja'vassa to arrive after their pleas for help went unanswered for so long, and now that he's here, none of them were sure of what to do. The few minutes that went by felt like an eternity until Ayane finally broke the silence.

"So, uh... Sensei, how are you enjoying Kivotos so far? From what the Vice President said in her post, she mentioned you were an outsider." She started, looking towards him with a warm smile. "When we saw that, we thought maybe an outsider would have a better perspective for us.."

Ja'vassa shrugged slightly as he leaned against the wall. "It's hard to deny the beauty of this land. Everyone's been quite friendly so far.. Shiroko didn't even think twice to offer her assistance when she found me on the road. I can't deny that the Abydos District is quite... pitiful from what I've seen, but it's got a certain beauty to it." He responded as he stepped towards the window. "Everything points to it being a lost cause, and yet, here you are, fighting for it regardless. It's admirable.. I've known folks far older and more experienced that would've crumbled under the pressure. I'm not sure how you've done it, but I'm impressed with the strength of your spirits. It takes great courage to keep moving forward in the face of adversity."

A light blush dusted Ayane's cheeks as she listened to the unexpected praise, her warm smile widening slightly. "Oh, uh... thank you, Sensei. A lot of people question us on why we've stayed so long, but it's simple. Abydos is our home, we can't just give up on it."

Nonomi giggled softly at her classmate's words. "You're not always this bold, Ayane, but.. you're right. If no one else will fight for Abydos, we will." She added cheerfully, a wide grin crossing her face.

"Good. This is what I wanted to hear from you. You have mountains to climb, but as long as you continue moving forward, you'll find that reaching the summit won't be such an impossible task." Ja'vassa nodded, his own smile widening slightly. "So, Ayane. I've been told Abydos is dealing with financial trouble and is struggling to pay off a debt. How much is the debt?"

Serika spoke up next, an uncertain expression on her face. "Currently, the debt has grown to over 960 million yen." She stated.

"I see.. that doesn't sound..." Ja'vassa paused midway through his sentence, finally processing the number that Serika gave him. He expected a large number, but nowhere near the figure that she gave him. The usually calm and collected Khajiit found himself a stuttering mess as he tried to formulate that response. "I... d-d-did I hear y-you correctly? Over 960 million?" He had no idea what the proper conversation rate was from gold to yen, but the sound of it made it seem like it was many times over the amount of gold he's made over the centuries of his life. "Just... how can a school amass such a massive debt?"

The awkward silence washed over the room once more, none of them were entirely sure how to answer the question. Fortunately, none of them had to as the echoing sounds of a voice could be heard.

"Shiroko! Slow down, you know these old bones can't keep up with you as well anymore!" She whined, but it didn't seem her protests were working as Shiroko finally returned to the classroom with a pink haired girl.

"I'm sorry we took so long, but, let me introduce the Vice President of the Abydos Student Council, Takanashi Hoshino." Shiroko stated, gesturing towards the girl as she let go of her arm.

"Ah, so you're the one Hina mentioned earlier. I'll admit.. I was expecting someone a bit older." Ja'vassa mused, rubbing his chin for a moment.

Hoshino scoffed in response, crossing her arms in mock offense. "I sure feel like I'm ancient sometimes." She replied, yawning slightly. At first, she wasn't entirely sure what to make of Ja'vassa, but perhaps he'd prove to be different from the others that had come before him.

"If you're ancient, then I don't even want to know what I am." Ja'vassa teased, a soft laugh escaping him. "Now that you're all here, I'd suspect you're ready to get down to business, yes?"

Hoshino was about to respond, but was quickly interrupted by Ayane's frantic voice. "We've got incoming! A large group is heading towards Abydos." She warned them, her eyes darting back and forth from the tablet in her hand and back towards them.

"Again? Don't they ever give up?" Serika growled as she grabbed her rifle. "I suppose it's time to show Sensei what we can do."

Shiroko nods in agreement as she grabs her weapon as well. "You should stay here for now, Sensei. It's too dangerous for you to be there."

Though Ja'vassa wanted to argue, he was curious to see how they performed in battle, and so, as Shiroko recommended, he'd remain beside the window; watching as the small force of armed students arrived from the north. "Just... be careful out there. Don't hesitate to call for me if you need assistance out there." He replied, crossing his arms slightly as the group exited the room.

"We'll be fine, Sensei. This isn't the first time they've chosen to pick a fight with us and this won't be the last. We'll just have to keep fighting until they give up or until we run out of supplies, whichever comes first." Hoshino stated, a confident grin on her face as she followed behind her fellow students.

Ja'vassa quietly watched as they left the room; he wanted so badly to join them on the field, but he wasn't willing to risk upsetting them just yet. So, he'd simply observe as his students had gotten into position and as the opposing group approached them. "I wonder... I'm not sure if I can supply them with arms, but... perhaps medical supplies and gold might be an option."

As he spoke to himself, he took some paper and writing utensils from his satchel, deciding it was time to write up a letter towards his companions back at Sjel Blad Castle.

"I know you may not agree with it, but I've decided that we're going to be helping the students of Abydos High School. These poor kids, they've been through so much without any kind of support. I see the resilience and strength in their eyes, the desperation in their voice. I can't ignore them. I don't believe we'll be able to supply them with weaponry, but we can offer them potions, medicine, and gold. I know some of you will likely want to speak with them directly and I understand your reluctance, but going forward, I'm allying myself with them and will remain in Kivotos until further notice. I'll respond to any questions or concerns you might have soon, and I'll speak with my students regarding these arrangements.

If you wish to meet with them, I'll discuss the possibility with them and create a Milestone within Abydos High School for you to use. I'll send another message when the time is right. I'm also planning to create a physical conduit for the Void Storage on this side. If everything works out as planned, I'll be leaving Maribelle as their main contact for medical supplies, and Julara as their main contact for financial aid."

As he finished writing the letter, Ja'vassa set it away in the Void Storage before returning his attention back to the students outside the battle as the battle had begun. The sounds of their banter with the opposing students and the sounds of gunfire echoed throughout the halls as it seemed neither side was gaining much ground. He was practically itching to join the fray, but decided it'd be better to just watch and wait until things had gotten out of hand.

Chapter Five - Uncertain Future

"Those students... they're quite resilient, aren't they? Despite having the odds stacked against them, they don't seem to be showing any signs of slowing down." Ja'vassa mused, occasionally glancing towards Arona. "And yet.. I can't shake the feeling that they need help down there."

Arona nodded in agreement, sighing softly. "I wonder how long they'll be able to hold strong? Are you going to intervene, Sensei?" She asked, looking at him with some slight concern.

There was silence for a brief moment; they told him to remain inside the building, but they were struggling. Low on supplies, low in number, and their opponents seemed to show no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Occasional explosions rattled the building, the Abydos students were slowly being pinned and if something didn't change, they'd be defeated. He hadn't come all this way just to see them fall like this.

Ja'vassa sighed softly, stretching a bit as he'd stepped away from the window. "Those kids need help. Perhaps they'll be upset if I intervene, but I'll deal with that later... I was sent here to help them and that's what I intend to do."

Arona smiled softly, glad to see that despite the circumstances surrounding his arrival, he was going to take his role seriously. "I'm glad you came here, Sensei." She said softly.

Nodding at her, Ja'vassa had a light smile plastered to his face as he'd make his way down towards the entrance of the school to join with his students in the conflict.

The relentless assault of their opponents seemed to be never ending with the girls being pinned behind the barriers just in front of the academy's doors.

"You can't hide behind there forever! You'll eventually have to come out; might as well make it easier on yourselves and give up now!" A red-clad student yelled out, preparing to lob a hand grenade towards them.

Ayane looked towards her companions, uncertainty shimmering in her eyes. "What do we do? We're running low on ammunition.. even if we win here, they'll be back again." She took a deep breath, her hands shaking slightly.

"I don't know... I just don't know." Serika responds, her ears flattening against her head. "Maybe it's time for us to throw in the towel?"

It wasn't a pleasant thought, but what more could they do at this point? Even if they won today, the Kata-Kata Helmet Gang would be back another day and with their dwindling supplies, they'd be right back in the same position yet again. None of them outright said anything, but as they shared a glance amongst each other, it seemed they were coming to a decision.

"I've had enough of this... today, Abydos High School will be ours!" The gang's leader yelled out as she hurled the grenade towards their hiding spot.

The Abydos students noticed the flying explosive and quickly braced themselves for the impact; crouching down further and pressing their backs against the walls of their makeshift fortress. Seconds felt like an eternity as they waited for the inevitable, but grew increasingly more confused as it never came.

"Why hasn't it...?" Hoshino questioned, staring at the grenade as it was suspended in mid-air. Her confusion hadn't dwindled in the slightest as she noticed Ja'vassa standing in the doorway with his arm outstretched, an orange colored light surrounding his hand. "Sensei? What... what are you doing here?"

With the use of his Telekinesis, Ja'vassa held onto the grenade and hurled it back towards their attackers, using their momentary confusion to speak with his students. "You can't seriously tell me you're going to give up just like that." His tone was harsh, yet gentle as he spoke; he gave a soft glare towards his students. "Before they came, I'm quite sure I heard one of you mentioning that you continued the fight because this was your home. That you weren't about to quit upon it. Were you being honest with me? Or were you just saying what I wanted to hear?"

There was a brief silence amongst his students before Ayane spoke up. "N-No... we were serious, but... what else can we do? We're low on ammunition, and they'll be back eventually. Even if we win here, we... we can't keep this up forever."

Ja'vassa's glare hardened slightly as he listened to her. "If you truly thought it was so pointless, you wouldn't have contacted me. I have a possible solution, but we can't discuss it like this. Pick up your weapons and fight. Your story won't end here." He stated; once again employing his Telekinesis as another explosive was hurled their way.

As the second grenade landed near the Kata-Kata Helmet Gang, their leader shot her own glare towards Ja'vassa. "Who is this guy? How is he throwing our own weapons back at us without touching them?" She growled, gritting her teeth as she spoke. "No matter... let's finish them off!" She ordered, motioning for her companions to move forward.

Taking a second to study the battlefield, Ja'vassa looked towards his students. "Nonomi, you cover the center; Hoshino and Serika, attack from the left and right respectively. Shiroko, you'll finish off their leader by using Nonomi's attacks as cover. Ayane, you stay here and we'll provide them with support. Keep your heads clear and we'll emerge victoriously." In an effort to increase their speed and agility in the fight, Ja'vassa had employed his Battle Fury shout. "Mid... Vur Shaan!" He yelled out; surrounding his students with an energizing wind.

Though they were understandably confused and surprised by the strange energy coursing through them, it was refreshing and empowering; allowing them to move much quicker than they could've before. With Ja'vassa's orders, the students took action. Hoshino and Serika worked in near perfect synch with each other as they took down the gang's grunts; forcing many of them to flee, even those who were hurt by their attacks fled as the Abydos students seemingly gained their second wind.

Nonomi provided excellent cover with the rapid fire of her beloved minigun, forcing just as many of them to flee in terror. All that had remained was their leader who stood there in great confusion, unsure of what to make of the current situation. Glancing towards her fleeing companions and the quickly advancing Shiroko, she froze; her legs trembling, unable to raise her gun until it was already too late. Before she could even react, she had been knocked to the ground with Shiroko's foot firmly planted on her chest.

"This is checkmate." Shiroko spoke softly, her expression never changing as she fired off several rounds at the girl beneath her. The others watched, the only sounds being the pained grunts from her victim and the rapid gunfire from Shiroko's weapon.

"Alright, alright! I give up! I give up!" The girl yelled out, clutching her forehead as Shiroko slowly got off of her. "You might've won today, but we'll be back and you'll regret this!" She shot a nasty glare towards Ja'vassa. "Next time, he won't be there to save you!" Despite her threats, she was clearly terrified and after she finished speaking, she fled with the rest of her companions.

As the dust from the battle settled, they all shared a collective sigh of relief. Hoshino approached Ja'vassa, a sleepy smile glued to her face. "I'm not sure we would've done much better had you not stepped in, Sensei. I've never seen anything like what you've done... what was that, anyways? Those words you spoke.. they filled me with a strange energy. It felt great, but it was... weird."

Ja'vassa seemed to relax once the battle had finished. "Let's head inside and rest, and I'll explain what I can."

Nodding in agreement, the students followed them back to the Foreclosure Task Force's office; reclining around the tables as Ja'vassa quietly prepared them a pot of tea. "So, about that out there... stopping the explosive was done through a simple telekinesis spell, while the energy felt was a result of my Battle Fury shout; a powerful Thu'um that empowers my allies. It grants an increase in your agility and speed. If we were to make it out of that battle with your dwindling supplies, it was a necessary shout."

His explanation, while sufficient, did little to help their confusion. Hoshino looked him up and down, her expression softening slightly. "Just... What are you, Sensei? I've felt a strange presence from you since you arrived. The Vice President mentioned you were an outsider, but... what exactly did she mean by that?"

Ja'vassa was briefly silent as he contemplated his answer, setting the cups of tea in front of them. "A mess of things, I suppose. A Khajiit, Dragonborn, and vampire all rolled up into one messy bundle." He replied with a soft chuckle, crossing his arms as he'd take a seat. "I hail from a place known as Skyrim and arrived here by mistake. My companions and I were attempting to create a portal to Oblivion, another realm of existence. Something went wrong... or right and I ended up here. Even if this wasn't my intended destination, it still opened up a ripe opportunity for study."

All of the information dropped upon them was a lot to take in; they shared an unsure glance amongst each other. Ja'vassa seemed trustworthy, he's shown that he's willing to help and is a gifted tactician based on what they've seen so far. Hoshino stared at him, contemplating the words she wanted to say. "Why... Why did you choose to help us, then? If you're here for research, even if it was accidental. It's not like we can offer payment in return for your services..." She didn't want to distrust him, but past experiences made it difficult for her to believe anyone would help without getting anything in return.

"You're right. I'm here for research, but... there's more to it." Ja'vassa said softly, glancing towards the cup in his hand. "Before I was discovered by Shiroko, I spent some time in Trinity and Gehenna; meeting with some of the students. Something about them draws me in; despite the brief time I've been here, it's... hard to deny that I haven't been enjoying my time so far. Everyone has been so friendly, inviting. I love my companions back home dearly, and yet.. there's something that's keeping me here, and it's not just the lure of knowledge that's evaded me so far."

Ja'vassa paused, trying to figure out how to continue. He sighed softly, setting his cup to the side. "For centuries, I've... been seeking a new purpose in life. There isn't much in Skyrim left for me. No villains to slay, quests to undertake, and family waiting for me to return home. Here, I feel like I have some sense of purpose. I don't need repayment from you or anyone, I just... want to be of use to someone for once. Here, in Kivotos, I don't have to worry about the Imperials breathing down our necks or the locals accusing us of every little thing in the books."

They soaked in the words, feeling the sincerity in his tone. "You're lonely, aren't you, Sensei? You're surrounded by companions, but there's a certain loneliness to your voice." Nonomi responds, her expression softening a bit.

"It's... difficult to make lasting friendships when people are afraid of you." Ja'vassa nodded, a light chuckle escaping him. "Sometimes, I've wondered if my Inner Council is genuinely loyal to me or if their loyalty is born out of fear."

In an effort to change the topic, Ja'vassa quickly moved on from the brief state of vulnerability. "I intend to offer whatever support I can for Abydos' situations. I've already contacted my companions regarding my intentions. I doubt they can offer much in the way of weaponry, unless you're willing to learn swordsmanship or archery, but we might be able to provide financial and medical support. I'd suspect I'll be hearing from them soon."

The group perked up at the mention of the support he planned to provide. While many of them seemed excited by the prospect of it, Serika seemed a bit suspicious. For so long, they had to work themselves to the bone just to make enough to get by, to just barely pay their monthly debts with hardly enough left over for any supplies. No matter how often they turned to the General Student Council or the other academies for help, they were often ignored. They were alone; no support, no aid, nothing. And now, out of nowhere, she was to expect that this outsider was really going to change anything. Even if Ja'vassa was sincere, it was difficult for her to accept his proposal. She was silent, gritting her teeth and clenching her fists, unsure of how to say this.

"Having access to medical supplies and extra finances would help us in the long run. Though, are you sure your companions will agree to it, Sensei?" Shiroko asked, her attention firmly on him.

"They should. My Inner Council might seem tough and harsh, but they're really a bunch of saps. Serica, especially... chances are, she'd want to be here to personally offer her own support." Ja'vassa replied, chuckling softly.

"So... it seems our little Serika has her own counterpart on the other side, eh?" Hoshino giggled, finding humor in their shared names.

Before Ja'vassa had responded, it seemed that he had finally received a response. Employing his Void Storage, he had taken out the folded parchment. "Relumara never disappoints me.. it seems he's finally responded."

Despite the increasing tension from Serika, the room had fallen silent as Ja'vassa read the letter.

"I can't say I understand why you'd get yourself so involved with another world's problems, but it seems like you're serious. I've already informed Maribelle and Julara about your plans, and they've agreed to them, but they wish to meet with these students in person; we want to get an idea of the situation they're facing. Build a Milestone on that side and we'll visit as soon as we're able. Just remember, we'll have to be careful as well; we don't need the Imperials discovering that you're in another world, it could create some trouble for both of us. Regardless, they'll have our full support; if you consider them allies, then Sjel Blad Castle will be allies to them."

Ja'vassa smiled softly as he set the letter to the side. "I knew he'd come around. He's agreed to offer his full support, but he and a few of the other Council members wish to meet with you to get the full story. I could tell them, but they want to hear it from you."

Nonomi lit up, her smile widening slightly. "That's wonderful news, Sensei! Maybe settling the debt won't be so out of reach anymore."

While the others shared similar sentiments, Serika had stood up; an angry, uncertain expression on his face. "I can't accept this. We've had to struggle day in and day out, being ignored by virtually everyone in Kivotos. The General Student Council, the other academies... every single day, they heard us, but did nothing, and now, we're supposed to act like our salvation has finally arrived?" She growled, choking back a few sobs that attempted to escape. "I don't accept this. I don't accept your help, Sensei." As she finished speaking, she stormed out of the room; being sure to slam the door behind her.

"Sensei this, Sensei that... they're ridiculous if they think he can do anything about this." Serika muttered as she sauntered down the hallway, intending to leave the school for the day.

"Serika..." Nonomi whispered, shock evident on her face at the sudden outburst. "Should we go after her? I don't think she meant what she said, she often lets her emotions get the better of her."

Ja'vassa waved it off, staring towards the door. "No, give her some space. I can't expect her to trust me or accept my plans immediately. All of you have struggled immensely to get to this point, to suddenly accept an outsider's help would wound anyone's pride. She'll come around soon, she'll just need some time." He replied softly as he turned back to them. "It seems it's getting late. Is there anything else we need to discuss before we're finished for the day? I'll work on building the Milestone overnight and by the morning, you should be able to meet with my companions."

Ayane shook her head, gathering some of her things. "No, I think that's all for now. Thank you for everything, Sensei. We'll see you tomorrow, and hopefully Serika will be in a better mood then."

The other students had expressed their farewells to him, waving towards him as they left for the day. Once the room had emptied, Ja'vassa had stepped over to his temporary office to begin working on the Milestone as planned. He had all of the materials he'd need for it, but it'd take some time to make sure it was perfect. "I hope this works out... these students need a break from everything that's happened. Maybe after it's all said and done, I can treat them to a proper feast.. maybe bring them to Sjel Blad Castle to enjoy a celebratory dinner." He mused, clearing out a space in the office for the pillar. The future was uncertain, it seemed that things would only get more difficult and yet, Ja'vassa couldn't pull himself away from it. These students drew him in like a moth into flame, seeing their smiles warmed his heart. Seeing the struggles they've been through compelled him to stay with them, even if his efforts might be in vain, he had to see it through to the end.

Chapter Six - Worlds Collide

Throughout the night, Ja'vassa worked on preparing the Milestone. As the night slowly turned to dawn, he had placed the finishing touches on his great project; the pillar stone shining with a brilliant green light peeking through the curtains of his office. All that was left was to test it out, but there was a part of him that was uncertain if it'd work. He'd created numerous Milestones across Skyrim that connected Sjel Blad Castle to other parts of the province, but hadn't considered the potential of building beyond Tamriel until recently. Though he promised to invite his Inner Council to speak with the Abydos students, there was a part of him that was afraid that the portal wouldn't work; leaving him in Kivotos, or leaving him without an option to return to his students after he steps back into Skyrim.

Pacing around the office, Ja'vassa contemplated the potential consequences of it, something he hadn't considered prior to building the stone. Seeing as it'd only be a short while before the students would arrive to begin their daily meeting, he figured he could use it as an opportunity to discuss the plan with the Milestone and the potential of something wrong. Using the remaining time before they'd arrive, he decided he'd brew up some tea and set out some snacks for the group. He didn't have a clue as to how the school's modern kitchen appliances worked, so he opted to use a bit of fire magic to warm up the lavender tea.

By the time the group had arrived, Ja'vassa had just set out a platter of some sweet rolls and a pot of tea; greeting them with a warm smile. "Good morning. I hope you all slept well."

Hoshino was the first to respond, returning his warm smile with her trademark sleepy grin. "I feel like I could use a few more hours of sleep, but..." Her eyes sparkled as she noticed the sweets and tea laid out for them. "...maybe a little sugar might perk me up a bit more. Thank you, Sensei."

Ja'vassa nodded, taking a seat with them at the table. "I figured we could use a few snacks if we're planning to power through the meeting Ayane was planning. So, what's on the agenda for today's meeting?"

At the mention of the meeting, Ayane perked up slightly and set her cup of tea to the side. "I was planning to discuss some ideas for us to build up some money for our debt. We've taken on occasional missions and bounties, but it's barely been enough to cover our monthly payment." She sighed softly, a slightly dejected expression on her face. "Did you have any luck in contacting your companions, Sensei?"

There was some hesitancy in Ja'vassa before he spoke up. "I've built the Milestone, but... I hadn't really considered the potential problems with it. I've built up numerous stones across Skyrim, connecting Sjel Blad Castle to important locations, though I've never even considered doing so beyond Tamriel like this. I'm not entirely sure if it'll work, or what'll happen if I open the portal. There's a chance it may not work, or if I cross over, I may not return, at least not until we're able to recreate the portal I used to get here in the first place."

Though the time they shared with him was brief, it was hard to deny that they hadn't gotten attached to him. Ja'vassa's been kind and attentive to them, something they haven't really received from anyone else recently. The idea of him disappearing wasn't something any of them really enjoyed; even Serika seemed slightly upset by the idea, though she hadn't outright said anything.

Nonomi spoke up next. "Can't you just throw something through the portal and have one of your companions retrieve it?" She asked, hoping that she was on the right track.

At her suggestion, Ja'vassa chuckled softly. "I can't believe I didn't think of that. It seems my mind's slipping with age.. Thank you, Nonomi. I'll send another note to companions and I'll be back soon. Enjoy the sweets and tea." He replied, bowing slightly before stepping out of the room.

Hoshino laughed softly, shaking her head slightly. "Leave it to Nonomi to solve someone else's problems. I hope it works out..." Her expression fell briefly, glancing out the windows as she lost herself in her thoughts.

Shiroko stared towards her, concerned by the somewhat melancholic look in her eyes. "You seem more distracted than usual, Hoshino. Is everything alright?"

Waving off the concern, her expression quickly warmed back up with her signature grin on her face. "Sweet Shiroko... I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me." Hoshino assured her, giving her a playful pat on the shoulder. "Come on, we can't let the treats Sensei prepared for us go to waste."

Despite the playful tone and warm reassurance, Shiroko was suspicious; she knew her friend was hiding something, but chose not to press in any further so as to not upset her. As they waited for Ja'vassa to return from his experiments, they joined each other in some idly smalltalk; discussing their plans for the evening, talking about what they thought of the potential meeting with Ja'vassa's companions, and their uncertainty about their growing debt.

In the other room, Ja'vassa had quickly sent off a letter to Relumara, informing him of the experiment. With the letter sent, he stepped closer to the Milestone and activated it. A still image of the Council Room appeared in front of him; for the test, he'd ball up a few pieces of paper and tossed it through the still image. With a deep breath, he'd anxiously wait for some kind of response, whether from Relumara stating that nothing had appeared on their side, or if he'd see the paper balls tossed back to him.

Seconds felt like an eternity as he paced back and forth, his eyes closed, but his ears remained alert for any noise that popped out at him. He couldn't tell how much time had gone by, but the sudden sound of rustling paper hitting the ground caught his attention. They weren't the paper balls he tossed in, but as he unfurled the crumpled parchment, he'd find it was a letter from Relumara confirming that the experiment was a success. Finally, Ja'vassa could breathe a sigh of relief. Seeing that his Milestone worked, he'd take a step through the portal.

The familiar scent of the old stone walls and floor of the castle quickly filled his nostrils as he took another deep breath. As much as he'd been enjoying the short time he's spent in Kivotos, it was nice to be back home, even if only for a short while. Awaiting him on the other side, Relumara smiled and nodded his approval.

"Welcome home, my Lord. Given the experiment was a success, I'd assume you're ready to move forward with us meeting with your students, correct? I've already gathered Serica, Maribelle, and Julara. We await your command." The old Dunmer stated, bowing slightly as the other Council members approached them.

Ja'vassa nodded, motioning for the group to join him. "The Abydos students were just about to begin their daily meeting, so I figured this would be a great opportunity for them to discuss their plans while also giving you a rundown of the current situation." He explained.

One by one, they stepped through the portal with members of the Council giving a different reaction to their new surroundings. Serica and Maribelle seemed intrigued, Relumara wasn't particularly impressed, while Julara seemed confused.

"This is it? The school you're trying to help... I don't see anything but decaying buildings and sand for miles." Julara admitted. The Argonian looked towards Ja'vassa with an unsure expression; he didn't want to question his master, but it was hard to believe that he'd find this place to be worth even considering saving. "You've only been here for a few days, it's strange to think that you're already attached to it..."

Ja'vassa chuckled softly, looking towards his companions. "The desert seems worthless, but it's not the land I've grown attached to, but my students. I know all too well the pain of seeing your home destroyed while you're powerless to do anything to stop it."

Serica's expression softened as she listened to him. "Copperstead and Silverstead... you still haven't forgiven yourself for their destruction, have you? It wasn't your fault, you know..." She reminded him, giving his shoulder a reassuring touch.

"Even if it wasn't my fault, that doesn't change the fact that they were destroyed. Taken from me without a warning. I see how attached my students are to Abydos, even if it seems like it's a worthless desert. Losing this school would likely mean they'd lose each other, too. I've already given them my word and I'm not about to turn my back on them now." Ja'vassa stated as he stepped towards the door. "Come on, let's not keep them waiting any further.

The four shared a glance between them, noticing the pain and shame in their master's eyes. Following behind him, they'd step into the Foreclosure Task Force's room, being met with a mixture of surprise, awe, and uncertain gazes from the students.

"Well, Nonomi, your suggestion was perfect." Ja'vassa stated, as he'd gesture towards his companions. "These are members of my Inner Council; my advisors and closest allies. Relumara and Serica; the heads of the Council, along with Maribelle; my top alchemist, and Julara; my financial advisor. These'll be your main contacts within Sjel Blad Castle and they'll be there to offer their support whenever they can." He explained as he'd gesture towards his students. "And these are those students I mentioned; Nonomi, Hoshino, Ayane, Shiroko, and Serika."

A soft laugh escaped Serica's lips as she glanced towards the black-haired catgirl. "No wonder my Lord adores you, given our similar names." She said playfully, only to be met with a flustered Serika. For once, it didn't seem she could muster up much of a response.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. If our Lord has decided to move forward in helping your situation, but before I'm ready to pledge my full support, I want to know more about what's plaguing your school. Ja'vassa only mentioned that you were in debt and that you'd occasionally deal with troublemakers looking to harass you." Relumara said, crossing his arms slightly as he looked towards them. In comparison to the more curious expressions on Maribelle and Julara, and Serica's more playful expression, he seemed far more serious and composed.

"The troublemakers, while annoying, aren't our biggest concerns, but rather it's our growing debt." Ayane started, fidgeting nervously. "If we can't keep up with monthly payments, they'll shut us down."

Relumara nodded at her. "Just how much do you owe? I'm not entirely sure how well our currency converts to the money of this place, but I'm sure gold is useful anywhere..."

Though the mention of gold caught Ayane off guard, she quickly regained her composure. "Our... our debt has grown to over 960 million yen."

All four of the Council members stared at her in shock; none of them expected such a massive number. Julara facepalmed as he listened to her, sighing a bit. "I... how can a school owe so much money? They don't really expect a bunch of kids to pay it off, do they?"

Relumara quickly regained his composure. "I do want to offer financial support, but given how much of a debt you owe, I'm not so sure we can offer much in the way of gold..." He admitted.

"So... does that mean you're not going to, then?" Nonomi asked, a worried expression plastered to her face.

"No, we will, but we'd have to be careful about it. If we just gave it all willy-nilly, wouldn't it raise suspicion in your creditors? Suddenly receiving an influx of gold from the students who were struggling to pay it off... they'd likely influence them to foreclose on the debt sooner." Relumara explained, rubbing his chin slightly. "I'd suspect the only reason they haven't foreclosed on you already is for the simple fact that it'd look bad on them. Forcing a bunch of children to abandon their school and effectively, their homes wouldn't do much to instill good faith in their business."

Maribelle nodded in agreement. "Perhaps there's a way we can donate the gold without it being too suspicious..."

The group was silent for a moment, but Hoshino had soon spoken up. "Our creditors only take cash payments, so perhaps we could find someone in the Black Market to buy the gold from us and we can use the cash they give to pay off some of the debt. Build up the cash without raising suspicions."

Ayane nodded at her. "That seems like a good idea, but... if we get caught, that could bring a host of problems to us. The Black Market is home to a lot of shady types, it's where the vast majority of Kivotos' illicit goods are sold, after all." She sighed softly, her nervous fidgeting increasing slightly.

"It doesn't seem like there's a whole lot of options available here.. with the size of our debt, no banks are willing to work with us. But, maybe we should start with a small lump of gold before we really dive head first into the plan?" Nonomi suggested, glancing towards Ja'vassa for a moment. "What do you think, Sensei?"

Nodding at her, Ja'vassa crossed his arms slightly. "We'll have to be extremely careful. I don't want anyone associating you with any criminal type and we'll need to keep our dealings quiet. If they find out you're acquiring gold this easily, you'd probably attract attention from more than just your creditors."

As they listened to him, the Council members shared a glance amongst each other. "They should be fine so long as you stay together. We'll return to Sjel Blad Castle; use the gold you have on you now and see what you can do with it. Send us a message when you've returned to Abydos. In the meantime, Julara will work on preparing the financial support." Relumara said to Ja'vassa before turning his attention to the students. "Serica and I will work on building a physical conduit for the Void Storage, that way you can contact us if you need anything going forward. As my Lord mentioned; Julara will be your main contact for financial aid while Maribelle will be your main contact for medicinal supplies. You can contact Serica and I for anything else."

Hoshino smiled softly, glad to see that they were different from most of the other adults in her life. "Thank you.. we'll be in contact with you soon, then. I'm not sure how we'll be able to repay your kindness, but we'll find some way to do so."

Serica waved her off. "Don't worry about that. Just focus on making sure you and your companions are safe, Hoshino." She replied softly, turning back to Ja'vassa. "Best of luck with your mission here, my Lord. We'll be in contact soon."

With their farewells, the Council members had left the room to get started on their assignments. Julara and Maribelle returned to Skyrim to prepare, allocating both gold and medical supplies while Serica and Relumara remained in the other room to work on the physical conduit for the Void Storage.

"That went better than I had expected." Ja'vassa hummed a bit, smiling towards his students. "It's getting late, why don't we wrap things up for now and continue this discussion tomorrow? By the time we get here in the morning, Serica and Relumara should be ready with the Void Storage and I'll teach you how to utilize it properly."

"Sounds good... I'll see you all tomorrow, then." Serika nods, grabbing her bag as she'd stand up before hastily heading out of the room.

After she left, Nonomi stared towards the door with some slight confusion. "Have you noticed that Serika always seems to be in a hurry to leave? She doesn't respond on MomoTalk until late in the evening, too... I wonder what she's up to?"

Ja'vassa shrugged slightly. "Maybe she's following Hoshino's example and goes for afternoon naps." He suggested in a playful tone.

"I'm glad she's picking up after me, at least she's learning something useful from me." Hoshino shot back, rolling her eyes slightly.

"We've had a long day, why don't we get something for dinner before we go our separate ways tonight? I think after everything you've done today, you all deserve a treat. Are there any ramen shops nearby? After what I had in Gehenna, I can't deny I'm eager to try some more..." Ja'vassa admitted, his eyes having an almost childish sparkle to them.

"There's a small shop nearby; the owner serves some of the best you'll find anywhere in Kivotos." Nonomi clasped her hands together, excitedly standing up. "They'll be closing in a few hours, so we'll probably want to visit sooner than later."

Ja'vassa nodded as he gathered his things. "Shall we be off, then? Consider it my treat."

With little hesitation, the rest of the students gathered their things and followed him outside; given that he had no idea where the shop was, it was up to Nonomi to lead them to their destination. While much of the city seemed to be covered in sand and decaying buildings, the further they got from the school and closer to the boundaries of the nearby districts, the more lively the city got; a glimpse of what it was like before the massive sandstorms struck. Despite how peaceful it seemed, it was pitiful to see how much of the district had decayed. Pushing the thoughts out of his head, Ja'vassa wanted to be sure he enjoyed the peaceful evening with his students and sample more of Kivotos' wonderful cuisine.

Upon arriving at the shop, Nonomi smiled and called out to the servers inside. "Table for five, please!"

As she called out to them, a familiar face turned to them. "Right this-" As she noticed the group, her eyes widened and a deep blush crossed her face. "W-What are you doing here?!" Serika asked, her hands trembling slightly.

"What a coincidence. We weren't expecting to see you here, Serika. You look adorable in the uniform." Hoshino said somewhat teasingly, a playful smirk crossing her face.

Serika wanted nothing more than to snap back at Hoshino's teasing comment, but with her boss glancing towards her, she held her tongue. "R-Right this way, p-please." She stammered, guiding them towards a nearby booth. "What will we be having tonight?"

All five of them had quickly settled on a few simple dishes, and as Serika walked off to place their orders, the group had begun to converse amongst each other, trying to avoid talking about their debts or any of the problems surrounding Abydos High School.

"Sensei, I've been wondering. Back when the Helmet Gang attacked.. the way you commanded the battlefield seemed like it came almost natural to you." Shiroko said, setting her cup of water to the side. "Were you some kind of military leader back home?"

Ja'vassa nodded at her. "I was once part of the Imperial Legion, attaining the rank of General before the foundation of Sjel Blad Castle.. taking part in the Skyrim Civil War, Second Great War, and a few other skirmishes since then. Today, Sjel Blad technically serves as an Imperial fortress that'll be active in times of conflict, but otherwise, we're largely independent.. primarily existing as an institute of arcane research."

Shiroko listened intently, nodding at him. "Your Council members seemed powerful.. were the other members, or were the ones we met the only members?" It seemed all four of his students were quite intrigued, and had many questions, but chose not to bombard him with them just yet.

"The Inner Council is a large part of what makes Sjel Blad so powerful. Nine members, and all of them are elite warriors with the strength of a hundred men. If they chose to rebel against me, I'm not sure there's anything I could do to stop them. Perhaps someday, you'll meet the others, but each of them play different roles and the ones I brought with me earlier were the ones most likely to offer you their aid." It was hard to tell if Ja'vassa was being truthful about his Council or embellishing some of the details, but the fondness in his voice and the look in his eyes made it clear that he was incredibly proud of them.

After a few moments, Serika had brought over the bowls of food. "Uh... here, enjoy it, I suppose." She muttered, giving them an awkward smile before sauntering off to the door, welcoming in another party.

Peeking her head in, a purple-haired girl timidly spoke up. "Uh... what's the cheapest item you have on the menu?" She asked meekly, fidgeting slightly.

"Our Shiba Seki Special is only 580 yen." Serika explained, her awkward smile quickly replaced with her cheerful grin.

Nodding, the girl briefly disappeared back outside and reappeared moments later with a few companions. "Table for four, please..."

Nodding at her, Serika ushered them to a booth across from Ja'vassa and his group. Though they were distracted amongst each other, as the purple-haired girl spoke up once more, Ja'vassa's attention was briefly stolen.

"Is that... Haruka?" He asked with mild surprise in his eyes. "Haruka... and friends. Well, I can't say I expected to see all of you out here."

Ayane looked a bit surprised as Ja'vassa spoke to them. "You know them, Sensei?"

Mutsuki giggled softly, nodding at her. "Yeah, we met after he bumped into Haruka. I see he can't seem to get enough ramen, eh?" She asked teasingly.

"I... got a little lost in the Gehenna District and they helped me find my way to the academy." Ja'vassa admitted, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.

Hoshino shook her head, a playful smirk on her face. "You got lost in Gehenna, you got lost here... where do you plan on getting lost next, Sensei?"

Rolling his eyes, Ja'vassa crossed his arms. "Oh, come now. Getting lost is part of the journey. I'll probably end up getting lost on my way to the next academy I visit." He shook his head, turning back to Problem Solver 68. "Serika, can you make sure their tab gets added to mine? I still owe them for their help... and for knocking Haruka over like that."

Haruka seemed shocked that someone was offering to pay for them. "Y-You don't have to do that, Sensei..."

Ja'vassa waved it off, giving her a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Haruka. Even hard-boiled outlaws deserve a treat here and there."

His remark caused Aru to laugh heartily, giving him an equally reassuring grin. "I'm glad someone's finally starting to recognize our potential. Thank you for the treat, Sensei." She sighed contently, gladly sitting down with her companions.

Throughout the rest of the evening, Ja'vassa and his students conversed amongst each other; discussing their plans for the evening, their plans for the next day, occasionally asking Ja'vassa questions about Skyrim and Sjel Blad Castle, and in general seemed to have a pleasant time with each other. Good company, good food, and a friendly atmosphere made it incredibly easy to relax despite the otherwise tense and uncertain period for the group. Once they finished eating, they set their dishes aside as Ja'vassa headed to pay for their and Problem Solver 68's bill.

As they stood up to leave, Nonomi looked towards Ja'vassa with an almost expectant smile. "Well, what did you think? Was I right about the food being incredible?" She asked, eagerly waiting for his answer.

"I've been alive for a long time and I don't think I've ever tasted anything as incredible as what the Master cooked up for us. I'll have to come out here more often, I think." Ja'vassa hummed, nodding his approval.

Proudly placing his hand against his chest, Master Shiba gave him a grateful smile. "Your kind words make this old Master great proud. Be sure to come back real soon, Sensei. As long as these doors remain open, I'll continue to serve up the best ramen in Kivotos." He confirmed, huffing slightly as he finished speaking.

"I've no doubt about that. Thank you for your service as well, Serika." Ja'vassa bowed slightly towards them, giving Problem Solver 68 a quick glance as they walked by their table. "I look forward to seeing you four again soon. Maybe we'll grab some more ramen next time I'm in Gehenna."

Aru nodded quickly, a warm smile crossing her face. "I won't turn down another meal like this, especially if it's with you, Sensei."

With their parting words, the group had gone their separate ways for the night. Ja'vassa had returned to Abydos to check in on Relumara and Serica as they worked on the Void Storage. The other four that accompanied him quickly made their way home, and after the shop closed for the night, Serika carefully made her way home to get some rest after a long day.

All seemed well until Serika had stopped besides a few vending machines to get herself a drink. Without any warning, a smoke bomb had been thrown in her directions and within seconds, the girl was quickly slipping out of consciousness. Unable to say or do much, she laid on the ground; confusedly watching as a group of students surrounded her. Fear swept over her as her eyes fluttered shut; with none of her companions there to help, she was helpless as her unknown assailants carted her away to who knows where.

Chapter Seven - Into the Desert

As the morning sun peeked over the horizon, basking the landscape in the warm and inviting golden light, the group had slowly made their way towards Abydos High School to begin planning their trip to the Black Market to see if they couldn't find a way to discreetly sell the gold that Sjel Blad Castle was supplying them with. Ja'vassa was the first to arrive in the meeting room; he had some trouble sleeping the previous night, dealing with an unpleasant feeling in his gut. It wasn't entirely clear what was causing his discomfort, but all night, he was almost certain that something had gone wrong not long after they left the ramen shop; perhaps he was just anxious about the Black Market trip, though he figured he'd address the nervous feeling with the others once they arrived.

One by one, the students had arrived in the meeting room; Nonomi, Ayane, Shiroko, and Hoshino had all arrived, taking their seats around the table. At first, things seemed fine, but they quickly took note that Serika hadn't arrived yet. A worried frown crossed Ayane's face as she glanced towards Ja'vassa. "You haven't seen Serika today, have you, Sensei?" She asked, her tone of voice sounding as anxious as she looked.

Ja'vassa shook his head, a similarly nervous frown growing. "Not yet. She's usually the first one to arrive, so I'm a bit worried about her.. especially since it didn't seem she arrived with any of you." He replied, nervously tapping his fingers against the table.

"That's concerning. I typically meet with her at her house. When I arrived I couldn't find her, or her bag. She hasn't responded on MomoTalk either." Ayane's frown widened slightly as scenarios raced through her mind. "I spoke with Master Shiba before I arrived as well, everything seemed alright when she left after her shift last night."

Nonomi spoke up next, worrisome tears pricking at her eyes. "You don't think that she might've had a run in with the Helmet Gang? In an effort to get to the rest of us, they struck when we were separated..."

At the mention of the Helmet Gang, Ja'vassa stood up and grabbed his tablet from his satchel. It was a long shot, but perhaps Arona could help with the situation. "Arona, is it possible for you to track Serika's cell phone? If she still had her bag before her disappearance, it's likely she has her phone on her."

Arona nodded at him, her blue halo turning a deep green color as she worked on tracking Serika's location. It took several moments, but after a while she gave him a bright, determined smile. "I have her location, Sensei! She's a little north in the desert and moving quickly. I'm not sure where she's going, but if we leave now, we might be able to catch her."

Ja'vassa nodded, releasing a brief sigh of relief. "Thank you, Arona. I knew I could count on you." He then turned to the others. "Come on, I have her location; let's not waste any time. Grab your things and prepare yourselves for a fight."

Without any hesitation, the others quickly grabbed their weapons and bolted out the door, deciding to use the old truck that was tucked away in the school's storage area. As the only who could drive, Ayane took it upon herself to speed off towards the desert, making small talk as she drove.

"What could she be doing in the desert? If the Helmet Gang is involved, why would they be taking her out there?" Ayane asked, briefly glancing towards Ja'vassa.

"Perhaps they're intending to use her as a hostage. Kidnap someone close to Abydos High School, and use her as leverage into either paying them or forcing you to abandon the school..." Ja'vassa paused for a moment, rubbing his chin for a moment. "Why are they so eager to take over Abydos? I hate to sound cynical, but... what's so special about this place? Decaying buildings, mountains of sand... what value could they possibly have in it?"

Ayane wasn't able to give much of an answer as she stared out at the road ahead of them. "I'm not sure, but Kaiser, the company we owe our debt to, has been buying up a lot of the land across Abydos District, or just taking parts of it. The school technically owned much of the district, but as the debt increased, we were forced to give it up."

Her answer only confused him further. "If that's the case, then why don't they just force you to foreclose on the school, then? If it's bad publicity they're worried about, then surely they'd ease off on the debt by now. None of it makes sense... there's gotta be something hidden here in the desert that they're after. With the growing pressure from this... Kaiser group and the Helmet Gang, it's a wonder they don't just swoop in and finish the job." Ja'vassa replied, his eyes widening for a moment. "You don't think that the Helmet Gang has been getting their funding and orders from Kaiser, do you? For a bunch of hooligans, they seem awfully well funded..."

It was an idea that none of them had considered before, but it made sense. Their goals seemed to align, but it never made much sense that the Helmet Gang was so determined to undermine them; the frequent attacks, the harassment on the road. If they really were in cahoots with each other, it started to make more and more sense, but without any proof to their connection, they wouldn't be able to bring this up to any legal authorities.

Before Ayane could respond, Arona suddenly chimed in. "We're closing in on Serika's location. Be ready for anything!"

Ja'vassa nodded, peering out the window slightly as the speeding truck and tanks ahead of them came into sight. Taking a moment to study the vehicles, he'd lock his eyes on the tires of the truck. "Serika's in that truck. Try to match its speed." He said to Ayane before glancing towards Shiroko in the bed of their vehicle. "Shiroko! Focus your firepower on the vehicles surrounding it! Fire on my signal!"

Nodding at his order, Shiroko prepared her rocket drone for the attack. Keeping her eye on Ja'vassa, she waited for the signal. As Ayane closed in on the truck, the owners of the opposing vehicle began to take note. One of them poked their head out of the truck, aiming a shotgun towards the Abydos group. Before they could take the first shot, Ja'vassa jumped into action; firing off an Icy Spear towards the wheels of the truck. "Shiroko, now!" He yelled out.

The sharp shard of ice struck his target, piercing through the tire and damaging the rim; this caused a sudden spinout, though the truck managed to remain upright, but was forced to stop. With the fleet of vehicles coming to an unexpected halt, Shiroko fired off a number of rockets towards the tanks that surrounded Ja'vassa's main target. They weren't completely destroyed, but they were damaged enough that it forced the gang to stop their movements. Several members of the group jumped into action, various firearms pointed in their direction and ready to blast at a moment's notice. "Shiroko, you're with me. Nonomi, Hoshino; don't give them a chance to hit back. Fire at them with everything you've got!"

Jumping out of the vehicle, Ja'vassa and Shiroko bolted for the truck. He focused on covering his partner; using a combination of frost and shock magic to keep the Helmet Gang from approaching them while Ayane provided support from the sky. With Nonomi's rapid fire and Hoshino's quick, but precise strikes, they were able to make quick work of their opponents. Breaking into the back of the truck, Ja'vassa jumped into the back; relieved to see Serika was alive and in one piece.

"S-Sensei? You... you came for me?" Serika asked, surprise and relief evident in her eyes. "How did you find me?"

Ja'vassa hadn't answered and reached out to undo the ropes that bound her hands and feet. "Don't worry about that, Serika.. I'm glad to see you're safe, though." He replied softly, trying to mask his own emotions. "Are you hurt anywhere? I know we were a little rough when we got here..."

Slowly, but steadily, Serika managed to stand up. "No, I'm fine. What about the others? Where are they?"

Ja'vassa held out her weapon for her. "They're outside, holding off the Helmet Gang. They won't last forever, but I've got a plan. You're a pretty damn good shot, Serika. What do you say to giving them a little payback for tying you up like that?" He suggested.

"I'll do just that. What'd you have in mind?" Serika asked, holding her firearm close to her. "I've had just about enough of them... they've caused us enough problems, it's about time I returned the favor."

A proud smile crossed his face as he listened to her. "That's what I wanted to hear." Ja'vassa replied, stepping out of the truck. "See that building in the distance? Find yourself a vantage point; Ayane will give you the signal. Let your attack loose the moment the signal appears. Show no hesitation and we'll return to Abydos victoriously. I'll give you some cover, run as fast as you can and don't look back."

Serika nodded at him as she stepped out with him, taking a moment to adjust to sudden change in light. "Got it, Sensei... and thank you for coming for me, even after I snapped at you."

Ja'vassa shook off the gratitude. "Don't thank me, Serika. I was only doing what any teacher would. Now, go. We'll talk more once the battle is over."

Now that Ja'vassa had properly rejoined the battle, he'd assault the tanks with various Thunderbolt spells in an effort to kick up some dust to give Serika some cover as she fled towards the nearby building. Thanks to their sudden attack, the Helmet Gang was largely in disarray and was unable to keep up with the relentless assault of their enemies, but they had the advantage in numbers. Despite the tenacity of the Abydos group, they weren't able to make much of a move without drawing fire from nearly any direction and were largely forced to fight back to back with each other, protecting Ayane and the vehicle.

Fortunately, their distraction worked and within a few minutes, Serika was in position; her sights were firmly set on the battlefield as she awaited for the signal. "Ayane, now! This is our only chance! Take cover the moment you launch it!" Ja'vassa ordered.

"On it, Sensei!" Ayane called out, launching her drone over the battlefield; carrying a number of powerful explosives. Seeing the bright red case flying over the truck, Serika took note of the signal and fired off a number of shots. The Helmet Gang were none the wiser as her shots connected with the explosive drone, and without much warning, the desert sands were sent up in flames as the gang's truck and tanks were completely destroyed; scraps of metal littered the battlefield and much of their attackers laid across the sands in a daze. Miraculously, none of them were killed, but with their weapons destroyed, they had no choice but to wave the white flag.

Unfortunately, Ayane's truck wasn't spared from the explosion. She was largely unharmed, but found it difficult to stand back up. The adrenaline that had built up during the course of the battle had disappeared and with it, she hardly had any strength to stand on her own. "S-Sensei... can you help me?" She asked in a sheepish tone, an awkward giggle escaping her.

Without any hesitation on his part, Ja'vassa gently lifted her up; hoisting her onto his back. "Let's head back to Abydos and rest up. I'll cook up some lunch for us and then we begin properly discussing our plans for the Black Market trip."

With all six of them together again, they set off for Abydos High School. Before they had gotten too far, Shiroko had picked up one of the discarded shells from the Helmet Gang's attack; finding it to be fairly unusual when compared to everything else they were using. It wasn't clear how long it took for them to return to the school, but by the time they had returned, it was well beyond time for lunch and instead, it was time for Ja'vassa to get supper cooked up for them. They had joined each other in the school's cafeteria to begin their discussions.

After setting the table with a few bowls of venison stew, bread, and apple juice, Ja'vassa sat down with them. "It took longer than I thought it would, but I'm glad to see you're all here again." He sighed softly, a relieved smile crossing his face. "Still... the longer I watch you fight, the more impressed I become. I can see why they've struggled to gain any ground against you so far. You're relentless, courageous, and brilliant; the makings of a great warrior."

Hoshino nodded in agreement, a proud smile on her face. "The youngsters make this old timer proud. I'm... glad the school will be in their hands in the future, I know they'll take care of it for me when I'm gone."

Ja'vassa smile softened slightly as he listened to her. "Don't sell yourself short, Hoshino. Your presence is a big help to them, too. If not for your leadership, things might've crumbled long ago."

Hoshino wanted to retort, but she saw the looks on her fellow students and remained silent, but smiled nonetheless. It was comforting to hear those words from someone. "...thank you, Sensei. But, we can't skip giving you some credit, too. Your presence on the battlefield has been helpful, too. You might not know your way around a gun, but it doesn't seem like you need it with that magic of yours."

Despite the somewhat playful banter, Shiroko interjected; figuring it was time for her to reveal what she had found in the desert earlier in the day. Setting the discarded shell on the table, she looked towards them expectantly. "I found this amongst the rubble. It's a discontinued tank shell... and unless I'm mistaken, it was made illegal before it was discontinued." She stated.

Nonomi studied the shell, her interest growing. "Stuff like this would only be available on the Black Market, right? Could this be where the Helmet Gang are getting their equipment?"

There was a brief silence amongst them, but all of them seemed to arrive at the same conclusion. Ja'vassa was the first to speak up. "That doesn't explain where they're getting all of their funding, however. I'm not sure if it's different here, but the black market back home often sold illegal products, but they weren't cheap. You'd be throwing thousands of septims for even just a small amount..."

Ayane spoke up next, crossing her arms slightly. "You mentioned a possible connection between Kaiser and the Helmet Gang earlier, Sensei. Perhaps they're using the Black Market as a cover? They send a representative to meet with them, thus keeping Kaiser's involvement a secret. They've been getting more and more aggressive lately and Kaiser's been swallowing more and more of the Abydos district. Only the land surrounding our school has managed to remain untouched so far..."

It sounded outlandish, but the more they thought about it, the idea was the only thing that really made sense. None of them liked the idea of it, but none of them had any other possibility. Serika let out an annoyed sigh, crossing her arms a bit. "Fighting a few troublemakers is one thing, but how can we fight against a company we're in debt to?"

Ja'vassa shrugged in response. "I'm not sure. We may not have a possible answer until we've visited the Black Market. For now, all of you should get some rest. We've had a long day.. with any luck, tomorrow's trip will go off easier than what we had to deal with today."

After finishing their dinner, the group had given each other their farewells at the entrance. One by one, they had left for home all except for Serika. She stuck near Ja'vassa, lightly clinging onto his sleeve. "Can... Can you walk me home, Sensei? After what happened the other day... I... I..." She trailed off, unable to finish her sentence, though it was clear she was a bit nervous.

"Of course, Serika. I'd hate it if anything happened to you again." Ja'vassa nods, gladly walking alongside each other. Though neither of them said much of anything to the other, Serika was happy; a small smile gracing her face with each step they took. Fortunately for them, the walk back to her home was uneventful and quiet, no sign of trouble to be seen anywhere. They needed this moment, to just enjoy a peaceful night without having to worry about anything. The trip to the Black Market was likely to be dangerous, but they'd save those worries for the morning.

As they arrived at the door to her home, Serika turned to him, a light blush dusting her cheek. "Thank you, Sensei. I, uh... I'll see you tomorrow!" She fidgeted slightly with the hem of her skirt, gazing towards the ground.

"Any time, Serika. Have a good night and I'll see you first thing in the morning." Ja'vassa turned to leave. "Don't feel shy about having to ask for help, alright? I'll always be available for you should you need anything."

His final words caused her blush to deepen, but she was touched by the sincerity in his voice. "I'll... I'll keep that in mind. Be safe on your way back to Abydos, Sensei... you're important to us."

With their parting words, Serika watched as Ja'vassa left for the night, trying to gather her thoughts together. "Maybe I was wrong about him... he's not like the others." She muttered, quietly into her bedroom to sleep off the fatigue gained from the events of the day.

Chapter Eight - Distant Memories

As the early morning sun peered into the window, Ja'vassa was already awake and ready for the day. Or at least, he was mostly ready for the coming trip to the Black Market. In most cases, he'd generally find himself preparing his weapons in case anything went wrong or would ensure that he'd be able to defend himself and his students in the event of yet another skirmish. This morning was a little different, he found himself staring into a half-empty cup of coffee that sat upon the table of the Task Force's meeting room with the uncomfortable feeling of tears pricking at the corner of his eyes as distant memories of home flooded his mind.

For the most part, Ja'vassa was able to keep these often painful memories at bay, but they'd occasionally break through the walls he's put up around his mind. Despite his advanced age and many of his most traumatic events having occurred several centuries ago, he remembers much of it vividly; from the scent of his son's blood on his arms as he lay dying from an attack to the taste of his wife's lips as they shared their final kiss. Looking back at his past, seeing it filled with blood, destruction, and grief; sometimes self-caused, the old Dragonborn froze up, completely unaware of his surroundings or how much time had passed since he arrived in the room. Wracked with guilt and shame, Ja'vassa often wondered if the pain and sorrow he feels now is deserved after all that he's done. Countless people have lost their lives to his hands before, some of them were even innocent. They had done nothing except be in the way of his boundless anger and anguish.

In the short time since arriving in Kivotos, Ja'vassa found himself growing more and more attached to it. The city was beautiful, chock full of things to study and research, but pursuing his scholarly interests that led him to accidentally arriving in Kivotos was no longer his primary pursuit, but rather, it was the bonds that he's managed to forge with the students he'd met thus far. Even if it's only been a few short weeks, he's found himself growing more and more attached to them. Their smiles, the sounds of their voice, their warmth, how they genuinely seem to be happy around him. The feeling of joy they gave him was something he's been searching for years now. There was nothing but love and affection for his Inner Council and many of the other residents in Sjel Blad Castle, but being here in Kivotos gave him a sense of purpose, something else he had been longing for.

Spending years and years deep in the arcane research that Sjel Blad Castle was known for was a fulfilling life, and yet, it just wasn't enough. It wasn't what he wanted, but from the moment he first arrived in Kivotos, it's as if he finally found the life that was for him. A teacher, a mentor for the lost and hopeful. Despite that, the fears of his past returning to haunt him, even in a world beyond his home tugged at the back of his mind. The idea of his students rejecting him, fearing him after learning about what he's done terrified him. Of course, he could always keep it to himself, but they'd find out eventually.

As the morning sun continued to rise higher and higher into the sky, Ja'vassa hadn't moved an inch from where he was sitting, his expression never changing. However, at the moment the door flew open and the figures of his students filled the doorway, he jumped slightly, nearly spilling his coffee as he slowly recomposed himself.

"O-Oh... it's just you." Ja'vassa said softly, taking a moment to calm himself before continuing. "Good morning. I trust you all slept well." He did his best to mask the unease in his voice as the memories continued to claw at the inside of his skull.

Unfortunately for him, Shiroko seemed to pick up at his nervousness. Her ears twitched slightly as she looked towards him, slightly concerned. In the time she's known him; Ja'vassa had been cool and composed, unflinching even when faced with the barrel of a gun. "Is... is everything alright, Sensei? Did you get enough sleep last night?"

There was some slight hesitation before he'd respond; sighing softly. "I'm... I'm fine, just... some old memories resurfacing. I'll... I'll be alright, you don't need to worry. We've got bigger things to work on today." Ja'vassa replied, trying to deflect the conversation into any other direction.

His attempt failed miserably; they knew full well he was struggling internally. Without any hesitation on his part; he's offered financial, medicinal, and emotional support along with aid on the battlefield. It was only fair they offered him the same support. Taking a seat beside him, Nonomi looked towards him with a gentle, warm smile. "You can talk to us if you need, Sensei. The Black Market trip can wait, but we can't leave you when you're struggling like this." She assures him, placing her hand on his arm. "Can I ask about these memories? Sometimes, talking about them can help one relieve themselves of any pain and discomfort they might be causing."

Ja'vassa sighed softly, his gaze firmly on the ground beneath him. "I'm... I'm just reminiscing about the days before the foundation of Sjel Blad Castle. The deaths of my wife and my children. The death of my sister.. and the days leading up to the Second Great War." His tone was quiet, ringing with a painful loneliness. "I've done... some terrible things in my days, especially after I lost my wife, so perhaps the pain I experience today is simply what I deserve."

They hadn't even considered that Ja'vassa had been married, much less that he had children in the past, but given how gentle he's been towards them, it made sense. Nonomi's expression softened further, "I'm sorry, Sensei.. I didn't realize you've gone through so much. I wouldn't have assumed that with how kind and sweet you've been to us." She hesitated slightly, but asked another question. "Can... Can we ask about your story? About what led you here, to us? You don't have to, of course, but... if you're comfortable with sharing it."

Ja'vassa nodded in response, internally bracing himself for what might come after he shared his story. "I've been alive for almost two thousand years, I'm... not entirely sure how well I can tell such a story, but I'll try. I suppose my story properly starts when my sister and I first arrived in Skyrim. This was a few years before I'd foolishly accept the vampiric blood that courses through my veins now." He started, crossing his arms as he began to delve into the story that led to her death.

"Ja'vassa! We're closing in on Pale Pass. Though... Do you remember what the innkeeper told us back in Bruma? With the recent avalanches on this side of the border, the route may not be accessible. Even if it is, what about the Imperials that guard it? I've heard Khajiit aren't well liked in Skyrim..." Chiara said, a worrisome expression on her face as she followed behind her brother. The snow was fierce and the wind was relentless, but neither sibling seemed ready to give up despite the circumstances.

He knew that Pale Pass would likely be a problematic route, but he had also heard rumors of a network of caves that bypassed the fortress altogether. However, those same rumors claimed those caves were often home to goblins and ogres. Goblins weren't his concern, as they've slain many of them throughout their adventure across Cyrodiil, but ogres would certainly pose a problem. They were quick and agile like any Khajiit would be, but neither him nor his sister were all that physically strong. One punch from an ogre would no doubt be deadly if they weren't careful.

"We've got two options, Chiara. We can try our luck with the Imperial guards at the fortress... maybe we can claim to be merchants of sorts. Or we can search for those rumored caves and risk running into the ogre tribes. I suppose we could always try to climb the mountains..." Ja'vassa suggested, glancing back towards his sister to ensure she hadn't fallen behind yet.

"I... let's try the gate guards first. The worst they could do is simply turn us away, right? We don't have a bounty, so I can only hope they don't confuse us for some common criminal." Chiara was clearly nervous about them crossing the border, but so long as she and Ja'vassa remained together, she was certain they'd be safe.

After a lengthy journey from the outskirts of Bruma, they arrived a short distance away from the Pale Pass gates. Perhaps due to the recent avalanches, the old fortress seemed to have been completely abandoned. Not a soul in sight, none were even picked up as Ja'vassa employed his Detect Life spell. Seizing the opportunity, the pair took a moment to scout out the immediate location just to ensure that there weren't any guards waiting to jump out and take them by surprise. Seeing none and smelling none, they booked it towards the old gates. Slipping past them unnoticed, they'd continue to run and run until they'd finally arrived in Falkreath Hold.

Releasing a deep sigh of relief, Ja'vassa shot a smile towards Chiara. "See? I told you we'd make it here without a problem. Perhaps we should see if we can't find an inn to stay in for the night. I believe Falkreath is a little ways up the road from here. If we keep going, we might be able to make it by nightfall."

Chiara nodded in response, walking close behind him. "Are you sure that's wise, Ja'vassa? I've heard that Khajiit weren't even allowed inside the cities of Skyrim... you think they'll just let us waltz in there no problem?" She asked in response; always a bit more cautious than her overconfident brother.

"We made plenty of gold on that last mission of ours before we left Bruma, so maybe we could entice them with a few extra coins. Let's worry about that later." Ja'vassa replied, keeping his gaze firmly on the road ahead of him. Despite how cold it was around Bruma County, the weather in Falkreath Hold was surprisingly pleasant. Still a bit colder than he'd like, but it didn't feel like his fur was freezing solid anymore.

The roads were long and winding, with little sign of any life beyond the occasional rabbit, goat, or elk running through the dense forest of Skyrim's southernmost hold. At first, their journey was going swimmingly; they hadn't needed to draw their weapons, go into hiding, or deal with any unnecessary drama, at least it was that way until they reached the crossroads between Falkreath and Helgen. As they approached the road markers, the sounds of blades clashing and men yelling became clearer and clear until they were swept into a skirmish between Imperial and Stormcloak forces.

Seeing the armed Khajiit caused confusion on both sides, and both of them matched descriptions of wanted criminals that had been causing trouble in the area. Though the rebels were their main priority, if they could wrangle in a pair of wanted criminals at the same time, that'd make their jobs that much easier. Without warning, both Ja'vassa and Chiara found themselves clashing with Imperial soldiers. They knew little of the Stormcloak Rebellion, as news of it hadn't really spread beyond Skyrim's borders, but given that they just illegally crossed over into the province and had illegally crossed over into Cyrodiil, it wasn't much of a surprise that they'd be considered criminals.

It was much too late for them to surrender, given the intensity of the fight, neither of them would be leaving the battlefield free or alive. Still, even in the face of such adversity, neither of them were intent on giving up. They sought an escape from the clash, perhaps if they could find the opening, they could begin making their way back to Elsweyr. The moment of freedom never revealed itself, and despite their best efforts, they weren't going to make it out of this fight.

As the clash continued, disaster had inevitably struck. In a moment of confusion, Chiara was struck by a stray arrow, burying itself deep within her chest. Despite the chaos surrounding him, the sickening sound of her shriek was the only thing that Ja'vassa could focus on. Dropping his sword, he rushed over to his fallen sister, but, by the time he arrived at her side, it was already far too late. For all his skill in restoration magic, he wouldn't be able to pull the arrow out and cast a spell before Chiara bled out. Wracked with guilt and grief, Ja'vassa held her close to him as the life in her eyes slowly faded away.

"Don't blame yourself, brother. I know the risks I'd be taking when I left Copperstead with you." Chiara whispered weakly; sputtering blood with each word she spoke.

Tears filled Ja'vassa's eyes as he held her, the fighting around him seemed like such a distant thing. "Chiara... I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry..." He repeated, forcing back the coming sobs. "I promised we'd return home together... I'm so sorry."

Reaching out, Chiara gently wiped away the tears that stained his cheeks. "Don't cry for me, Ja'vassa. This isn't your fault. For my sake... please, move forward. Don't let me hold you back. You... you were always destined for more than the rest of us. Don't let your destiny go to waste." She gave him a warm smile for a brief second until she finally went limp, her arm loosely falling to the side.

"Chiara..." Ja'vassa whispered weakly, tightly embracing his lifeless sister. The desperate sobs escaped him, he longed to hear her voice some more, but he knew he'd never hear it again. He had no idea how much time had passed, but after a while, an Imperial soldier approached him, tapping on his shoulder.

"I am sorry for your loss, but it's time for you to go, Khajiit." The soldier ordered, though he held a harsh glare in his eyes, there was a hint of empathy in his voice.

"Give me a moment to bury her and I'll go with you. I... I can't leave her body here for wild animals to destroy." Ja'vassa pleaded.

Much to his surprise, the Imperial officer allowed him to do so and even provided him with a shovel to finish the deed. It hadn't taken very long, but before Ja'vassa had laid Chiara to rest, he had taken the emerald pendant she wore around her neck, aiming to keep it in order to preserve her memory. Once she was properly covered, he approached the carriages the Imperials had prepared for them and silently climbed into the back of it. He hadn't a clue where the carriage was going to take him, but he no longer cared. There was no way for him to return to Copperstead without Chiara by his side. It was his fault that she had been killed; if he had listened to her and actually took some precautions before crossing the border, this might not have happened.

Overcome with exhaustion, Ja'vassa's eyes fluttered closed as he attempted to sleep the ride away. His attempts at taking a quick nap ended in failure each time, and as he woke up one last time, he had been acknowledged by another rider.

"Hey, you. You're finally awake. You were trying to cross the border, right? Waltz right into that Imperial ambush. Same as us, and that thief over there." A Stormcloak soldier stated, giving him a somewhat empathetic smile as he spoke. "I'm not sure where we're going, but Sovngarde awaits."

As the first part of the story came to an end, Ja'vassa sighed softly, looking back towards his students. "It wasn't long after that we arrived in Helgen. My name wasn't on the list, but the Imperial captain insisted I be sent to the block, too."

The harrowing ordeal left the students with equally shocked expressions, none of them able to properly respond at first. Kivotos was often a chaotic place, but it wasn't often they heard of stories quite like his. Nonomi's hold on his arm tightened slightly as she took note of the guilt in his eyes and shame in his voice.

"Sensei... I had no idea, I'm sorry to have brought up painful memories for you." Nonomi whispered apologetically, tears pricking at her eyes.

Ja'vassa shook his head, giving her a small smile. "Don't apologize, Nonomi. I've come to terms with what happened." He glanced towards the windows; gazing upon the sandy landscape surrounding the school. "As painful as it was, I sometimes feel my sister's death was meant to happen. That moment has led to so much.. if we hadn't been caught up in that skirmish, I'm not sure I'd be here today."

His statement offered up much confusion; the girls briefly shared an unsure expression before one of them spoke up again. "What do you mean by that, Sensei?" Shiroko asked, her ears flattening slightly.

"If we hadn't been there, I never would've been carted off to Helgen. Alduin would never have interrupted my execution. I never would've made it to Whiterun and never would've discovered my heritage as Dragonborn." Ja'vassa stood up, approaching the window for a moment. "I loved Chiara dearly, but her death... it started so much. From me discovering the dragon blood within me to my great battle with Alduin, to becoming the vampire you see today. From dealing with Alduin, to battling with Miraak.. the foundation of Sjel Blad Castle. The pain and joy I've felt since then. None of it would've happened if we had never gotten caught up in that battle."

Shiroko nodded slightly; though she understood his explanation, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of sorrow for him. "You're obviously close to those in Sjel Blad Castle, but do you have any family outside it? A wife, children, any other relatives?"

There was a slight pause from him, but after a moment Ja'vassa shook his head. "I'm.. I'm not sure. Copperstead was destroyed during the Second Great War and I'm not sure if any of my family survived the attack. It's possible there were some surviving members of the Anair clan, but I haven't met any. As far as my wife and children... they died many centuries ago. I haven't found the strength to try and move on from Armani yet and I'm not sure if I ever will." He admitted quietly, shaking his head slightly.

"How... how do you keep moving forward after losing so much, Sensei? You have Sjel Blad Castle... and now you have us, but what keeps you going?" Serika asked, a bit quieter this time.

"Simple. I made a promise to Chiara.. and later reaffirmed that promise with Armani. I promised them I'd keep moving forward, no matter how difficult things had gotten. I'd be letting too many people down if I just gave up. It'd be an insult to my Inner Council if I just laid down and gave up.. they've served me loyally for centuries, paying them back like that for their service would be an insult and as you just said, I have you." Ja'vassa stated, taking a step towards Serika. "No matter how difficult things get, I... I can't just abandon you now that we've come this far together."

Serika stared at him with some slight surprise, hesitating for a moment before reaching out to softly embrace him. "Thank you, Sensei..." She whispered softly, hiding her smile in his robes.

"Aw, Serika's overwhelmed with emotion.. she's adorable, isn't she?" Hoshino asked with a slightly teasing tone. "But... we all hold similar sentiments, Sensei. Your commitment to us means a lot."

After a little while, Serika had pulled away from Ja'vassa and returned to her seat. "So... what made you start Sjel Blad Castle?" She asked, somewhat eager to learn more about him.

"I know it sounds strange given that it was the Imperials that took my sister, but I had joined the Imperial Legion myself.. I fought in the Skyrim Civil War against the Stormcloak Rebellion." Ja'vassa started, crossing his arms as delved into another story. "A few months after the war ended, we had to begin preparing for the Second Great War. I made a proposal to my superiors, the Jarl of Whiterun, and High Queen of Skyrim. In exchange for some land in central Skyrim and a certain degree of autonomy, what became Sjel Blad Castle would serve as an Imperial Fortress and the soldiers within would be legionnaires themselves. I trained them personally until the start of the Second Great War."

The idea of it being a military installation was both surprising and yet, it made plenty of sense, too. "The way you talk about it made it seem like that your castle was more of a research institute. Is it still an Imperial fortress today?" Ayane asked.

Ja'vassa nodded at her. "Yes, my men are always ready to take up arms in times of crisis, however, for much of its existence, Sjel Blad Castle has largely been an institute of arcane research. We stand as the center of magical innovation in Tamriel, developing various forms of magic not seen anywhere else, like those Milestones and the Void Storage. Sjel Blad has existed for 1,200 years and much of that time has been dedicated to creating more and more powerful magic." He explained, a prideful smile plastered on his face.

"The most powerful army in Tamriel, magic never seen before. I'd like to believe that Sjel Blad Castle is one of the few things standing in the way of another war breaking out in Skyrim." He paused, his smile briefly fading away. "But, that's not to say we're not without controversy. I sometimes wonder if the Imperials fear our influence, official visits always feel... tense. The locals fear our magic and are accused of worshiping the Daedra; though they aren't wrong about it."

Nonomi tilted her head at the mention of the Daedra. "Why would they care who you worship? Are the Daedra evil?" There was a bit of concern in her tone; the idea of her kindhearted Sensei worshiping something evil wasn't something she wanted to hear.

"Not necessarily. The Daedra are the inhabitants of Oblivion; a strange realm of existence divided into innumerable realms lorded over by a Daedric Prince. Some consider them evil, some consider them to be good, some... like myself consider them to be neither good nor evil. I have long served Hermaeus Mora as his Champion, and it's been through his gifts that Sjel Blad Castle has become what it is today, but our reverence of the Lord of Knowledge has drawn much controversy." Ja'vassa explained, briefly glancing out the window. Noticing that they had spent more time talking about his story than he planned, he figured it was time to change topics. They still had their Black Market trip to plan, after all.

Abruptly standing up, a sheepish smile crossed his face. "I suppose we could discuss our trip over some lunch... let's head to the cafeteria and get started. We don't want to waste too much of our remaining daylight."

Shiroko stood up with him, nodding in agreement. "Right. We'll need something that'll keep us moving throughout the Black Market. We can't afford to let ourselves get caught off guard."

With their shared sentiments, the group moved down to the cafeteria. The students gathered around the kitchen, watching as Ja'vassa prepared them some seared venison chops, roasted potatoes, bread, and some freshly made lavender tea. He wasn't quite used to the cooking techniques of Kivotos yet, so he largely relied on the techniques he learned back in Skyrim.

Chapter Nine - Intervention

As the trip to the Black Market loomed overhead, Ja'vassa had joined Ayane in the school's storage room to ensure they were adequately supplied. They had plenty of ammunition, tools to repair their weapons, and with the help of Sjel Blad Castle, plenty of medicinal supplies just in case someone got hurt. They had since eaten lunch, they were well supplied for the coming mission, and they were all together. It seemed as if everything was finally starting to go the right way. As their main supporter, Ayane had taken some time to pack away extra supplies, made sure her drone was charged and ready for anything that might happen. Neither of them expected to face too many problems, but it never hurt to be prepared.

"I think that's everything, Sensei. Are we ready to meet up with the others and get this show on the road?" Ayane asked as she stood up, holding her drone and tablet close to her.

Ja'vassa nodded as he stood up alongside her. "I believe so. I'm impressed with how organized you are, Ayane. Maybe once you've graduated, I can hire you to be one of my bookkeepers in Sjel Blad Castle, hm?" He suggested somewhat playfully.

Ayane blushed softly, but giggled at his suggestion. "I'm not so sure I'd do well at that, but, I'll keep the offer in mind."

Once arriving back in the meeting room, Ja'vassa glanced towards the other students who were taking care of their usual weapon maintenance and cleaning. "Good. I'm glad to see the rest of you are taking this as seriously as I had hoped. So long as we stick together, we should be fine. Try not to draw any unnecessary attention."

Hoshino nodded in confirmation, an excited grin crossing her face. "Yeah! Let's not waste any time and get on the-" A sudden alert on Ayane's tablet had interrupted them, warning them of the arrival of yet another group of attackers.

"Is it the Helmet Gang again?" Ja'vassa asked, an annoyed sigh escaping him. "No matter, prepare yourselves for combat! Looks like our trip is being delayed again."

There was an equally annoyed sentiment shared amongst the students; they were eager to get this Black Market business behind them, and yet, it seemed like every time they were ready to do so, something had gotten in their way. Nonetheless, they readied their firearms and joined Ja'vassa at the school's entrance, waiting to get a glance at the invaders.

As they came into sight, Ja'vassa's eyes widened in surprise and confusion. "Is that... Problem Solver 68? What are they doing here?" He knew they routinely took on different jobs for less than reputable people based on what they told them, but to see them here was quite the surprise.

It seemed the Problem Solver 68 team were just as surprised to see him; or at least Haruka and Aru seemed surprised, Mustuki and Kayoko appeared to have expected this meeting with them.

"S-Sensei?! What are you doing here?" Aru asked, looking towards him with uncertainty.

"I'd like to ask you the same thing, Aru. Don't tell me you're here to cause the Abydos students problems, too." Ja'vassa looked back towards the school, not entirely sure he'd be able to raise his weapons against Aru and her friends, even in the defense of his students.

"I... I... I was hired to deal with the Abydos students after the Helmet Gang failed. They never mentioned that you'd be here, Sensei." Though it seemed as Aru was quickly losing her composure, she just as quickly regained it. "I'm sorry, but this isn't personal. If you've got the dime, we'll do the crime. That's Problem Solver 68's motto."

Mutsuki laughed softly as Aru regained her usual demeanor. "You seem to come up with a new motto every day, Aru. Maybe this one will stick around this time." She teased before turning her attention to Ja'vassa. "I know we promised to meet up for ramen next time we met, Sensei, but circumstances are different this time. This is strictly business.. I hope you don't think it's because we don't like you."

It didn't seem as if Ja'vassa would be able to talk them out of this, he let out a saddened sigh before speaking up again. "It doesn't seem we'll be able to avoid a fight, but can you tell me who hired you? I need to know who's been so eager to turn their lives into a living hell."

Kayoko shook her head. "I'm sorry, Sensei, but that'd be giving away confidential information. It's not like they told us much beyond our targets, anyways."

Aru offered him an apologetic smile. "I wish we could've met under more pleasant circumstances, Sensei, but we have a job to do. I am sorry, honestly." Despite being genuine in her apology, she raised her weapon in the air. "We can't afford to fail this mission."

As she raised her firearm in the air once more, the students that she had brought alongside the rest of the Problem Solver 68 team had begun their assault. The sudden, rapid fire coming from their weapons pinned the Abydos group behind the walls of their makeshift fortress.

"I knew I shouldn't have let them come in for ramen that night." Serika growled, occasionally firing a few rounds towards their unexpected weapons.

Ja'vassa seemed hesitant to join in on the fight; he knew that they stood in the way of their mission, but he's genuinely become attached to Problem Solver 68 in the short time that he's spent with them. Though he had no problem raising his magic against the underlings that Aru hired, he deliberately avoided striking at Problem Solver 68. His students seemed to take note of it, Serika glaring towards him.

"Are you seriously holding back against them, Sensei? They repay your kindness by attacking us and you're holding back. After the stories you shared, I find it hard to believe you'd be this soft..." Serika growled.

Ja'vassa clenched his teeth, his fists trembling slightly. "I'm not holding back, I'm... I'm trying to separate them." Despite the obvious lie, it suddenly looked to be the perfect strategy for the current battle. "Hoshino, you and Shiroko should focus your fire on Kayoko and Mutsuki; the two work well as a team, if you can separate them from each other, that'll be one less worry on our part. Serika, you take Haruka. She's a great shot, but you're fast. I'll disarm her; you immobilize her from there. Nonomi, you'll stay here with me and provide support from the back."

Despite the brief annoyance with his hesitancy, Serika seemed relieved that he had some kind of strategy to deal with them. Ja'vassa quickly employed his Thunderbolt spell, striking at the ground with a powerful blast of lightning, kicking up clouds of dust in the process. The clouds provided the Abydos group with enough cover to get into position for their assault.

"Dammit..." Aru grunted, covering her eyes to prevent the sand from flying into them. "This won't be easy, but don't let them get you worked up! Stay calm! I'll worry about keeping Sensei away from the battlefield!" She yelled out.

Shiroko took up herself to contend with Mutsuki; using her superior speed to overwhelm her opponent. There was little time for Mutsuki to resort to her beloved explosives, or do much of anything beyond defending herself from Shiroko's mixture of close quarter combat and the occasional use of her rifle. In most cases, Kayoko would be the first to defend her companion, but she was held up by Hoshino.

She had heard the rumors of the lone third-year student of Abydos, hearing stories of the terrifying force of nature that Hoshino supposedly was. Witnessing the girl's prowess first hand would've been exciting if it weren't for the fact that she was the target. Barely avoiding the relentless gunshots was all Kayoko could do; she was carefully keeping her distance, her eyes never leaving Hoshino.

As they fought on, Serika quickly rushed over to Haruka in an effort to catch her off guard, but the exact opposite had happened. Without warning, numerous blasts from her shotgun were fired off, with several bullets grazing against her arms. Even with her shots failing to properly make contact with her target, Haruka's advance never stopped. Various explosives were dropped to the ground, bursting with a furious energy as Serika got closer.

As the first explosive went off, the Abydos students halted their advance, glancing towards Serika's direction.

"Serika!" Ja'vassa yelled out. "Answer me! Are you alright?!" He found his reservations about attacking Problem Solver 68 were diminishing with each second.

Using the moment of distraction, Kayoko had dropped her own explosive; the grenade bursting as it hit the ground. Clouds of dust surrounded Hoshino and Shiroko, making it difficult to determine their condition.

"Shiroko! Hoshino!" Ja'vassa had quickly jumped out from being the makeshift fortress, now fully prepared to join the fray.

As the dust settled, it was revealed that Hoshino managed to pull out her riot shield just as the explosion went off, protecting her and Shiroko from most of the damage they would've taken otherwise. "We're fine, Sensei! Go check on Serika!" Hoshino yelled out, resuming her relentless assault on Kayoko.

"Right." Ja'vassa nods, quickly dashing over towards the disappearing cloud of smoke that had come from Haruka's explosive. As the dust settled, it was plain to see that Serika was in less than perfect condition; the first explosion caught her off guard and set her to the ground, and it looked as if Haruka was planning for yet another attack, holding another detonator in her hand.

Seeing that there was little time, Ja'vassa quickly employed his Whirlwind Sprint shout. "Wuld... Nah Kest!" He yelled out, rushing forward at great speeds. Once in position, he raised a barrier around him and Serika. As Haruka's second explosive went off, both of them were safe. Relieved to see that all she had was a few scratches from the ordeal, Ja'vassa had turned his attention to Haruka.

"I am sorry, Haruka. It seems all I do is cause you trouble.. knocking you over in Gehenna, now this." Ja'vassa sighed softly as he worked on disarming her. They were much too close to each other for her to use her shotgun toward him, and she was hardly able to keep up with him enough to use any of her explosives.

Haruka gave him a weak smile despite the ongoing battle. "It's okay, Sensei. I know none of this is personal..." At first, it seemed that she was hardly able to avoid Ja'vassa's quick movements, but after a few moments, it quickly became apparent that she was baiting Ja'vassa into following her as she moved back.

Ayane seemed to notice this as she glanced towards Haruka, and then towards Aru who had her rifle firmly pointed for Ja'vassa. "Sensei! Look out! Haruka's leading you straight into a trap!" She yelled out.

But, her warning was much too late. As her words hit his ear, Haruka had deftly moved away from him and now, he was just a few feet away from Aru's antique sniper rifle. She pointed it directly at him, though despite the danger he seemed to be in, Ja'vassa hadn't seemed all that worried. He had a Thunderbolt spell in hand, prepared to launch it at a moment's notice. The two stood there in tense silence, watching and waiting for the other to make the wrong move. The tension in the air could be felt by everyone staring at them with great concern; unlike the students, they knew full well that a gunshot wound could be potentially fatal to Ja'vassa and they knew that being struck with a blast of lightning could be just as harmful to Aru.

"You don't want to do this, Aru. You don't have to do this. Think about who your employers are. Targeting these innocent girls." Ja'vassa stated, staring her directly in the eyes. "I know you're working hard to keep that outlaw image up, but... you're more than that. You've got a good heart. Lower your weapon and walk away. Please. I... I don't want to hurt you." Though his tone was stern and serious, his eyes told a different story.

Aru's rifle trembled in her hands as she stared back at him. "If I had known you'd be here, Sensei, I would've refused the job, but... we can't turn back now. We have a job to finish." Her finger lingered around the trigger and it seemed she was ready to fire at a moment's notice. "I don't want to hurt you, Sensei... we've only known you for a short time, but.. you mean a lot to us. Back away, please. We're here for the Abydos students, not you."

Ja'vassa's expression softened, his hand trembling slightly. "Please, listen to me, Aru. There's no turning back once you pull the trigger. Please, lower your weapon and back away. Return to Gehenna with the rest of your friends. You don't have to do this." His tone was a bit softer now.

"I'm sorry, Sensei. I can't do that. But, you can still walk away. Don't make me be responsible for hurting you." Aru responded weakly, unsure of how else she could convince him to leave.

Both of their pleas fell onto deaf ears and it seemed they'd have no choice but to attack the other. Aru's finger moved closer and closer to the trigger while Ja'vassa came closer and closer to firing the bolt of lightning. The tension between them increased more and more with each passing second, and it was likely there'd be no repairing their friendship if they were forced to attack.

Seconds felt like an eternity, everything around them had come to standstill. The Abydos students, the other Problem Solver 68 members, and even their entourage watched them in tense silence. The sun continued to dip below the horizon, and as the dying light bathed the sky in various oranges, blues, and pinks, the only sound that could be heard was the echoing of the school's bell going off.

The suddenness of it caught them off guard, and Aru's hired help had suddenly lowered their weapon without warning. "Look at that.. I guess it's time we called it quits." One student chimed in, glancing towards her friends. "I'm hungry... should we go get something for dinner? I'm thinking burgers sound good tonight."

Another student nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that sounds good. I'm buying for us tonight."

Despite the tense standstill, Aru managed to utter a few confused words. "W-Wait! Wh-Where are you going?! The job isn't done!" She reminded them.

"You said no overtime pay, so we're clocking out here." One of the other students reminded her. Without much of another word, their hired help had left the battlefield to go about their nightly routine.

The tables were turned and now, they were the ones that were outnumbered. Seeing this, Aru let out a defeated sigh, lowering her weapon. "This isn't over. We'll be back to finish the job soon. Just you wait." She turned to leave, briefly shooting one last glance at Ja'vassa. "I'm sorry, Sensei. Until this mission has been completed, we'll face each other again. I'd understand if you wanted to cancel that ramen date with us."

Ja'vassa was able to release a sigh of relief, seeing that he wouldn't be forced to harm his student. "No.. we'll just have to push it back for another day. Just... consider dropping the mission, Aru. Think about who your employers are. A real outlaw would never take on work that clashes with their ideals."

Aru hadn't responded and simply began to walk off, a great deal of uncertainty surrounding her. Though she had little affection for the Abydos students, Ja'vassa had become important to her. No one else had believed in her goal to become a great outlaw; he had encouraged her to keep moving forward and even promised to uphold their ramen date despite what had just transpired. The mission had to be complete, but she wasn't sure if she'd be able to finish it, especially if Ja'vassa intervenes again.

The other members of Problem Solver 68 soon followed behind Aru; Kayoko paused, briefly turning back to them. "We'll see you soon, Sensei... I'll look forward to our ramen date." With her final words, she waved towards them and left.

With the battle over, Ja'vassa turned to his students. "I'm glad that's over... get some rest for the night and hopefully, we'll be able to make our trip in the morning."

They were victorious in the end, but Ja'vassa wasn't all that happy with it. His students left for their home while he returned to his office, contemplating his future in Kivotos. He had to see this to the end, but he wasn't all that interested in trading blows with Aru and the others again. Pushing that out of his mind, he'd mentally prepare himself for the next day, silently praying that they'd have no further interruptions.

Chapter Ten - Criminally Inspired

For nearly the last week, their anticipated trip to the Black Market had been delayed over and over again. Sometimes, it felt as if their creditors were watching them and purposely sent out the interlopers to keep them from visiting. From Serika's kidnapping to the surprise attack from Problem Solver 68, every single time they were ready to head out, something stopped them. Today was going to be different, there was nothing that was going to stop them this time. If anyone chose to stand in their way today, it was going to be hell to pay. As they gathered in their meeting once more, they made no hesitation to make their preparations and the moment everything was prepared, they hastily headed off.

As they finally arrived at the Black Market, Ja'vassa scoffed slightly. "For all the talk about this being some big criminal underground, it doesn't look all that impressive." He mused, glancing towards some of the various merchants with the illegally acquired goods. "At least it smells better than the marketplace in Riften... and we won't have to worry about the Thieves Guild poking around our pockets."

Hoshino laughed softly as she listened to Ja'vassa's musings. "The Thieves Guild, huh? They don't sound like they're all that pleasant to be around." She replied, looking towards him with her usual sleepy grin.

"Filthy vermin scurrying about their Ratway... I'm not sure how you could call yourself a member of an organization when they're so willing to betray each other over the clinking of coins." Ja'vassa shook his head, and just as he was about to continue speaking, the sudden, frantic yelling of another person caught their attention.

"What do you want from me?! I haven't done anything to you!" She cried out, running as fast and as hard as her legs could carry her.

Ja'vassa's ears perked up as the familiar sounding voice hit him. "Is that...?" He muttered, his eyes widening as the familiar shape filled his eyes.

This wasn't at all how he planned to meet with Hifumi again, seeing her fearfully running down the market's streets caused him to prepare himself for conflict, especially once he saw the three girls chasing her. In her confusion, Hifumi paid little attention to what was in front of her, at least until she had barreled into Ja'vassa.

The sudden, unexpected tackle caused both of them to tumble onto the ground; Hifumi safely landed on top of Ja'vassa, though he was clearly surprised by it, he looked towards her with some slight concern. "Hifumi? Are you alright?"

They slowly returned to their feet, Hifumi giving him a surprised, but apologetic look. "Sensei? Oh, uh, I'm alright! Sorry! I'm in a hurry." She said frantically, glancing back towards the students that had managed to catch up.

"Nice catch! If you wanted, we'd be glad to split the ransom. That Trinity girl will fetch us a nice price from the Tea Party." The mini-gun wielding student stated. "Just hand her over and we'll begin working out the details for our trade."

Chasing and threatening Hifumi was one thing, but insinuating that he'd even consider offering up someone as precious to him as she was caused anger to briefly flash in his eyes. Without any hesitation; he stepped forward and employed his Disarm shout. "Zun... Haal Viik!" He yelled out, unleashing a blast of energy that ripped the firearms out of the hands of Hifumi's pursuers.

Taking further advantage of their confusion, he'd quickly use his Telekinesis to drag the fallen weapons away to ensure they couldn't recover them. "I don't think I'll be giving you anything. You can walk away now, or you can advance and you'll find what else I'm capable of." He raised his right hand, flames dancing on top of his palm.

Hifumi's eyes were wide with shock at the strange display from Ja'vassa; she hadn't seen him in action the last time they met and seeing this was an almost frightening surprise. She hadn't said anything, but her pursuers seemed torn.

Their weapons were out of reach and now, they were staring at this strange cat-person holding a ball of fire in his hand. Deciding not to test their luck, the leader of the group scoffed slightly. "Fine... we'll be going. Consider yourself lucky, Trinity girl. He won't be there to protect you the next time." Despite the apparent threat, the trio of attackers were quick to flee.

Hifumi let out a sigh of relief as she turned to Ja'vassa and the other Abydos students. "Th-Thank you, Sensei. I'm not sure if I would've lasted much longer on my own." She said softly, bowing slightly in gratitude.

"I can't say this is how I was intending to see you again, Hifumi, but I'm glad to see you're safe." Ja'vassa replied, giving her a warm smile. "But... What are you doing out here? This doesn't seem like the place for someone like you."

Nonomi shot a glance towards her classmates, a little surprised that the two of them knew each other so well. "Um... sorry to interrupt, Sensei. But, how is it that you know each other?" She asked curiously.

"Let me guess, you got lost while looking for Trinity?" Hoshino asked, a knowing smirk crossing her face.

Rolling his eyes at the tease, Ja'vassa nodded in response. "Yeah... she was the first student I bumped into while on my way to Trinity. She helped find both the academy and lodgings for the night. I'm glad I finally got to repay her kindness."

Hoshino shook her head, that smirk never disappearing. "You really are hopeless, Sensei." She crossed her arms, letting out a playful sigh. "Though, why are you out here? You don't look like the type to frequent the Black Market."

A slight blush dusted Hifumi's cheeks; avoiding their gaze for a moment, she seemed hesitant to answer them. "I... I came to buy something that's been discontinued elsewhere in Kivotos." She replied softly.

"Oh? Looking for some old weapons or accessories?" Shiroko asked, her interest peaked.

Her blush only deepened as Shiroko asked her question. "N-No! Nothing like that. I... I came to find discontinued Momo Friends merchandise." She admitted, holding up her phone to show them a picture of a Peroro plush.

Ja'vassa looked baffled as she held up the photo, "You came all the way out here... to a place filled with criminals and shady merchants for a toy?" He asked confusedly.

"It's not just a toy, Sensei! It's a collector's item, any real fan would take the same lengths I am to see that their collection is complete!" Hifumi retorted, huffing slightly as she spoke.

Nonomi clapped her hands together, nodding in agreement. "As a Momo Friends fan myself, I agree completely. It's adorable, so I understand the lengths she's going through to get it. Surely you understand, Sensei... haven't you gone to extreme lengths to acquire that special treasure of yours, right?"

He wanted so badly to argue with her, but he couldn't. She was right; he had routinely gone to extreme lengths to acquire some rare items and followed ridiculous rumors only to find that they were false. "I guess you're right, Nonomi. I can't say I understand all of what this is, but it seems important to you."

Hifumi gave off a triumphant smile, nodding at Ja'vassa. "See? I'm glad we can make you see the light. Though... What brings you here, Sensei? Are you searching for something, too?"

Hoshino nodded in response. "Sort of. We're trying to find buyers that can help us settle Abydos' debt a little bit while maybe finding some information on our creditors." She explained.

Ja'vassa had fallen silent as his attention was stolen by a van guarded by several motorcycles. Taking note of the logo on the side of it, his expression suddenly became serious. "Hey, Serika. Can you remind me who takes your payments?" He asked her.

"Kaiser. Why do you ask, Sensei?" Serika seemed more than a little confused, but she'd soon notice the very same van. "Wait... that's the van that took our payment this morning."

Hifumi's own expression softened a bit, "You did business with Kaiser? While their operations are technically legal, their reputation isn't the best, so most of their business is done through the Black Market Bank."

Their creditors' connections with the shady underground was concerning, and their concerns only grew bigger as they saw the very same person who took their payment that morning emerge from the van.

"This might explain why they'd only be willing to take cash payments from you, less of a paper trail this way." Ja'vassa suggested, leaning against the wall slightly. "Their business goes through here, the weaponry we recovered from the Helmet Gang implies they do much of their business here as well.. both have been aggressively targeting Abydos High School. I can't help but feel they're connected."

Ayane nodded in agreement, "It seems that way, but... how would we be able to prove it? Even if we did prove any connection between them, there's not much we could do to stop them..."

The group had fallen silent, it didn't seem any potential solution they had in mind would solve anything in the long term. After a moment, Shiroko spoke up. "We rob the bank. We don't need the cash, but perhaps we can recover some of their recent transaction logs. We can get a record of our payments that way, and maybe we'll be able to see if there's any connection between them and our recent attackers."

None of them much liked the idea of delving into a serious crime like that, but there weren't too many options. Hoshino released a sigh of relief, "I guess we'll finally get to live out Shiroko's dreams of becoming a criminal. But, we'll need disguises and... I'm not sure if Sensei will be able to join us. We can all wear masks, but who else in Kivotos wields a sword like that and wears outdated robes like he does? If he joined us, it'd be all too easy to figure out who we were."

Ja'vassa nodded in agreement. "I'll stay out here and wait for your return. Just... don't do anything crazy there. Get in, grab what you need, and leave. Don't take any unnecessary risks."

Shiroko smiled slightly at his concern, nodding at him. "We'll be quick, Sensei. You don't need to worry about us... and as far as disguises, I'm prepared for that." She took several multicolored masks with numbers embroidered into it.

"How long have you had these, Shiroko?" Serika asked as she put on one of the masks.

"Long enough." Shiroko replied, eagerly putting hers on. "Though, I had only prepared enough for us... Hifumi doesn't have one."

Hifumi looked towards her with slight confusion, "What do you mean by that?"

"You are going to join us, right? Sort of an exchange for us helping you earlier, right?" Hoshino asked, an expectant smile on her face.

Ja'vassa seemed just as confused. "Hang on a second, as capable as she is, I don't think it'd be a good idea to have her join us. I can't imagine it'd look good if the Tea Party found out." He reminded them, glancing towards Hifumi with a bit of concern in his eyes. "We don't even have a mask for her..."

Unsurprisingly, Shiroko was prepared for this. With an old paper sack, she cut out some eyes and marked it with the number 5. "There. This should work for her." Without any hesitation, she placed the bag over Hifumi's head, nodding her approval at her fine handiwork.

"But... but..." Hifumi whined, though her pleas fell upon deaf ears. She turned to Ja'vassa, silently pleading with him as well. "Sensei..."

Ja'vassa bit his lip, sighing in defeat. "I'll cover for you in the Tea Party if anything goes wrong, Hifumi. I've got your back."

It seemed she had lost his support as well, and without many options left, Hifumi unhappily went along with their plans. With their weapons in good condition and the plan in mind, they quickly rushed into the Black Market Bank.

Upon first entry, Shiroko fired several rounds towards the ceiling. "Get to the ground and make no sudden movements!" She ordered, quickly rushing towards the counter. While she dealt with the clerk, the others monitored the entrance and kept a careful watch on the bank's employees and patrons.

Amongst the terrified civilians watching them was none other than Problem Solver 68; despite their nerves, Aru looked upon them with a mixture of surprise and admiration. "Look at the way they instill fear into everyone... like true outlaws!" She exclaimed softly, sparkles in her eyes. "So cool..."

Kayoko rolled her eyes slightly at her boss' reaction, leaning over to Mutsuki. "Think we should tell her?" She asked quietly.

"Nah. I think it'd upset her if she knew the Abydos students were involved... I doubt she wants to cause further trouble with her and Sensei." Mutsuki whispered back, glancing towards Aru and then over towards Shiroko. "Besides, I want to watch this play out."

Shiroko shot a harsh glare towards the clerk behind the counter, holding her rifle firmly in front of them. "Do you have the transaction records from the van that just pulled a few moments ago? That's all I want from you."

The clerk frantically nodded. "Take it, take whatever you want, just don't hurt me!" He pleaded, quickly filling the bag that Shiroko gave him. "Here's everything, please go!"

With a pleased smile, she gladly took the bag from the clerk and motioned for her companions to leave with her. "Come on, we got what we needed!" Shiroko called out to them.

Lagging slightly behind them, Hifumi bowed towards them. "I'm sorry for the trouble!" She yelled out.

As they reunited with Ja'vassa outside, Shiroko made another motion for him to follow them. No doubt guards were going to arrive soon, and the sooner they left, the better it'd be for them. They ran for miles, only stopping once they felt they were a safe distance from the bank.

"That went better than expected... Did you get what you were looking for, Shiroko?" Ja'vassa asked, leaning over the railing of the bridge.

She was silent as she opened the bag, revealing that they indeed had retrieved the transaction records they were hoping for, but beneath them was piles upon piles of cash. Shiroko didn't seem too bothered by the money, but the others stared on in surprise.

"I-I thought we were just getting the records? Where'd this come from?" Ayane asked with obvious surprise in her voice.

"Maybe the clerk was confused by her orders?" Nonomi suggested, her eyes never leaving the money on the ground.

"We could use this to pay back some of our debt! Maybe this trip to the Black Market wasn't such a waste after all." Serika cheered, a wide smile crossing her face.

"I don't think so. Using this money to pay off your debt could come back to bite you in the end." Ja'vassa stated, crossing his arms slightly. "If they suddenly find that you're able to pay off so much of your debt, that'd leave them suspicious and if they're able to connect the crime to you, that'd give them enough of a reason to foreclose on the school." He added, sighing softly.

"But... we... we've worked so hard for this." Serika pleaded, looking towards Ja'vassa with desperation in her eyes. "We can't just... we can't just ignore this."

Hoshino placed her hand on her underclassmen's shoulder. "Sensei's right, Serika. Maybe it'll help us, but we'd be no better than them if we used it. It's dirty money. We'll find a way to pay off the debt, but not like this. We just need the transaction records; leave the money behind." She suggested, her tone soft as she spoke.

"You're a hard worker, Serika and I know you want nothing more than to help your classmates, but this has the risk of bringing more trouble to Abydos. We've already taken a risk by doing what we did." Ja'vassa gave her a warm smile. "Don't let this hold you back from moving forward. We'll pay off the debt, little by little, we'll get there. We'll just have to find other resources for it."

Though everything in her was screaming at her to ignore their words and take the money, she relented and nodded at them. Hesitantly, she stepped away from the bag of money. "You're right. I'm... I'm sorry, I just... I just wanted to make things easier for us." Serika replied quietly.

"You're a real sweetheart, Serika. You've got a good heart. Things will be better down the road, you just take it step by step." Ja'vassa assured her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "Come on, let's head back to Abydos and see if those records have anything important for us."

Hoshino couldn't help but chuckle at the heartwarming sight. "You know, Sensei, you're a lot gentler than you'd make yourself out to be... a big, bad vampire lord being so soft and sweet to our precious Serika. It's touching, honestly."

Ja'vassa rolled his eyes in response, beginning to walk ahead of them. "Oh, shut it. I'm not that soft." He argued.

"Whatever you say, Sensei." Hoshino teased, though she suddenly jumped into a more defensive stance. "Someone's coming."

Much to their surprise, it was Aru rushing up the road to meet with them. Without any hesitation, everyone besides Ja'vassa quickly covered their faces with the masks they used for the robbery.

As she caught up to them, Aru hobbled over to catch her breath. "I... I saw you at the bank. You looked so... incredible there, like real outlaws! Everyone was terrified and followed every order without hesitation. I... I want to be just like you." It didn't seem she noticed Ja'vassa was there just yet. "Who are you? I have to know your names!"

None of them were quite sure how to respond at first, but after a moment, Nonomi came up with a quick story. "I'm Christina of the Masked Swimsuit Gang, striking fear into the hearts of all those who oppose us!"

Aru's eyes sparkled with a childlike wonder as she listened to them, her smile widening. "Do you have any advice for up and coming outlaws like myself?"

Hoshino nodded, giving her a thumbs up. "Always stay true to yourself. Never give up, no matter how difficult the road ahead seems. You've got a long way to go, but you'll become a great outlaw someday."

The childish glimmer never faded away as she soaked up the advice given to her. "I'll become the greatest outlaw Kivotos has ever seen. I'll make you proud!" Aru said triumphantly, though her expression briefly faded away as she finally noticed Ja'vassa. "S-Sensei?! What are you doing here? You're not here to arrest them, are you?"

Ja'vassa quickly shook his head. "Of course not, Aru. I... I was just taking a stroll in the neighborhood when I bumped into them. I don't think I have the authority to arrest them, anyways. Uh... I'll see you next time I'm in Gehenna for our ramen date, yeah?" He added, quickly beginning to head back towards Abydos in order to prevent himself from saying anything stupid.

Even after all that had happened in the day prior, Ja'vassa still hadn't called off their little date in the future; that was enough to cause Aru to blush. She received some wonderful advice from hard-boiled outlaws and it didn't seem Ja'vassa was angry at her despite her actions. "Y-Yeah... I'll see you soon, Sensei!"

As they went their separate ways, Aru had met back up with her Problem Solver 68 comrades. "Weren't they incredible? Sensei still wants to meet us again for lunch, even all that we did to them." She sighed happily, in a much better mood now.

"I'm glad Sensei still wants to speak with us, but, Boss... didn't you recognize the girls on the bridge?" Mutsuki asked, a devilish smirk on her face.

"No, why?" Aru's smile faded away and was replaced with a puzzled expression.

Kayoko rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Boss, those were the Abydos students. Surely Sensei's presence should've made it clear, right?"

Silence washed over Aru for a moment as she processed their words. "Wait, what?! That was them?! I..." She took a step back, surprised by the obvious revelation. "I thought... but, that means Sensei was in on their robbery." Most people would've been upset by such an idea, but instead, Aru only seemed more impressed. "He's... he's even cooler than I could've hoped. Maybe he could teach me more about being a great outlaw when we meet next."

Mutsuki giggled softly, her devilish smirk never leaving her face. "You're hopeless, Aru, but... at least you'll have something to talk about with him the next time we meet." Despite her teasing tone, she was secretly just as excited to enjoy their ramen date with Ja'vassa in the future.

Later in the day, as the sun began to dip beneath the horizon, the Abydos students had made it back to the school and made a shocking revelation as they looked through the documents they received. "So... if I'm reading these correctly, they've been accepting all of your payments like they should, but then, it looks as if they're using the money you're giving them to fund and supply the Helmet Gang... and it looks like they were also the ones responsible for hiring Problem Solver 68." Ja'vassa mused, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. "That explains why they're doing all of their operations in the Black Market Bank as well. Doing so in a more public bank would draw too much suspicion."

Serika nodded at him, anger evident in her eyes as well. "What do we do now? What if we brought this information up to the General Student Council, then maybe they could do something about Kaiser?" She suggested.

"What good would that do? You've requested their help before and they hadn't done a damn thing... and even if you did, couldn't Kaiser flip this around on you? The missing money, the fact that you have your hands on confidential information. There's too many risks involved with going to them." Ja'vassa replied, heading towards the window for a moment. "I'm not sure if there's much we can do right now, but we need to be careful moving forward."

He sighed softly, staring out towards the dying sunlight in the distance. "Just... just what makes Abydos so important to them? They've swallowed up practically the entire district despite it being a barren desert. What is it they're looking for here? None of it makes sense."

Hoshino shrugged, though there was a hint of concern in her eyes. "I'm not sure, but... maybe we should get some rest? We've had a long day. Let's head home for the night and group back tomorrow."

The others ultimately agreed with each other, giving their farewells. One by one, they shuffled out of the room until it was just Ja'vassa and Hoshino left behind. "Sensei... can we talk for a moment? I... I need to tell you something." Hoshino's voice was soft, laced with uncertainty.

"Of course, Hoshino. What's on your mind?" Ja'vassa asked, taking a seat beside her.

"I know what Kaiser is after, but... if I told the others, it'd only worry them. Can... Can you keep this between us, Sensei?" Hoshino asked, lightly resting her hand on top of his.

Ja'vassa nodded in response, clasping her hand in his. "Nothing we speak about leaves this room, I promise."

Flashing him a brief smile, Hoshino sighed softly. "They're after me. I've... received a few letters and even had a meeting with a higher up from Kaiser. They seem to think I'm some special treasure... promising that if... if I joined them, they'd wipe the debt and leave Abydos alone." She explained, clearly holding back several tears of her own.

Ja'vassa was shocked to hear her explanation, but his tone remained gentle. "They're not wrong; you are a special treasure, Hoshino, one that's very much worth protecting and fighting for. It is strange to hear that they've been pursuing you, I urge you to be careful going forward." He'd gently squeeze her hand, attempting to offer any form of comfort.

"I'm.. I'm afraid that if I do join them, I might be forced to fight against you and my classmates. But, if I ignore them, they're only going to continue to come after us. What do I do, Sensei? I'm... I'm scared. I want my classmates to live without having to worry about a debt that isn't theirs in the first place, but.. I don't want to risk them getting hurt again." Despite her best efforts to hold them back, tears began to stream down her cheeks. "I... just... What should I do? Is there a right answer here? I... I don't want to be alone again."

Ja'vassa's expression softened further and he'd quickly wrapped her in a warm, protective embrace. "The path you're on isn't easy.. it doesn't seem like there's a right answer here. But, you're not alone, Hoshino. We're all here for you. To protect you, to fight alongside you. Do what your heart thinks is right. You've got a heart of gold and all of us are better for having known you. Given Kaiser's recent actions, I wouldn't trust them to uphold their promise, but, in the end, the final decision is yours." He whispered, holding Hoshino close to him. "Just remember... you're not alone, Hoshino. You have your classmates and you have me. We'll always be here to support you. To give you a shoulder to lean over when you need it. You're carrying heavy burdens on your shoulders, but you don't have to carry them alone anymore."

Hoshino sniffled softly, looking up to him; her eyes puffy from the fallen tears. "Thank you, Sensei... that means a lot to me. When you first arrived here, I wasn't certain we'd be able to trust you... but, I'm glad I was wrong about you." She snuggled closer into his embrace, almost afraid he'd disappear if she let go. "It's... selfish of me to ask, but... please don't leave us, Sensei. I... I know you have people that need you back home, but... we need you too. It's been less than a month, but we'd miss you terribly if you disappeared."

Ja'vassa was silent for a few moments, looking towards her with a surprised expression. "I... I'm not going anywhere, Hoshino. I promise. I promise."

After Hoshino calmed herself down, she'd slowly peel herself away from Ja'vassa's embrace and stood up, giving him a warm smile. "Thank you for that, Sensei.. I almost forgot what it felt like to be held like that. I'll see you tomorrow. Be sure you get some rest as well."

Ja'vassa nodded, waving towards her as she stepped out of the room. "Of course. Sweet dreams, my dear. Rest up and I'll see you here tomorrow. Be safe on your way home."

As the moon had risen over the horizon and Hoshino finally left for the day, Ja'vassa returned to his office to get some much needed sleep for the night. Despite the sound, peaceful sleep he was in, he found himself fighting an internal battle. Kivotos wasn't his home, he'd have to return to Skyrim someday and leave this place behind. He couldn't really be expected to choose the world he had known for less than a month versus staying behind with the group that had loyally served him for well over a thousand years, and yet, he found himself growing more and more attached to Kivotos with each passing second.

There was nothing but love and admiration for his companions in Sjel Blad Castle, but even amidst all the chaos that Kivotos has brought him thus far, this has been the happiest he's been in a long time. Feeling the warmth of his students, seeing their smiles, feeling that sense of purpose he's been longing for. Would he really be able to bring himself to abandon his students, even after they've managed to find a way to deal with Kaiser? He wasn't so sure, but he also knew he couldn't just abandon Skyrim either. It didn't seem like there was a right answer for his internal conflict. There was no telling if Relumara and the others would be okay with the idea of him staying in Kivotos, especially after serving him for so long. Perhaps it was time he held a meeting with his Inner Council, or maybe briefly returned to Skyrim to meditate at the Throat of the World. Whatever decision he'd make would no doubt leave him with upsetting one group; his beloved students and his loyal servants.

Chapter Eleven - Homeward Journey

As the next morning finally arrived, Ja'vassa was the last to arrive rather than being the one to wait for them. He had stepped through the door with a light smile on his face. "Good morning. All of you seem to be in a good mood today.. Did something happen before I got here?" He asked, taking note of the cheerful smiles they wore.

"Good morning, Sensei. We were thinking about taking a day to just... rest. We've had a lot happening recently." Nonomi explained, eagerly inviting him to sit down beside her. "The frequent attacks from the Helmet Gang, the issues with Problem Solver 68, the Black Market visit... I know we still have the debt with Kaiser to worry about, but we're running on fumes here."

Ja'vassa nodded as he'd reclined in the seat beside Nonomi. "You've all been working incredibly hard, you deserve some time to rest and enjoy yourselves. Did you have anything in mind? I'd offer to bring you back to Skyrim for a little while, but I'm not sure if any of you are particularly fond of the cold." He replied somewhat jokingly.

Despite his suggestion being a joke, Nonomi's eyes lit up at the possibility. "Wait, you'd really let us visit your home? I'll admit.. I've been curious to see what Sjel Blad Castle looked like."

Even Shiroko seemed excited by the idea. "To see where Sensei spent so much time would be nice..."

Shaking his head slightly, Ja'vassa laughed softly. "If you're all in agreement, then I'd be glad to bring you home. We should have some robes you can use to keep warm if we decide to move away from the castle. Just... just try not to wander off. Strong as you are, Skyrim isn't a place you should carelessly wander around in. It can be dangerous and of course, it gets bitterly cold at times."

Nonomi nodded eagerly, placing her hand on his forearm. "We'll be careful, Sensei. After all, we'll have you with us." She assured him.

"You're fine with it, Sensei, but what about the Council? Will they be okay with us staying there for a while?" Serika asked, slightly uncertain about the whole idea despite her own excitement.

"Of course, Serika. But, at first, stick close to me. It'll take time for word to spread throughout the castle and I don't want anyone to mistake you for intruders." Ja'vassa stated, standing up from his seat. "Bring only what you can't live without. Your phones will be useless in Skyrim, as will any connected devices."

Ayane's previously excited smile turned to a somewhat dejected frown. "Useless? Is Skyrim really that... primitive?"

Ja'vassa laughed softly, giving her a teasing smile. "Sweet Ayane... you're in for a surprise. Skyrim still relies on horse-drawn carriages to get from city to city, and if you live up north, those are often useless with all the snow and ice. Don't worry, you'll be fine. Perhaps you'll find it to be somewhat relaxing to be away from all the technology for a bit."

She was a little hesitant, but she didn't really want to be left alone while the others were gone. "Alright.. I suppose a few days wouldn't hurt." Ayane sighed softly, her cheerful smile soon returning to her face.

"I'll show you as much as I can.. not just Sjel Blad Castle, but maybe some of the old ruins I'd explore long before arriving here." Ja'vassa motioned for them to follow him into the other room. "Brace yourself when you step through the portal, you might feel a bit disoriented at first, but it'll wear off shortly."

They nodded in response, watching in awe as Ja'vassa activated the Milestone, creating a still image of one of Sjel Blad's many chambers. "Go on. Step through it and I'll be right behind you."

Despite their excitement for the coming journey, they hesitated slightly. The prospect of leaving Kivotos was a daunting task, but so long as they were with Ja'vassa, they knew they'd be safe. One by one, they stepped through the portal and once Ja'vassa entered behind them, the portal abruptly shut. Now, standing just outside of the Council Room, the students looked on with admiration in their eyes.

Despite how old the castle was, it was clearly well maintained. The Council's table surrounded a roaring fire pit; ten chairs surrounding the stone table. The floors and walls were meticulously cleaned, not a speck of dust to be seen anywhere.

"Sensei... this is beautiful." Hoshino stated breathlessly as she approached the table, marveling at the architecture of the room. "Is this where you and your Council meet?"

Ja'vassa nodded in response. "Aye. This is where we first met after the castle was constructed.. It was where we discussed our plans for the Second Great War, where we discussed improvements to the castle, new projects, and eventually where we discussed the ideas that unintentionally led me to Kivotos."

Serika took a seat at the table, leaning back slightly. "You've mentioned this Second Great War several times, Sensei? What was that all about?" She asked

"Perhaps I could be the one to tell you the story?" Relumara suggested, approaching them with a smile. "I didn't realize my Lord was going to visit us, nor did I realize his precious students would be joining him."

Serika jumped slightly as he made his sudden appearance. "It's you again. Relumara, wasn't it? I suppose I wouldn't mind hearing the story from you."

The other students had joined him and Ja'vassa, eagerly awaiting for them to begin their story. "This was the second major war between the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion, starting a few years after the Skyrim Civil War came to an end. As I'm sure my Lord's mentioned, Sjel Blad Castle is technically an Imperial fortress and we were founded as a result of the coming conflict with the Dominion." Relumara started, looking towards Ja'vassa to continue the story.

"It was a bloody conflict that ravaged most of southern Tamriel. My army was primarily responsible for driving the Thalmor out of Elsweyr... my homeland. We had arrived much too late, as by the time we crossed from the Cyrodiil border and into Elsweyr, I had discovered they laid waste to my hometown. Copperstead destroyed, and the villagers killed." Ja'vassa's tone was a bit softer at this point. "I never even had a chance to say goodbye to my parents, or my surviving siblings. Though, that only strengthened my resolve to dismantle the Thalmor once and for all."

Nonomi briefly covered her mouth for a moment, in shock by the sudden revelation. "They... they killed your family, Sensei? Why would they do that?"

Ja'vassa hesitated to answer, shame glistening in his eyes. "I've asked myself the same question, but I'd... believe it was my fault. I clashed with the Thalmor frequently prior to the war and I had led attacks on their Embassy and on Northwatch Keep while occasionally doing battle with them on the roads. Perhaps the attack on Copperstead was revenge for the damage I've caused them." He explained, crossing his arms a bit. "I have no regrets with the damage I've caused the Thalmor, but I only wish I could've had a chance to say goodbye one last time to them."

Ayane leaned against Ja'vassa slightly, trying to comfort him the best she could. "You shouldn't blame yourself, Sensei.. I doubt they'd blame you for it." She assured him, staying close to him.

"Even if they don't, it's not something I'll be able to forgive myself for." Ja'vassa shook his head, quickly moving forward in the story. "Despite the... the tragedy that befell my hometown, we moved forward. Marching through southern Elsweyr while the Empire's armies focused on driving Thalmor forces out of northern Valenwood. We'd eventually reunite just a short distance from Elden Root, but that's where my story in the war ends. I'm... I'm not proud to admit it, but I failed in that battle. They were ready for us, bombarding us with fire magic and many of their soldiers carried silver weapons. If not for Relumara urging me to flee, I probably would've died then and there."

Relumara laughed softly, shaking his head. "You've always had a knack for being stubborn, and I doubt that'll ever change. I'm not sure how we did, but even after my Lord put himself into exile, our armies were able to drive the Thalmor off the mainland and effectively forced them back to the Summerset Isle. They still exist today, but maintain an aggressive policy of isolation." He leaned back, a light sigh escaping him. "It was a little over two hundred years before Ja'vassa returned to us and reclaimed his rightful position as Lord of Sjel Blad."

Hoshino looked towards Ja'vassa with mild surprise; to think that the powerful, courageous Sensei she had known would've been in hiding for that long. "What took you so long to return to them, Sensei? Were you... afraid?"

Ja'vassa nodded slowly. "I didn't feel worthy of leading them. I failed in that battle, and was forced to flee in shame. The great and powerful Dragonborn, the slayer of Alduin. Even the hardiest of warriors quaked in their boots at my approach, and yet, I was forced to flee after my back was pushed against the wall. Besides, even when I came out of exile, Sjel Blad Castle was thriving under Relumara's leadership. They won the war without me. The castle had become renowned all across Tamriel without me. What right did I have to take the throne back? I still don't know why Relumara and the others were so insistent on me fleeing..." He asked in response, his gaze falling upon the fire at the center of the table.

"You've always been too hard on yourself, my Lord. I'm not sure if you realize how important you are to us... and now, to the girls you've brought with you." Relumara looked him firmly in the eyes. "You're an inspiration to us. Even in the face of mortal danger, you never stopped fighting. Look at the Council, the people you've brought together. Serica and I were mere apprentices at the Mage's College. Julara was an escaped slave. Rianra was a Thalmor spy. Where others overlooked us, you saw potential. You took us in and gave us a sense of purpose, this is why we begged you to flee. Even if you would've left with no regrets, we would've missed you."

He paused, looking towards the students; noting how comfortable Ayane looked as she leaned against him, the adoration each of them held in their eyes. "The way your students look at you is proof of that."

Ayane smiled, nodding in agreement. "He's right, Sensei. You had no reason to help us and yet, you didn't even hesitate to step in and take up the responsibility everyone else ignored. You were there for us when no one else was." She added, glancing up towards him.

"...thank you for that. Both of you." Ja'vassa replied softly, leaning against Ayane in return. "I didn't realize how much I needed to hear those words."

Relumara returned the smile, nodding at him. "Of course. Now... I'm sure you had something planned for your students. I'll get out of your hair for now." He said to Ja'vassa before turning his attention to the others. "You'll always be welcomed guests here, don't hesitate to come by in the future. I'll spread the word around the castle so people won't mistake you for intruders."

As he finished speaking, the old Dunmer had promptly left the room. Ja'vassa had slowly stood up next. "Why don't I give you a proper tour of the castle? Then we could see about finding you something warmer to wear before we step outside."

Nonomi excitedly stood up as well, "That sounds lovely, Sensei! We'd love a tour... we want to see everything you're willing to show us!" She quickly grabbed his hand, tugging him towards another doorway.

"Where do you get all this energy, Nonomi?" Ja'vassa asked teasingly, though he'd gladly bring them into the main foyer. The large, open room was bustling with activity as various guards, servants, and visitors walked about from room to room. Several corridors led to the castle's barracks, forge, sanctuary, and living quarters. Sitting in the center of the corridors to the right and left of them were massive statues dedicated to their patron deity.

Shiroko took note of the strange, tentacled monster that the statues depicted. "Sensei... what's with the statues?" She asked, approaching one of them.

"That is Hermaeus Mora, Daedric Prince of Fate and Knowledge." Ja'vassa explained, looking towards the statue with a certain fondness. "He is Sjel Blad's patron deity; all seekers of knowledge turn to him eventually. Through his guidance, we have attained a level of magical understanding that perhaps none have matched, and I have personally served him as his Champion for centuries."

Ayane looked a bit confused as she glanced towards him. "You mentioned that some considered the daedra to be evil before. Does your reverence of Hermaeus Mora cause any problems with the locals?"

Ja'vassa nodded, a light chuckle escaping him. "Sometimes. They accused us of performing daedric rituals and summonings, and I suppose they weren't entirely wrong. My arrival in Kivotos was a daedric ritual that didn't entirely go as planned, after all. Hermaeus Mora isn't evil nor good, simply acting in his own nature. He hungers for knowledge, and will do nearly anything to hoard the resources that have evaded his grasp. I've... gotten my hands dirty working for him, but the rewards he's offered often makes up for it."

As he explained their position with the daedra, Serika approached a closed door, admiring the weapons resting on the racks and display cases near it. "Is this where you create all of your weapons, Sensei?" She reached out, softly caressing the glass sword. "This sword looks like it was made out of glass... do you actually fight with it?"

Ja'vassa smiled, stepping beside her to take the blade off the rack. "Just beyond those doors is our forge. All of the weapons, armor, and tools are produced here. I spend a great deal of time here improving my own weaponry." As she asked her next question, he nodded again. "It might seem fragile, but malachite makes for an incredible material for both weapons and armor. Light, durable, and beautiful. Go ahead, see for yourself, Serika."

With an eager smile, she gladly took the offered sword; holding it up to admire the way the weapon shined under the soft light of the crackling fires. "It's beautiful, Sensei... do you have an armory we can look at? I'd love to see more of the things you create here." Serika asked, looking up to him with a hopeful grin.

"Of course we do." Ja'vassa motioned for them to follow him; leading them into another room. The two-story room held hundreds of display cases, racks, mannequins, and plaques hanging against the wall. A wide variety of swords, axes, bows, polearms, hammers, and spears rested on the displays; though most of the weapons and armor were made from ebony, there were just as many of them crafted with different materials. The armors resting on the mannequins came in all sorts of styles, but many were clearly inspired by the traditional Blades armor crafted primarily from ebony and steel.

"Whoa..." Serika muttered, her eyes glittering at the incredible array of weapons. Her eyes fell upon a number of strange armors on the second floor. Armored robes with unusual looking masks that seemed to watch them made her feel slightly uneasy, but she was curious about them. "What's with those weird robes up there, Sensei?" She asked.

"Ah, those are specialized robes I've crafted for my Inner Council. I sought to invoke the legacy of the ancient Dragon Priests and forged these after rediscovering the Dragon Forge. As a symbol of my love and trust in them, and to honor their loyalty and skill, I've given each of them their own enchanted robes and mask." Ja'vassa explained, looking towards the robes with a certain fondness in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Hoshino found herself admiring the array of Akaviri weapons in the center of the room, her hand brushing against a Blades katana. "You seem to be especially fond of weapons like this, Sensei. I've only ever seen you carry that golden katana and you've got a bunch of them here. Are these typical in Skyrim?"

Ja'vassa shook his head. "No, these were crafted to mirror the traditional Akaviri style. I've always been fond of it.. they're beautiful and sharp, useful in combat. Materials on their traditional forging methods have been scarce, and so, I've simply tried to replicate the style based on the weapons I've found." He explained, enjoying the opportunity to delve into this. "Skyrim's traditional weaponry is often heavier, most warriors here prefer bulkier weapons like hammers and axes, but I've always been more fond of swords and bows myself. Most Khajiit share similar sentiments."

As the day went on; Ja'vassa showed them all over the castle, happily explaining the building's deep history and what they did in each room. As the tour finally came to a close, the sun had begun to dip below the horizon and he'd bring them to the guest rooms. "We'll begin a proper tour of the province tomorrow. Get some rest and I'll have those robes ready for you by the morning." He stated, ushering them into the empty rooms. "Sofina will come and get you for breakfast in the morning. Sleep well."

Throughout the night, the group had slept peacefully with smiles plastered to their faces. For the first time in a long while, they were able to sleep without too many concerns; feeling safe in the walls of the castle. In spite of the recent drama, they've found themselves optimistic for the future; even if it'd take time to pay off their debt, they at least knew they had someone to turn to for support and comfort. Even in a world not their own, they were comfortable.

By the time the morning had arrived and as the sun peeked through the windows, the girls had slowly woken up to the sounds of approaching footsteps. Gently tapping at the door, a voice called out. "Are you awake yet? My Lord sent me to deliver a few robes to you; I'll leave them outside the door and once you're ready, I can bring you to the mess hall.." Sofina called out, waiting for a response.

Groggily, Ayane had opened the door, greeting the young Nord with a smile. "Oh, thank you. We'll be up and ready shortly." She replied, yawning softly. While they were used to being awake early for school, none of them were often expected to be dressed and fed so soon; it seemed that Sjel Blad Castle was on a much stricter schedule than what they were used to.

After retrieving the robes, the students quickly changed into them; admiring themselves in the mirror. All five robes were fairly identical, coming in a blue and white color much like the traditional apprentice's robes used by novice mages in Winterhold. While most of them fit perfectly, Hoshino's robes seemed to be a bit big on her; the sleeves hanging well below her hands and the sash around her waist having been tied numerous times over.

She chuckled softly, pulling on the oversized sleeves. "I guess Sensei must've overestimated how tall I am..." She shook her head, emerging out of the room with the rest of her companions.

"They look great on you, though I'll see about adjusting yours shortly." Sofina said, glancing towards Hoshino. "He said you were a bit small, but... I didn't realize how small you were." She admitted, lightly scratching at her cheek.

"It's fine, I'll grow into them. Eventually." Hoshino assured her, her groggy smile never fading away.

As they followed her to the mess hall, they took a seat at a table alongside Relumara and Serica, greeting them cheerfully. "Good morning. It seems you both slept well.. is Sensei going to join us for breakfast, too?" Nonomi asked, giving them warm smiles.

"Ja'vassa is actually helping to cook breakfast this morning, so he'll be with us once it's been served." Serica replied, offering them a few cups of coffee. "How did you girls sleep last night? I'm sure this might be a bit different from what you're used to."

Serika laughed softly, but she seemed to be in a good mood. "Yeah, it's a little different from home, but... it feels safe here. I think we all slept pretty well." She nodded, sipping on the coffee. "We haven't met everyone yet, but you and Relumara seem to be particularly close to Sensei. How did you guys meet, if you don't mind me asking?"

The two Council members shared a quick glance, a fond smile on their face. "Serica and I were once apprentices of his back at the College of Winterhold. We were newly recruited and most of the professors thought we were wasting our time. We struggled heavily with the basic spells, where most of them gave up on us, Ja'vassa personally took us in despite his duties as Archmage keeping him busy. We ended up following him from Winterhold when he left and eventually joined him here when he started Sjel Blad Castle." Relumara explained.

"...and today, both of them are among Tamriel's most gifted wizards. Relumara, an absolutely brilliant conjuration mage. His summonings are no joke and his expertise with the glaive he wields is second to none. Serica, an incredibly creative enchanter. She's been responsible for the creation and conceptualization of many of our biggest innovations. Where others saw trouble, I saw potential and I couldn't be prouder of them" Ja'vassa chimed in as he'd set the table with a few plates of freshly made pancakes, sausage links, sliced apples, and some bread.

The group collectively jumped at the sudden sound of his voice, not expecting him to arrive so soon. "...my Lord. You give us far too much credit. We only made it here thanks to your guidance." Serica reminded him, looking towards him with an affectionate glimmer in her eyes.

"Not entirely. Neither of you ever gave up hope, even when everyone else wrote you off. If not for your tenacity and courage, you wouldn't have gotten this far." Ja'vassa took a seat in between Serika and Serica. "There was always innate potential within you, you just needed an extra push to unlock it."

The Abydos students smiled as they listened to him; glad it seemed that he's always had that softer side to him. Hoshino had a playful grin on her face. "Sensei's always been a big softie, it seems. Some things never change, do they?" She asked the Council members.

"Oh, you have no idea, Hoshino. He tries to come off as a coldhearted vampire, but I don't think he plays the role very well. On the occasional visits to some of the big cities, as soon as our official business is over, I'd often find him spending time with the children; sharing snacks and stories, almost like a loving uncle would." Relumara replied, wearing a similarly playful expression.

"And the number of times we've found him nursing injured animals back to health simply boggles the mind. It didn't surprise me in the slightest when I found out how much he adores you and your classmates. I'd suspect all it took was one smile from you and you won him over." Serica added, glancing towards Ja'vassa who was quietly rolling his eyes, though he did argue.

Hoshino giggled softly, her smirk widening slightly. "I never thought a vampire could be so affectionate.. I've read plenty of stories, so I'm glad to see the reality is a bit different than what the storybooks claim."

Ja'vassa rolled his eyes again. "Don't forget, Hoshino, vampires bite sometimes as well." He reminded her teasingly.

"As if you'd ever bite us, Sensei. The only way you'd lay a hand on us is to give us a hug." Serika retorted, leaning against him slightly.

"I think you're right about that, Serika. No matter what he says, there's nothing but love and affection in those eyes of his." Relumara interjected, watching as Ja'vassa stood up with his empty plate in hand.

"Hmph. I'll leave you to continue having fun at my expense and go get ready for our trip. I'll meet you in the Council Room shortly." Ja'vassa replied, giving them a light wave before heading off to change into his usual traveling gear.

Once Ja'vassa was out of ear shot, Serica's expression softened a bit further. "I need to give you girls my own words of gratitude. It's... been a long time since I've seen Ja'vassa look this happy. I'm not sure what it is, but your presence seems to give him a sense of peace and comfort that I don't think he's had in all the time we've known him." She whispered softly, giving them a grateful smile. "From the bottom of my heart, thank you. He does so much for us... doing everything he could to ensure we're safe and happy, I'm glad to see he's able to get a bit of that happiness back."

Nonomi was a little confused by the sudden confession of gratitude. "I'm not sure we did anything to warrant any kind of thanks..." She replied somewhat quietly.

"Sometimes, all it takes is a renewed sense of purpose to reignite that spark within someone. Alduin was destroyed, Miraak has been killed, there are no villains for him to slay; quests to undertake, or... family waiting for him to return home. I know he's been longing for a new purpose, and as much as he enjoys the arcane research and experimentation we do here, I think he's happier with you. Guiding you, making sure you're safe and happy. Just... do me a favor." Relumara replied, giving them a slightly expectant look. "Be sure you take care of him, alright?"

Serica added to it, wearing a similar expression. "We had a vision that someday Ja'vassa would leave Sjel Blad Castle permanently. It was always a bit vague, but we believed that Kivotos was where he'd go after leaving us. We'll miss him dearly, but after all that he's been through; all that he's done for us, he deserves a chance at happiness."

The students were surprised, but touched by the sentimental words. "I hadn't realized Sensei felt that way about us. I'm... I'm glad we can give him that joy he's been looking for." Ayane smiled brightly, nodding at them. "Of course, we'll do all we can to make sure he's happy with us, even after he decides to stay in Kivotos. But... are you alright with the potential of him being away from Skyrim?" She asked, now slightly concerned for them.

"I know it seems strange, but we always knew this day was coming. Will it be easy? Absolutely not. We've known him for almost 1,500 years, so goodbye won't be easy, but I'll rest easy knowing that he's safe and happy, even if it's in another world. I know this won't be an easy decision for him, either, but he'll be happier with you." Serica assured them, gently brushing her hand against Ayane's. "His future is in your hands just as much as your future is in his. Don't let the time you share together go to waste."

She'd then stand up, collecting their empty dishes. "Now, don't keep him waiting too long. There's much you have yet to see."

The group quickly nodded in, rushing off towards the Council Room as they were instructed, greeting their teacher with a cheerful smile. "We're here, Sensei and ready for our next adventure!" Nonomi said happily, watching as he had opened up the Milestone once more, this time an image of another stone room.

"Good. I'm going to show you something I haven't shown anyone else yet. Step through the portal when you're ready." Ja'vassa suggested. "You'll find yourselves in Sleeping Tree Sanctuary on the other side."

As they stepped through it, they'd find themselves in a large, open living room with numerous hallways leading to other parts of the Sanctuary. The room they arrived in was decorated with display cases housing various weapons, gemstones, and artifacts; though there was the unmistakable air of loneliness flowing on the wind.

"It's beautiful here, Sensei... but, it feels... lonely here." A frown crossed Nonomi's face as she glanced towards the items on display.

"I'm not surprised, you and your classmates are the first visitors here in centuries. This is where I spent much of my self-imposed exile, but it's not all that I intended to show you." Ja'vassa explained, heading towards another door. "Watch your step outside, it'll be a long way to the ground."

Hoshino seemed confused by his statement, following him outside. "What do you mean-" As she stepped out, her eyes widened in surprise to notice the sea of clouds flowing beneath them. "Are... are we still in Skyrim?"

Ja'vassa nodded, leading them down towards the docks that housed an old airship. "We're far above the clouds of Skyrim. This is how I was able to remain hidden, I was watching and waiting for the right time to return. This was a marvel of Dwemer engineering and even centuries after discovering it, I haven't found anything like it." He explained, pulling the lever to drop the bridge that'd grant them access to the airship. "I'll show you my homeland in a way you wouldn't be able to see it otherwise. I hope none of you have a problem with heights."

None of them were particularly afraid of heights, but the prospect of flying with him was both exciting and terrifying. Carefully, they shuffled onto the airship and clung to their seats, eagerly watching as Ja'vassa activated it. Within seconds, the ship had dipped below the clouds to reveal the province in its full glory. Lush forests, glittering waterways, and towering mountains as far as the eye could see.

They stared out towards the ground below them with sparkles in their eyes. Hoshino took note of Sjel Blad Castle in the distance and towards another building just a little further up the mountain. "So... there's Sjel Blad Castle, but what's the other castle-looking thing above it?" She asked, glancing towards him for a moment.

"High Hrothgar, home to the Greybeards; masters of the Way of the Voice and it's where I learned to hone my abilities as Dragonborn. I chose the location for Sjel Blad Castle so I could remain close to my masters, meditate with them and occasionally receive advice. A little further up at the peak is the highest point in all of Tamriel. Paarthurnax resides there. If not for his help, I likely wouldn't have discovered the Thu'um I needed to defeat Alduin. I'll occasionally visit him to meditate on the Words of Power with him." Ja'vassa explained, smiling as he noticed the reddish dragon circling the peak. "I'm not sure if you can see it, but that red dragon is my... lieutenant of sorts, if you will. Once the right hand of Alduin, but after his defeat, Odahviing had pledged his loyalty to me and has served as a powerful ally in battle."

Everything he spoke of, every sight they saw, all of it was fascinating; unlike anything they'd seen before. Ja'vassa piloted the ship over all nine holds and the major cities, pointing out both his personal history with them and the general history of the area. Starting with Whiterun, he'd slowly make his way from central Skyrim to eastern Skyrim, then to the south, west, and finally wrapping up the tour with northern Skyrim. The ship had flown over several ancient temples, including the statues of Meridia and Azura, and once again, it caught their attention.

"Skyrim seems to have a thing for giant statues of women. Who were they, Sensei? They're important figures, I'm assuming." Ayane asked, particularly admiring the Shrine of Azura.

"Those were Meridia, the Daedric Prince of Light; and Azura, the Daedric Prince of Dusk and Dawn. They're among the few daedra that aren't considered wholly evil. I've served them both myself... Well, today, I only serve Azura. Meridia detests the undead in all of its forms and when I became the vampire you see today, she turned her back on me." Ja'vassa explained, carefully steering the ship back towards the Sanctuary.

"We should probably return to Abydos soon. I doubt anything has happened, but I don't want anyone to catch wind of the school being unguarded. I doubt the General Student Council will be too happy that I took you on an unauthorized trip." He laughed softly.

Though it was disappointing they'd have to cut their trip short, they were happy to have joined him here nonetheless. To see the land that so thoroughly shaped and molded their teacher into the person he is today was an experience they'd never be able to forget. Once returning to the Sanctuary, Ja'vassa had again activated the Milestone and ushered back to Kivotos. Once settled into the meeting room, they'd utter their words of farewell for the day to prepare for the next day. None of them had a clue as to what they'd expect in the coming days, but for now, they'd look forward to it with some optimism. The debt no longer seemed as daunting, the problems they faced with their enemies seemed minimal in comparison. The future of Abydos felt as if it shined brighter than it had months ago.

Chapter Twelve - Enemy of my Enemy

"We never did look into potential buyers at the Black Market..." Ja'vassa stated as he slumped down into one of the chairs. "And it probably won't be a great idea for us to visit the Black Market for a while, at least not until the place simmers down from our... visit to the bank."

Shiroko didn't seem all that disappointed, but rather, she seemed relatively proud of herself for pulling off the heist as well as they did."Even if we didn't get everything we were hoping for, we at least proved the connection between Kaiser and the Helmet Gang." She reminded him.

"That's true. I'm thinking that Serika's trip into the desert with them wasn't just a coincidence. Perhaps they were intending to meet with Kaiser before we showed up." Ja'vassa suggested. "Do any of you know if Kaiser has any bases or major properties towards the desert?"

None of them responded immediately, taking a few moments to think about it. While it was entirely possible that the location of the Helmet Gang could be mere coincidence, there was definitely more to it. The connection between them and Kaiser was certainly concerning, and given how aggressively they've been targeting Abydos, it seemed that Serika was likely to be used as a bargaining chip to convince them to just give up the school.

"Back when there were still students going to Abydos... I mean, beyond the five of us, there were rumors about a hidden base somewhere in the desert. I always thought it was nothing more than that... just baseless rumors, but maybe there's more to it." Hoshino replied, crossing her arms slightly. "I'd suggest we go and look into the rumors in person, but I'd hate to have wasted our time over nothing if those rumors proved to be false."

Ja'vassa nodded in agreement. "Even if we don't discover this rumored base, perhaps a trip to the desert could prove useful. We might be able to find whatever it is they're looking for out there."

As they discussed the plans, a frantic Ayane suddenly spoke up; her eyes widening as an alert popped up on her tablet. "An explosion has been detected nearby. It looks to have been centered around Shiba Seki." She quickly stood up, worry plastered on her face.

"B-But, why there? We need to go make sure the Master's okay!" Serika quickly stood up, hastily grabbing her weapon. "Come on! We don't have any time to waste, maybe if we get there quickly enough, we can catch whoever was behind it."

Ja'vassa quickly stood up as well, "I hope the Master's okay. Let's get going, we'll discuss the Kaiser problem more later."

Within a few minutes, they had quickly armed themselves and rushed off towards their beloved ramen shop. Upon arriving, they discovered the shop had been reduced to rubble, and there wasn't any sign of the Master. Serika's eyes filled with tears. "I... I can't find the Master anywhere, you don't think he was hurt, do you?" She wasn't speaking to anyone in particular, but was just seeking any form of comfort or reassurance.

Fortunately, there were a few people tasked with cleaning the rubble. One of them approached Serika as she asked about her employer. "Master Shiba wasn't seriously injured, but he was transported to the hospital just down the road if you want to visit him." He explained.

At the news, Serika smiled gratefully. "That's a relief... we should go check on him." She said, looking towards her companions with a hopeful expression.

"Come on, let's go pay him a visit. We can begin our search for the culprits later." Ja'vassa nodded, motioning for her to lead the way.

Without any hesitation on her part, Serika hastily led the way to the hospital. Upon arriving in the Master's room, her smile widened slightly. "Master! How are you feeling? We came here as soon as we heard you were in the hospital."

Setting his pipe to the side, Master Shiba returned the smile. "Such a dutiful employee, Serika. It was a surprise, but nothing that'd keep me down for long." He replied softly, his expression falling after a moment. "I was planning to shut my doors soon, but this isn't exactly how I intended to do it..." He chuckled softly, staring out the window.

"You're planning to shut it down? How come?" Ja'vassa asked, his ears drooping slightly at the news.

"Kaiser's been buying up much of the surrounding district and they've been raising rental prices. I haven't been able to keep up with payments as well as I should have, and as a result, I received an eviction notice from them." The Master explained, his ears drooping as well. "I intended to let Serika know the next time she came in for her shift, but then the explosion happened. Fortunately, none of my customers were too badly injured."

Ja'vassa could feel his blood boiling; Kaiser turned his students' lives into a living hell, forced him to fight with Problem Solver 68, and now, they're targeting random civilians. "Damn them. I... what's with this district that's so important that they're now forcing innocent civilians to lose their livelihood? This place isn't built on a gold mine, is it?" He asked, his fists trembling slightly.

"I don't know, but I'm not the only one who's been forced to close our doors. Several other businesses have either shut down or been taken over by Kaiser." Master Shiba glanced towards Ja'vassa, his expression becoming serious. "It's no secret that they're after Abydos High School, too. I'm not sure what you'll be able to do, Sensei, but do whatever you can to protect those girls. They've lost so much over the last few months, don't let them lose their school or each other."

Ja'vassa was silent for a moment, briefly glancing towards his students. "Of course. I'll do anything I can to ensure they're safe." He promised, his gaze returning towards the Master.

Nodding his approval, the Master let out a soft, but joyful sigh. "That's what I wanted to hear. I'm glad to see they've got a teacher that cares for them. After all they've been through, they've earned it." Leaning back a bit in his bed, he looked up towards the ceiling. "I'll admit it, I'll miss all of the hard work Serika put into the shop.."

Tilting his head slightly, Ja'vassa smiled lightly. "Just as I can't give up on them, you can't just give up on your shop, Master. There's gotta be someway for you to carry on with your business. Even if it's just to ensure Serika still has a job, or to ensure that people still have a chance to savor your cooking. I know it seems impossible without your shop, but you'll find a way."

Shiba looked a little surprised at Ja'vassa's words, staring at him for a moment before bursting out into a hearty laugh. "Hah! You're right... Here I am making you promise not to give up just as I was about to throw in the towel. Shiba Seki's Ramen will be back soon, and better than ever. I'll be sure to have a bowl set aside for you and your students."

After speaking with each other for a little while longer, Ja'vassa's group had bid their farewells and returned to the streets to begin looking for the culprits behind the destruction of the Master's restaurant. As of right now, they didn't have a clue as to where to start looking. They had a gut feeling that Kaiser was behind the attack, but without any proof, they couldn't just openly accuse them. If they did throw out accusations and turned out to be wrong, it could easily cause more trouble for them in the long run. It might give Kaiser more of an excuse to foreclose on Abydos, or even raise the interest on their debt.

As they wandered down the bustling streets, Ja'vassa had begun to delve into some of his ideas. "Do you think that the Helmet Gang could've played a part in it? Maybe in an effort to draw us out into open battle, they attacked something important to one of us." He sighed softly, crossing his arms. "No, maybe not. It doesn't make a lot of sense."

Ayane nodded in agreement. "What about Problem Solver 68? Maybe they had attacked the restaurant thinking we were there? They were hired by Kaiser to deal with us, after all. It could be they were planning to lure us out, too." She suggested.

Ja'vassa swallowed softly, clenching his teeth for a moment. Ayane's suggestion made more sense than his own, but he wasn't particularly thrilled about the potential of having to fight with Problem Solver 68 again; it hurt him immensely to see the stress and uncertainty their previous battle had put Aru through and it wasn't something he wanted to do again. "I... I hate to agree with you, but.. you might be right. If we find them, let me talk with them before we engage them in combat."

Serika silently rolled her eyes in response, but nodded anyway. "Right, but if they're the ones behind it, I'll be sure to return all the pain they caused the Master."

Their patrol of the blocks surrounding the smoldering pile of rubble that was once Shiba Seki's shop amounted to nothing. They hadn't found any suspects, any witnesses, anything that might lead them to the culprits. Frustration was silently building within them, but none of them said much of anything and kept their eyes open. For as alert and open as they were, it hadn't prevented someone from sneaking up on Ja'vassa. Without any warning, another student approached him from behind and quickly wrapped her arms around him, giving her a tight, but affectionate squeeze.

"Sensei~" A familiar voice rang out as she gave him another squeeze. "Fancy running into you out here."

Though the sudden contact caught him off guard, once he realized who it was, he sighed. "Mutsuki... I'd really rather you not try to give me a heart attack like that." Ja'vassa stated, attempting to turn around to face her, but the girl held onto him with an iron grip.

"This was the only way I could give you a hug, I doubt you would've let me otherwise." Mutsuki replied with a faux pout on her face, but after a few moments, she slowly pulled away from the embrace.

"You know that isn't true. You could've just asked, I wouldn't have said no." Ja'vassa reminded her, shaking his head. "What are you doing here, anyways?"

Before she could say anything, Aru had interrupted, walking towards them with a gentle smile. "Isn't it obvious, Sensei? We're planning to take you away for our ramen date like you promised." She teased, stepping over to grab his arm.

"I hate to have to push it back again, but we're a bit busy. Besides, Shiba Seki's restaurant was destroyed. Even if I wanted to go with you, we couldn't." Ja'vassa replied apologetically, a sheepish expression on his face.

The mention of Shiba Seki's caused Aru to instinctively step back; Haruka, who had just been silently watching and listening suddenly looked nervous. Her legs trembled and her face paled slightly, no longer able to keep her gaze on Ja'vassa and his students.

"O-Oh, is that so? We heard the explosion... I hope the Master's okay." Aru stated, and though she was just as nervous as Haruka was, she was able to hide it a bit easier, but her eyes still gave it away.

Ja'vassa hadn't responded immediately, but took note of their sudden nervousness. The way Haruka trembled in fear, the worry in Aru's eyes. Even Mutsuki and Kayoko seemed uncharacteristically nervous; something was wrong. Something had clicked in his head, the sudden reactions made it obvious. "Aru... please tell me that you didn't have anything to do with the explosion at the restaurant." He asked quietly, looking her straight in the eye.

She knew she wouldn't be able to sweet talk her way out of it. Biting her lip slightly, unable to find the right words, she'd back away a bit more. Fortunately for Aru, Haruka had soon spoken up.

"I-It was an accident, Sensei. I-I-I didn't mean to." She spoke frantically, "W-We wanted to draw the Abydos students out, but... I-I didn't intend to destroy the store. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She stepped up to him, tears pooling in her eyes.

Before Ja'vassa could say anything, Serika quickly raised her rifle, aiming directly towards Haruka. "You're the reason the Master got hurt! You're gonna pay for it!" She growled.

"Serika, wait! At least listen to them before you fire!" Ja'vassa suggested, unintentionally taking a protective stance in front of Haruka.

"Get out of the way, Sensei. They're still under contract for Kaiser, even if we ignore them here, they'll just come for us again!" Serika yelled back, her finger dangerously close to the trigger.

"Lower your weapon, Serika!" Ja'vassa ordered, turning back to Aru. "Whatever Kaiser's paying you, I'll pay you double to drop the contract. I don't want to have to fight you..."

Aru bit her lip again, the offer was tempting, but she knew that no matter what choice she made there, there was no way they'd be able to leave without a fight. "I want to accept your offer, Sensei, but it's much too late for us to turn back now." Taking a deep breath, she raised her rifle. "I'm sorry, but we've got no choice here."

His attempts to convince her were useless, and before he could say anything else, Serika fired the first rounds, barely missing her targets. Within seconds, the street they were on became the center of yet another battle for the Abydos students. What started out as a misunderstanding turned into a destructive conflict; Mutsuki's explosives turning nearby vehicles to flaming piles of scrap metal, Kayoko skillfully fought off Nonomi; Haruka and Serika traded blows with each other, with neither of them giving the other much room to breath. Aru kept her distance, her eyes firmly on Hoshino and Shiroko, doing what she could to keep them away from her companions.

Though his loyalties firmly belonged to the Abydos students, he couldn't bring himself to intervene just yet. For the time being, he'd step back and observe, only planning to join in the fray if things began to look bad. The battle hadn't lasted all that long, and yet, the once bustling city street had already been reduced to a pile of burning rubble. It would've been an impressive sight if it weren't for the fact that the battle was between the students he's grown to adore. Gunshots echoed throughout the city block, and it seemed neither side was gaining any ground. Serika's anger and determination drove her to continue fighting, while her classmates were just as eager to help her get vengeance on the ones that hurt someone she was so close to. Problem Solver 68 largely remained on the defensive side of things, merely looking for an opportunity to escape.

Out of nowhere, as the fierce battle raged on, a mortar had been launched from afar; harmlessly landing and exploding nearby, but the suddenness caused the fighting to temporarily cease as they tried to look for the source of it. At first, nobody saw much of anything until Kayoko noticed an approaching group in the distance. Her eyes widened as she recognized their uniforms. "What the...? Is that... is that the Prefect Team?" She questioned, her usually stoic expression turning nervous; it was obvious who they were after. Problem Solver 68 has caused their fair share of problems within the Gehenna District, so it's likely they were ready to apprehend them.

"The Prefects? What are they doing out here?" Ja'vassa seemed confused as he watched them approach. "There's... there's so many of them."

Aru clenched her teeth, gripping her rifle tightly. "They're coming for us. Ako's information gathering abilities are second to none, that's probably how they knew to come to Abydos for us." She replied, subconsciously moving closer to Ja'vassa.

Stepping towards the approaching team, the Khajiit's expression became a bit more serious. "Perhaps we could talk about this before we do anything rash? This block has seen more than enough violence for the day." Ja'vassa said, glancing back towards his students for a brief second.

"Of course, Sensei. I'd rather us not having to trade blows. We're only here to apprehend Problem Solver 68. Give them to us and we'll return to Gehenna. I'd suggest you cooperate with us; for all of your talents, surely you must realize how sorely outnumbered you are." Ako replied, a surprisingly warm smile crossing her face.

"Why should I turn them over? Unless I'm mistaken, their crimes in Abydos are technically under the jurisdiction of the Abydos Student Council, yes?" Ja'vassa asked in response; he wasn't all that well versed in Kivotos law yet, but he's learned a few things from studying with Ayane.

"Generally, yes. The Abydos Student Council isn't available right now, are they?" Ako asked, glancing towards the others, noting Hoshino's sudden disappearance.

"Of course they're available." Ja'vassa turned back to his students, growing both confused and concerned as he noticed that one of them was missing. "Hoshino? She was just here a few moments ago... I hope she hasn't gone off for another nap."

The remaining Abydos students shared concerned looks amongst each other, just as surprised by their classmate's disappearance. "I'm not sure how she could've slipped away... unless she was using the moment of distraction brought by the Prefect Team." Shiroko's ears flattened slightly; she wanted nothing more than to begin searching for her missing friend, but given the situation with both Problem Solver 68 and the Prefect Team, none of them would have the chance to do so any time soon.

"Since the student council is unavailable, it's up to us to determine the best course of action, and so, we came here to personally apprehend them." Ako explained, her smile never fading away. "It's in your best interest to cooperate, Sensei."

Instinctively, his stance in front of the group became a bit more protective. "Does Hina know about this, Ako? I don't see her among the group you brought..."

At the mention of the Head Prefect, Ako's previously stoic and warm expression briefly changed to one of surprise, a hint of nervousness in her eyes. "The Head Prefect is currently on a trip, so she couldn't join us today. I can speak with her when she returns and have her explain the situation to you when she can." She replied quickly, her uncertain tone betraying the relaxed look in her face.

"Is that so? Still... it can't look good for Gehenna, or for the Prefects to have brought such a large force just to apprehend four students. Were all of them really necessary?" Ja'vassa's hand moved closer to his weapon, as he knew that he likely wasn't going to be able to talk them out of it.

"Problem Solver 68 is known as being quite troublesome. You can clearly see the destruction they've caused with your own eyes. It's in your best interest to cooperate with us, Sensei. Hand them over and we'll leave. I don't want to open fire on you, but we will." Ako warned him.

Ja'vassa sighed softly, briefly glancing over towards Haruka; noticing the worry in her eyes. "...I'll have to apologize to Hina later. I'm sorry, but we'll be handling them from here. Their crimes were committed in the Abydos District, and as such, we'll worry about figuring out their punishments for it."

Ako's smile morphed into an annoyed, somewhat surprised frown. "You're really quite stubborn, Sensei... I don't understand why you're so protective of them, especially what they've done in your district." She crossed her arms, preparing to give the signal to attack.

"Criminals or not, that doesn't change that they're my students. I've grown to... adore them. Perhaps it's foolish to protect them, but it's not like I haven't been making foolish decisions all my life." Ja'vassa took a deep breath; preparing himself for battle. "I'm sorry, Ako, but they're not going anywhere."

An annoyed sigh escaped her. "It's... admirable to see how much you care for them, but your love is misplaced. I'm sorry, Sensei. You could've avoided this if you simply cooperated with us." Ako shook her head, giving him an apologetic smile. She'd raise her hand, giving the signal to begin the attack.

At the moment the signal was given, Iori rushed into battle with incredible speed. With hardly any warning, she dealt with Serika, disarming her with alarming precision. "You held off Problem Solver 68, but you've never faced anyone quite like us." She smirked, turning towards Haruka next who watched on with fear etched into her eyes. For as long as she was with her companions, she was repeatedly warned to not make trouble with the Prefect Team. For as strong as they were, they'd never make out of a battle with them.

As Iori made her advance, the other Prefect Team members opened fire on the other students. Despite having just been enemies moments ago, the formerly opposing groups found themselves unintentionally working together. Nonomi and Mutuski remained in the back, protecting Ayane while providing heavy fire. Shiroko and Kayoko worked in tandem, keeping the lesser members from joining Iori in her assault on Haruka and Serika. Things seemed to be going from bad to worse by the second, the Prefects were incredibly well organized, attacking in near perfect synchronization with one another.

It didn't seem that Ja'vassa would be given much of a choice in whether he wanted to intervene or not, but for the safety of his students, he'd have to step in. "Forgive me, Hina..." His first instinct was to stop Iori as she continued to slowly overwhelm Haruka and Serika. Employing his Whirlwind Sprint shout, "Wuld... Nah Kest!" He yelled out, dashing forward at high speeds. He'd come to a stop in front of Iori, just as she was preparing to fire another shot towards Haruka.

Without thinking, Ja'vassa grabbed a hold of the rifle's muzzle. Given she had just fired recently, the barrel was still relatively hot; burning his hand as a result. Despite the pain, he held firm. "Go on, Iori. Fire away." He suggested, his hand never moving.

"You... you idiot! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!" Iori yelled back, though she seemed hesitant to fire again.

Taking advantage of her hesitancy, Ja'vassa quickly pulled his hand away and then delivered a swift kick towards her weapon. He was attempting to disarm her, but Iori held firm and only stumbled back a few steps. Having to physically engage his student in combat like this, he didn't really have much of a choice. Using a Bound Sword spell, a translucent sword formed in his hand; he aimed to remain up close and personal in an effort to prevent her from being able to effectively use her rifle against him.

The closeness of the two and Khajiit's aggressive offense forced Iori to resort to melee combat; using her rifle as a makeshift club to parry incoming blows. It was obvious that Ja'vassa wasn't intending to hurt her as he only used the dull side of the sword to clash with her rifle.

"Serika, Haruka! Grab your weapons and join the others, hold off the other Prefect members for as long as you can. I'll keep Iori from getting in your way!" Ja'vassa ordered, briefly looking towards them. "Show no hesitation! If either of you are to make it out of here safely, you'll have to fight on with everything you have."

Serika glanced towards Haruka, not particularly happy about the whole situation, but she didn't have a choice. Recovering her fallen weapon, she had joined up with Shiroko, aiming to keep the Prefects from advancing upon Ja'vassa.

Iori seemed to grow angrier with each passing second, watching as Haruka joined Aru's side. "You're not going anywhere!" She yelled out, attempting to fire at her once more, but her attack was interrupted by another attack from Ja'vassa.

"Keep your eyes on your opponent, Iori." Ja'vassa suggested, once again attempting to disarm her.

Clenching her teeth, Iori growled in anger as she was forced to focus on his incoming attacks. "Damn you...!"

Despite their best efforts, even combined, the sheer number that the Prefects had was making the battle much more difficult than it needed to be. For every Prefect taken out of the battle, five more seemed to take their place. None of them could hold out forever and their opponents recognized their growing fatigue, increasing the pressure with each passing moment.

"Not like this..." Ja'vassa muttered, watching as both the Abydos students and Problem Solver 68 were surrounded; rifles pointed directly at them.

"This could've been avoided had you cooperated with us, Sensei. Holding Iori back like you did was impressive, but all you did was delay the inevitable." Ako taunted him, a pleased smile appearing on her face. "Don't worry, your students will be fine, but Problem Solver 68 is coming with us."

Before any of them could do much of anything else, an unmarked car had pulled up close to Ako. In their confusion, much of the fighting had come to a stop as they stared at the mysterious stranger. Their confusion turned into surprise, and in some, into fear as Hina finally stepped out of the vehicle. Glaring daggers towards Ako, the Head Prefect spoke in an almost unnervingly calm tone.

"Care to explain what's going on, Ako?" Hina asked; though she seemed calm, it was all too easy to see the boiling rage building up in her eyes.

"O-Oh, Head Prefect Hina! We-We're just... we're just apprehending Problem Solver 68." Ako replied nervously, trembling slightly at the sight of her boss.

"That's not what it looks like to me. It seems to me you're causing unnecessary trouble in someone else's district." Hina replied, crossing her arms as she glanced towards Ja'vassa. "Is Hoshino not available today?"

Ja'vassa gave her a slight shrug in response. "She was here, but she disappeared before the Prefects showed up. I'm... I'm not sure where she went."

Nodding at him, Hina let out a silent sigh of relief. "You should be grateful that Abydos wasn't at full strength, Ako. We're pulling out." She ordered; once again, she'd turn back to Ja'vassa, bowing apologetically. "I'd like to extend my sincerest apologies to both Abydos High School and to you, Sensei. The operation they undertook far overstepped our boundaries, I hope you can forgive us."

He wasn't entirely sure how to respond right away, but he nodded anyway. "You had nothing to do with it, Hina, you have nothing to apologize for." Ja'vassa replied, his expression softening slightly.

"Maybe not, but I still lead the Prefects. I'll take responsibility for any damages here; Problem Solver 68 is under your jurisdiction until they return to the Gehenna District." Hina replied, turning to face Ako. "Begin pulling out, now. We're going to have a talk when I get back to Gehenna."

Ako wanted nothing more than to argue, but she knew better than to do so with Hina. Reluctantly, she nodded in response and gave the signal to retreat. Seeing that this would be their only chance to do so, Problem Solver 68 had quietly made their escape, leaving no trace of them being there behind. As the Prefects pulled out, Hina had approached Ja'vassa, speaking a bit quieter.

"I know you've been having trouble with Kaiser lately. There's evidence of them operating in an old outpost in the desert. If you're looking to get any more information on them, then your best bet might be to look into it." Hina said softly, gazing upon with a gentle expression. "Even with our information gathering resources, we're not entirely sure what they're looking for in the Abydos District. I... I know it seems suspicious, with Ako's operations here, but I hope you know we're not working with them."

Ja'vassa nodded, absorbing the information given to him. "I know you wouldn't be with them, Hina. You've got a little more class than that. Thank you for the information, I'll look into it as soon as we can." He sighed softly, giving her a sheepish smile. "This isn't how I intended to meet with you again, but hopefully the next time we meet, it'll be under more pleasant circumstances."

Hina let out a soft laugh. "Hopefully. I'm still looking forward to the tea you promised me before. Be careful, Sensei. I'm not sure what'll happen if you visit that outpost, but I can't imagine it'll be easy." Hina bowed slightly, stepping back into the car after a few moments.

Within minutes, the street had fallen silent once again, with both opposing factions gone, Abydos could finally rest easy for a bit. Coincidentally, just as everyone disappeared, Hoshino had returned wearing usual groggy smile. "Did I miss much?" She asked, yawning slightly.

"Where in Oblivion were you? I'm glad that the battle ended without a problem, but we were worried when you suddenly disappeared." Ja'vassa was genuinely relieved she was okay, but was clearly annoyed with her actions.

"Yeah, sorry about that, I... I went off for a nap. You know how it is with old-timers like me.. we can't help these things." Hoshino replied nervously, rubbing the back of her head. "Let's head back to Abydos... I'm sure the others could use some time to rest."

She was hiding something, Ja'vassa could see the uncertainty in her eyes, but chose not to press into it, at least not in front of her classmates. He sighed, nodding in agreement. "Yeah.. I suppose we should head back and wrap up for the day. We've had a long day."

There wasn't much chatter between them, even as they finally returned to the meeting room. The students silently gathered their belongings, said brief farewells, and one by one, left the classroom until it was just Hoshino and Ja'vassa.

"Before you leave, Hoshino... can we talk?" He asked her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "When you disappeared earlier... Was it really just for a nap? You seemed... nervous earlier."

Hoshino looked towards the hand on her shoulder, and then towards him. Laughing softly, she gave him a warm smile. "I can't hide anything from you, huh? I... I had to attend a meeting with a higher up from Kaiser. It's... it's nothing you have to worry about, Sensei. I'm not going to do anything foolish, I promise you." She gently placed her hand over his, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Right. Just... be careful going forward, Hoshino. I... I'd hate it if anything happened to you." Ja'vassa replied softly, returning the gentle squeeze.

"It means a lot to me that you care so much, but I'll be fine. I promise." Hoshino sighed softly, releasing his hand. "Sensei... Thank you for everything you've done for us. When you first arrived, I wasn't sure what to think of you, but I can feel the sincerity and warmth in your touch and the love in your eyes... and I'll be the first to tell you that the feeling is mutual. I'm glad you came into our lives."

After a moment, she turned for the door, waving behind her. "Goodnight, Sensei. I'll see you tomorrow."

Ja'vassa nodded in response. "Sweet dreams, Hoshino." Despite the reassurance, he couldn't help but feel nervous about the coming days; a terrible feeling was growing within his stomach. Unable to bring himself to sleep, he'd spend the remainder of the night quietly meditating. In the time since he had arrived in Kivotos he had neglected his spiritual needs, and perhaps meditating on the Voice would help to clear his mind.

Chapter Thirteen - Our Missing Piece

Despite much of the chaos that had been going over the past few days, most mornings were something that Ja'vassa had looked forward to; it gave him a chance to spend some time with the students he's grown to adore, but this morning was anything but a good one. Him and the students gathered in the meeting room sat in silence as they listened to him read over a letter left behind by Hoshino.

"I know you won't approve of this, especially you, Sensei, but I had to do this. In exchange for wiping the debt and leaving Abydos High School alone forever, I've been hired as a mercenary for Kaiser. I know I should've told you in person, but an old fashioned letter like this seems fitting for an old-timer like myself. Serika, Ayane, Nonomi, Shiroko, Sensei; thank you for everything. Things weren't always easy for us, but being with you was some of the happiest moments of my life. No matter what happens; please keep moving forward and maybe someday, you'll be able to do what I couldn't. Maybe you'll be able to return Abydos to its former glory. Unfortunately, I won't be there to help you with it. As of today, I'm officially dropping out.

If we end up meeting on the battlefield, please don't hesitate to destroy my halo. You'll always be on my mind. I hope we won't have to trade blows with each other, but if I'm to fall to anyone, I won't mind it being at your hands. Sensei, please protect the others; they deserve to enjoy the remaining years at Abydos in happiness. Thank you again and farewell. Stay safe, always."

Ja'vassa stared at the letter, a mixture of confusion, anger, and sorrow etched onto his face. "Why? Just... why would she do this?" He clenched his fist slightly. "I know she thinks she's doing the right thing, but... I hope she knows just how much we still need her."

Tears pooled in Nonomi's eyes as she'd speak up. "What do we do now? I... I don't think I could bring myself to raise my weapon against her, even if we meet in battle, much less destroy her halo." She glanced towards Ja'vassa for some form of reassurance.

"Obviously, we're going to bring her home." Ja'vassa replied, picking up the other document left behind. "Unless I'm mistaken, so long as I don't sign the approval form for her drop out request, she can't actually drop out, correct?"

Ayane perked up slightly, a light smile tugging at her face. "That's right! But... I'm sure she's signed some sort of contract with Kaiser. I'm not so sure it'd be enough to avoid it..." Just as quickly as her smile appeared, it had faded away. "Even if it was enough, I've no idea where we'd go or who we'd have to talk to..."

Shiroko looked towards Ja'vassa for a moment. "Yesterday, the Head Prefect spoke to you about something before she left. It seemed important; did she have any information that might help us?"

The sudden mention of Hina caused Ja'vassa to briefly fall silent, taking a moment to think about the things that she told him. "She mentioned that Kaiser supposedly has an old outpost in the desert, likely not far from where we met the Helmet Gang in battle after they kidnapped Serika. If we were to go, we'd likely face heavy resistance and that's not including the off chance they might unleash Hoshino on us, too."

A heavy frown crossed Serika's face as she stared towards the table, forcing back tears of her own. "So... we just give up, then?" She asked softly.

"Of course not! I won't rest until she's safe and sound with us, but I just want to be sure we do it right. If we're to visit their outpost, with or without Hoshino being there, we'll need some help. I can see about speaking with the Prefect Team, and maybe I can contact Hifumi, see if she's willing to talk to the Tea Party for me." Ja'vassa stood up, stepping towards the window. "If all else fails, I can gather some of my own men. One way or another, Hoshino comes home."

Staring out into the distance, he clenched his fist slightly. "She'll come home and then I'll be sure to give her a piece of my mind... we can celebrate and rest easy afterwards."

Ayane laughed softly, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, we'll make sure everything-" Before she could say much else, she was suddenly interrupted by a high alert notification on her tablet. "We've got a large group suddenly attacking about three blocks north of here."

Ja'vassa turned towards her, annoyance in his eyes. "I suppose our rescue mission will have to wait. Let's get down there and see what's going on."

Nodding in agreement, the remaining students grabbed their weapons, while Ja'vassa had changed out his current weapon for another. Employing the use of his Deep Storage spell; he had created a mystical chest in front of him. Placing Goldbrand inside it, he'd replace it with his Mortal Blade. Strapping the crimson-colored to his back, he'd close the chest and turn to his students; following them out the door. As they rushed down the road, the echoing sounds of gunfire and explosions rang out throughout the streets, the confused screams of terrified civilians muffled in all of the chaos.

Not long after they had left, Serica and Rianra had arrived in the meeting room. They haven't been filled in what had been going on with Hoshino yet, given that it had only happened that morning. For the past few days, they had been studying and reading over some of the material that Ayane had given them and they wanted to discuss some of their findings with Ja'vassa. The Sjel Blad Castle research and development group has been carefully working on some new weapons loosely inspired by what they've read, and they wanted to see if perhaps they'd prove useful to him and his students.

"My Lord, are you here?" Serica asked as she stepped into the room, holding a handheld cannon. "He's not here... perhaps they're busy with something." She sighed softly, a little disappointed that they had missed him.

Noticing the smoke in the distance, Rianra seemed concerned. "Perhaps he and the others are in trouble. Looks like a battle going on in the distance. I can use a Clairvoyance spell to lead us there..." The Altmer suggested, looking towards his companion with some slight concern.

"I'm sure Ja'vassa's fine, but he'd appreciate the extra help in keeping his students safe. Lead the way, let's get there before things get worse." Serica replied, rushing on behind him.

Much to the surprise of the Abydos group, it had appeared that Kaiser was behind the unexpected attack on the district. The Helmet Gang had failed, Problem Solver 68 had failed, and so, it was time for them to take matters into their own hands. Upon catching sight of the Abydos students, the Kaiser President let out a menacing laugh and halted their advance. "And so, Abydos High School is no more, which means the District now belongs to Kaiser." He laughed heartily, enjoying their apparent victory.

"But... Why are you attacking us now? I thought if Hoshino joined you, we'd be left alone." Ayane yelled out, looking towards the opposing army with slight fear in her eyes.

"And we're holding true to that; we're not attacking you. But, now that Hoshino has dropped out, the Abydos Student Council is no more and thus, the school is forced to disband." The President replied, another hearty laugh escaping his mechanical body.

"Then... that means..." Ayane stumbled back slightly, falling to her knees. "Hoshino... you tricked her! But... What do we do now? Why? Why are we always the ones to have to stand on our own? Why are we ignored by everyone else?" She asked, tears streaming down her cheeks. She buried her face in her hands, quietly sobbing as it seemed the situation was quickly becoming hopeless.

The sound of his beloved student breaking down like that caused something to snap within him. Drawing the Mortal Blade; the strange sword surrounded itself with a dark aura. "I've had just about enough of this." Ja'vassa growled, stepping forward.

"Ah, the Sensei they've come to adore so much. Hoshino mentioned you quite a bit." The President looked upon him with an air of condescension. "Do you seriously intend to fight off my army with nothing but a sword? You're insane if you think you can harm us."

Ja'vassa raised his weapon, pointing directly towards the President. "You kidnapped Hoshino, forced her to sign an unfaithful contract. You made Ayane cry. You've turned their lives into a living hell. You've forced me to fight with Problem Solver 68. You're threatening the lives of innocent civilians." He took a deep breath, deciding it was time to employ his Dragon Aspect shout.

"Mul... Qah Diiv!" He yelled out, soon being enveloped by an ethereal set of dragon plate armor. "I'm not going to fight you. I'm going to destroy you; make you regret ever showing your face. You're going to find out why even the dragons tremble at my approach."

Just as Ja'vassa prepared to fight them off, he had briefly turned towards another building. "Hey! I know you're there, Problem Solver 68." He called out. "You're serious about becoming a great outlaw, Aru, right?"

Aru seemed to be taken off guard slightly; she had intended to observe, and potentially intervene if things became ugly, but being addressed directly was surprising. "Of course! I told you that before."

Ja'vassa nodded at her. "Right. The attack on the Master's ramen shop; that was real inspired, the work of a true outlaw. The way you fought against us and the Prefect Team shows real strength, and your willingness to keep up the fight no matter the odds proves your resilience. But, you're missing one thing."

Aru seemed a bit confused, but listened intently. "What is it that we're missing, Sensei?"

Returning his attention to the Kaiser President. "A true outlaw always turns their back on their employer, especially when their values no longer align with your own." Ja'vassa stated, preparing himself for the first attack. "See the destruction they're sowing? The lives they're ruining. Is this really who you want to be working with, Aru? You're better than this. You're above them."

The President let out an annoyed grunt, glancing towards the observing Problem Solver 68. "I'd suggest you be smarter than to listen to him. Do not forget that we're still paying you." He reminded her.

"Maybe we'll regret this, but... Sensei means more to me than any amount of money." Aru raised her rifle, preparing to join the fight. "We've never had anyone believe in us as much as he does, even all we've done to him."

Another annoyed grunt escaped him as he made a motion. "You fools... betraying the hand that feeds." The President shook his head, raising his hand to signal his underlings to open fire on them.

Without any warning, Ja'vassa had rushed in for his own attack. With frightening precision and speed, his Mortal Edge easily cut through the metallic material that made up Kaiser's foot soldiers. Surrounding the old Khajiit, the fallen machines weakly crackled with electricity. "I'm your opponent, not them. I'd suggest you keep your eyes on me." He warned, taking a step closer to the President. Despite the almost eerily calm tone he spoke in, his eyes were practically ablaze with rage.

Serika watched her teacher's unexpected attack with great surprise, almost forgetting they were in the middle of a burning battlefield. "Whoa..." She muttered. "Has... has he been holding back all this time?"

A soft laugh could be heard as the two Council members finally arrived on the scene. "I take it this is the first time you've seen our Lord in action, Serika." Serica stated, watching as her master effortlessly struck down more and more of the approaching machines.

The Abydos students stared up at Serica and Rianra with obvious surprise. "S-Serica? What are you doing here?" Ayane asked somewhat nervously.

"We actually were intending to present you and your companions with some new weapons we've been working on. Those books you gave us, Ayane? They've come in handy." Serica replied, holding up the hand cannon.

Nonomi briefly stared at the weapon with obvious curiosity, but then shook her head. "Shouldn't we help Sensei? As strong as he is, he can't outlast them forever..." She seemed worried, but didn't have an idea where to start.

"Ja'vassa will be fine, if anything, us intervening will just get in the way." Rianra waved off the concern, watching with an intrigued smile.

"If you want to help, then perhaps we should keep the small fry at bay. Let him deal with... the big guy there." Serica suggested, "I'd say it's the perfect opportunity for us to test out our new weapons."

Approaching Nonomi, she held out the cannon. "Here, why don't you give it a go, Nonomi? It's already loaded; simply pull the trigger when you're ready." She suggested.

"I'm... honored you'd give me the first shot." Nonomi giggled softly, carefully aiming towards a large group of the Kaiser PMC soldiers. "Here goes nothing!"

She pulled the trigger, unleashing a fireball that burst into fiercely hot flames the moment it hit the ground. The soldiers caught up in the blast tumbled to the ground, writhing as the flames quickly consumed them.

"Whoa... that was incredible, Serica." Nonomi's eyes sparkled, looking up towards the Council members with obvious excitement in her eyes. "What was that, anyways?" She asked.

"We took some inspiration with some of the weapons seen in those books Ayane gave us and created magically infused cannonballs. When they hit the ground, they burst with magical energy like you saw there. We've developed fire and frost cannonballs so far and we intend to create shock cannonballs in the future." Rianra explained, obvious pride in his eyes.

With the destruction from both his students and from his own efforts, Ja'vassa began to march towards the Kaiser President, aiming to cut him down once and for all. Despite the lack of emotion in his face, the President was terrified. "You're not really planning to kill me, are you? How would your adoring students feel knowing you're a murderer, Sensei?"

Ja'vassa rolled his eyes in response. "You're really attempting to guilt me after the destruction you've caused? Come now, you'll have to try better than that, President."

Seeing as any further attempts to dissuade Ja'vassa's approaches would likely fail, the President took several steps back, turning to his remaining soldiers. "Ready the secret weapon, immediately." He ordered.

"B-But, we still haven't properly tested it. We still-" The soldier had been cut off as the result of a devastating punch from the President.

"There's no better opportunity to test it than now. Release the weapon!" He ordered once more. "You should've fled when you had the chance, Sensei. I'm going to bury you beneath this rubble! Your students will only remember you for the fool that came at us with that puny blade of yours."

With a deep, menacing laugh; the President jumped back into a large, mechanical suit. Several cannons stuck out of the arms and over his head. Aiming them directly at the old Khajiit, he'd give one last warning. "One shot from these and you'll be turned to dust. I'm giving you one last opportunity to leave, Sensei. You don't want to be responsible for the deaths of your beloved students as well, do you?"

In response to the threat, Ja'vassa took a deep breath as he'd invoke the Mortal Edge's innate power; for a brief second, a deep red aura had surrounded him before transferring over to the sword itself; joining with the other aura that was already emanating from it. "That's crossing a line, President. You've kidnapped one of my students, you've made another cry, and now, you're threatening to kill them." Shooting off a vicious glare, he was preparing himself for his first attack. "You'll make for fine smithing materials after I've turned you into scrap metal."

Shiroko's ears perked up as she noticed the somewhat dark, unsettling aura surrounding Ja'vassa's sword. "What's with his weapon? It... feels wrong." She muttered, looking towards him with some concern in her eyes.

"He's only told us bits and pieces of what the Mortal's Edge is. That aura surrounding the blade is a physical manifestation of his malice, rage, and hatred. When it's like this, the blade taps into a strange magic that allows it to cut through nearly anything, but it hurts him as a result. He needs to finish it quickly, or he'll be in danger." Serica explained, her confident smile becoming a more worrisome expression.

"...his inner darkness? I... I almost can't believe that Sensei would have so much hatred within him." Ayane admitted, almost a little nervous to be so close to him.

"Ja'vassa hates many things; vampire hunters, chaurus, werewolves, but his deepest and keenest hatred is for himself. I'm sure he's told you a few things, but... I know he fully blames himself for everything that's happened to him. The deaths of his wife, his children, the destruction of Copperstead and later Silverstead. He hates himself for being unable to protect them, and for the things he's done in retaliation." Serica took a somewhat protective stance in front of the students. "I couldn't tell you the extent of what he's done, he's never told us, only that we'd hate him the moment we found out the extent of what he's done."

Ayane's eyes filled with tears again, unaware of how much her teacher had gone through. He's told her bits and pieces, but there was obviously more to him than he had revealed thus far. "Sensei..."

The President had fired off a destructive blast towards the approaching Dragonborn, laughing maniacally as it seemed his first shot was successful. "Foolish Sensei! Don't you see what happens when you pick a fight with your superiors?" He taunted.

"Stronger men than you have tried to kill me for centuries, but none have been successful." Ja'vassa replied, clinging to the machine's shoulder. "Big and bulky, like a dwarven centurion... ugly like one, too." He mused; quickly slashing at the shoulder. As the blade connected with his target, a deep cut suddenly appeared down his left arm. Blood streamed down, pooling on the ground beneath him.

While he hadn't cut all the way through, it was enough to disable the machine's right arm; now dangling around, the thick wires barely holding onto it. "I've had just about enough of you, cat!" The President yelled out, now attempting to strike at him once more. Yet again, his attack had completely missed its target.

Clinging to the central cannon, Ja'vassa prepaed his Sol Invictus spell. "Yeah, I've heard that one before. It always ends with the same results, however." He shook his head; launching the fireball directly inside the cannon. Sticking inside the walls of the cannon, the intense heat began to slowly melt at the iron surrounding it. "This could've been avoided if you had simply left my students alone. You could've survived if you hadn't threatened their lives."

Just as the Sol Invictus was about to burst, Ja'vassa jumped away, landing several feet away. Watching with unflinching eyes as the fireball exploded with furious energy, reducing the mechasuit to mere rubble within seconds. Miraculously, the Kaiser President survived, but was in less than perfect shape. Being helped by some of his men, he'd shoot a glare towards the Dragonborn. "You'll regret this, Sensei. You won't be able to protect them forever, and when that day comes... they're going to wish they never met you." Despite the threat, it was all he could do to hobble away from the battlefield.

As the adrenaline from the conflict died down, Ja'vassa fell to his knees; the pain and fatigue from the loss of blood finally catching up to him. "That... that bastard better not show his face again if he knows what's good for him." He growled.

As he collapsed, his students rushed to his side; Haruka being the first to get to him. "Are you going to be alright, Sensei? Your arm doesn't look good..." She stated, gently taking his hand.

"She'll be fine, dear." Serica assured her, reaching out to use a Healing Hands spell on him. "The stubborn old fool probably forgot about his own restoration magic."

Haruka watched on in fascination as the wound closed. "That's... that's incredible." She whispered, her eyes practically sparkling at the sight.

As the wound closed, Ja'vassa took a deep breath and glanced towards Haruka, gently placing his hand on the top of her head. "I'm fine, thanks to Serica's help. Thank you for your help out there.. things might've turned out differently if I didn't have you and your companions helping out against the minor soldiers."

At the gentle touch, a soft blush dusted Haruka's cheeks, though she made no effort to pull away from him. "Ah-Ah... we really didn't do much of anything..." She muttered, leaning into his hand slightly.

"You undersell your skills, Haruka.. you're an incredible shot." Ja'vassa smiled softly, pulling his hand away after a moment. "I'm afraid I might have to ask for more of your help to rescue Hoshino, though."

Aru listened to him, an apologetic frown crossing her face. "I'm sorry, Sensei.. I know how worried you are about her, but... I don't know if we'll be able to help much. Our contract with Kaiser is probably no good anymore, without potential income, we'll have to back out. I hope you'll understand." She replied softly, crossing her arms slightly.

"I understand completely, Aru. I don't want to put you or the others in any more unnecessary conflicts. Thank you for your help today. I know I keep pushing it back, but... I promise, the next time we meet, we'll embark on that ramen date." Ja'vassa replied, returning to his feet.

Mutsuki approached, giving him a quick, but tight hug. "You better keep that promise, Sensei. I won't let you forget it anytime soon." She teased, pulling away after a moment.

"We'll see you soon, Sensei. Keep yourself safe." Kayoko added, waving towards them as Problem Solver 68 had finally made their exit.

Ja'vassa watched them leave, a light smile on his face. He'd then turn back towards his other students. "Let's head back to Abydos and begin planning our next moves. Hoshino comes home soon."

Upon returning to the school, none of them were particularly happy despite technically emerging from the earlier conflict victoriously. The only thing on their mind was the wellbeing of Hoshino; they had no idea what they were subjecting her to. They could be brainwashing her, torturing her, taunting her, actively preparing to unleash her against them. Each possible scenario that came to mind only seemed to get worse and worse.

Serica sighed softly, a concerned expression on her face as she was filled in with what's been happening. "...I'll let Relumara know and prepare a detachment. Simply give us the word and they'll be ready to move forward, my Lord." She said to Ja'vassa.

"Thank you, Serica. It was good to see you and Rianra today, I only wish it could've been under more pleasant circumstances." Ja'vassa replied, watching as his Council members had stood back up.

"We'll see you again soon, my Lord. Be sure the next time you visit us, Hoshino is safe and sound with you." Rianra nodded, giving him and the other students a brief wave as they'd leave the room.

By now, the sun had long since disappeared below the horizon; leaving the unhappy students and their teacher to enjoy the room in silence. Nonomi was the first to stand up, grabbing her bag. "I guess I'll see you all in the morning... Hopefully tomorrow will be better." She said softly.

"...please stay safe, Nonomi. If... if you consider doing what Hoshino did, please come talk with me. Losing her was bad enough, I... I can't bear to lose any of you as well." Ja'vassa replied somewhat quietly, unable to meet her gaze.

"Of course, Sensei. I wouldn't want to worry you." Nonomi assured him, flashing him one of her signature, cheerful smiles.

One by one, they had said their farewells; giving him the same promises that Nonomi did until eventually, he was all alone in the school. Returning to his office, he'd attempt to sleep off his worries, but found it difficult to do so. The strange, sudden noise outside his office made it much more difficult, but it offered a glimmer of hope.

"Ja'vassa-Sensei, I wish to meet with you at your earliest convenience regarding the pending dropout of third year Abydos student, Takanashi Hoshino. Come to Kaiser's headquarters in the north end of the Abydos District. It's in your best interest, I promise."

Without a signature, it was impossible to tell who sent it. Though his gut was telling him it was a trap, he felt as if he'd be throwing away a prime opportunity if he ignored it. Ja'vassa sighed softly, picking up his tablet.

"...Arona, can you set the coordinates for Kaiser's headquarters? It seems I have a meeting to attend tomorrow." Ja'vassa muttered.

Arona seemed a bit hesitant. "Are you sure it's a good idea, Sensei?" She asked, wanting any form of confirmation.

"No, it probably isn't a good idea, but... if they're wanting to discuss Hoshino, then I can't ignore it. We can't keep her waiting for too much longer." Ja'vassa nodded in response, staring at the screen with hopeful eyes.

"...alright, if you're sure, Sensei. I've set the coordinates for their headquarters, please try to get some sleep until then." Arona suggested; the whole thing sounded incredibly fishy and while she knew that Ja'vassa was strong, she just wanted to be sure that he'd be safe in case it turned out to be a trap. Without another word, Ja'vassa nodded and curled up on the small sofa; falling into a restless sleep.

Chapter Fourteen - She's My Student

As the early morning finally arrived, hours before the Abydos students were scheduled to meet with each other. Ja'vassa had used this time to visit Kaiser's headquarters like the mysterious letter directed him to. It felt like it was a trap, there was nothing but bad feelings swirling in his gut, but he had come this far, he might as well see it through to the end. Upon arriving, he was escorted to the top floor of the tower and ushered into a dark room with nothing besides him, a desk, and a mysterious man sitting behind it. Despite his naturally strong eyesight as a Khajiit, it was incredibly difficult to make out much of anything on the stranger's face, though he could almost see a slight smirk. Something about him felt off, though Ja'vassa remained calm and stepped forward.

"So, you're the one who dropped off the letter at Abydos, correct?" Ja'vassa asked, crossing his arms slightly as the stranger stood up as well.

Approaching Ja'vassa with hand outstretched to shake. "You may call me Black Suit, that is the name I'm most fond of. Origins mean little here, but we have much to discuss, Ja'vassa-Sensei." After shaking hands, Black Suit invited him to sit down.

"Yes, I'm here to discuss Hoshino like you requested." Ja'vassa replied, taking the invited seat.

"It's come to my attention that you hadn't approved her dropout request yet. So long as that remains unsigned, the contract is technically void and null, but she remains in our custody for the time being." Black Suit said, leaning back in his seat. "That girl... has an intriguing amount of potential within her, and my organization aims to study it as closely as possible. We never intended to give her to Kaiser, but that fool of a president was all too happy to agree with us. All they wanted was the Abydos District, they couldn't care less for one student."

He paused, staring directly into Ja'vassa's amber colored eyes. "What will it take for us to convince you to sign her dropout request? We can offer wealth, power, status, knowledge... anything you desire, we can give it to you." Black Suit stood up for a moment, pacing back and forth. "I know who you are, Sensei. You're an outsider to Kivotos like I am. You're a seeker of knowledge, that's why you're here, after all. Surely your Master would be pleased with the treasure trove of knowledge I can offer you."

At the mention of Hermaeus Mora, Ja'vassa had a brief look of surprise on his face, but quickly shook it off. "How did you know of my Lord?"

The smirk on the mysterious stranger's face seemed to widen at the question. "My information gathering is second to none, but it seems perhaps we've reached a deal. Name your price, Sensei. Wealth, power, status, knowledge... perhaps something to satisfy your baser needs. Nothing is beyond our reach for you." He took a step closer to Ja'vassa.

An almost annoyed sigh escaped him as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Did you bring me all the way out here just to insult me?" Ja'vassa asked quietly, standing up as well.

"Insult you? I'm not sure I follow..." Black Suit muttered, now slightly confused.

"Your offers are insulting. For all your information gathering, I'd have assumed you would've known that, too." Ja'vassa crossed his arms, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes.

"I... I don't understand. These are all things people desire. What makes you any different?" Black Suit took a few steps back, not at all sure what to think.

"Shall we break it down, then?" Ja'vassa stepped closer to him, his gaze never leaving him. "Power? I'm not sure what more you could offer me, I'm already the most powerful person in Tamriel, and I'd be willing to wager that I'm already the most powerful person in Kivotos as well." His arrogance shined through with each word he spoke, pride glittering in his eyes. "Wealth? Sjel Blad Castle's resources are practically endless; we have more gold than we know what to do with, access to rare and valuable materials that no one else in Tamriel has access to."

Black Suit was silent, clenching his fists in anger as he listened to him. His offers were useless, but he hadn't said anything and continued to listen.

"You brought up status, too. I'm not sure my legend can grow any bigger. The legendary Dragonborn, the storied slayer of Alduin, hero of the Skyrim Civil War, the great and terrible Warlord that leads the greatest army Tamriel has ever seen. Knowledge, while it is true, I am a seeker of knowledge and perhaps my Lord would appreciate it, but I'd rather find that knowledge myself... I don't need anyone to hand it to me." Ja'vassa stated, his expression darkening ever so slightly as he reached his final point. "You mentioned my... baser needs. I had hoped you'd have more respect for me than to assume I'd ever be willing to touch my students in such a disgusting manner. I adore them, I love them, but there are lines I won't cross and that's one of them."

Black Suit's fists trembled, it seemed he was close to losing his cool. Most people would've jumped at many of these offers. The idea of endless wealth and power were things many couldn't resist, but it seemed they were useless to the teacher standing before him. "But... why? This isn't your home, why do you care so much about it? You're a vampire.. you're immortal, these students aren't. Why fight so hard for those that'll disappear in a few decades?" He spoke in a frantic tone, raising his hands slightly. "Why? Why? I.. I just don't understand it. Why? Why are you so attached to them? By all accounts, you shouldn't care... Kivotos isn't your home. It never was and never will be."

The frantic, confused tone of Black Suit caused soft, taunting laughs to escape Ja'vassa. "No, I doubt you'd understand it. I love my companions of Sjel Blad Castle dearly, but when I'm around these students... seeing their smiles, the warmth in their voices. It gives me a sense of peace and comfort I haven't felt in... centuries, perhaps. Not since I lost my daughters in the attack on Silverstead." He looked away, staring out the window for a moment. "Kivotos is a strange place. I doubt I'll ever get used to the sheer size of it or the strange technology. But..."

He paused, memories of the moments he's spent with the students he's met thus far flooding through his head. Together, they've experienced great joy and pain. He's traveled with them, eaten with them, fought alongside them. Perhaps Black Suit is right, he shouldn't be so attached to them; they'll disappear eventually. Lord Harkon never lied about the power and immortality that'd come with the undead blood coursing through his veins, but he never mentioned just how painfully lonely things could get. The long life has caused him to witness the deaths of many loved ones over the decades; from family and friends, advisors and fellow soldiers. Even those he considered enemies have long since disappeared. There will come a time where the students he loves disappear as well, but he'll worry about that another time.

"...that doesn't matter to me. These students mean the world to me. They've been ignored, their lives have been turned into a living hell. They should be able to enjoy their remaining youthful years in peace, they shouldn't have to be forced to worry about their friend meeting them on the battlefield, settling a debt that none of them could hope to pay off. They've been ignored. People have refused to step up to the plate, to take responsibility... until now." Ja'vassa closed his eyes, taking a few deep breaths before opening them again. "I made a promise to protect them. To see to it that they're happy and safe."

Black Suit was silent, having a surprising amount of trouble comprehending the Khajiit's words. "So, that's it, huh? You're an adult, so it's up to you to take responsibility, is that right? Just... why? Perhaps someone else should've taken up that responsibility. But, this... this isn't your home. You'll have to return from whence you came, won't you? You'll have to leave Kivotos eventually... so, why do you care so much?"

Ja'vassa shook his head, holding up the dropout request form. "You wouldn't just abandon a great treasure once you've found it, would you? They're my students. It doesn't matter how long I'll be here or when I'll have to return to Skyrim. They're my students and I swore I'd keep them safe." He fell silent for a moment, using his Flames spell on the sheet of paper, reducing it to ash within seconds. "Consider this the end of our negotiations. Tell me where Hoshino is."

Watching the paper burn away, Black Suit clenched his fists once more, but soon relaxed. "I never expected someone with your reputation to be so... sentimental, Sensei. We planned for everything, except for you. It seems you've beaten me... you can find Hoshino at Kaiser's PMC Base in the desert. I won't stop you from retrieving your beloved student, but I can't imagine the Kaiser's President would be willing to cooperate with you." He walked past Ja'vassa, towards one of the elevators. "We'll continue to watch you, Sensei."

Ja'vassa sighed in relief, glad that their meeting was the trap he assumed it'd be. "She better be alright. If I find her with so much as a scratch, I'll find you. And you'll regret ever coming anywhere close to her."

There was no response from the mysterious man as he entered the elevator, soon disappearing from sight. With the information in hand, Ja'vassa hastily returned to Abydos High School to deliver the first good news they've had in quite some time.

By the time he returned to their meeting room, the others had already gathered and had long since started their discussions. They didn't have much of a strategy, only that they knew they'd need to check out the outpost that Ja'vassa mentioned the day prior.

"I wonder where Sensei is? You think he'd have been here by now... you don't think he went to search for Hoshino on his own, do you?" Ayane asked, fidgeting slightly with the hem of her skirt. She knew he was strong, but given everything that's been happening recently, she couldn't help but worry. Losing Hoshino was bad enough, losing someone else close to her would be almost too much.

Before anyone else could say anything else, Ja'vassa burst through the door; somewhat winded from the long run from Kaiser's headquarters. The group stared at him with mild surprise and concern; Serika walked over to help guide him towards a nearby chair.

"Sensei...? Are you alright?" She asked, keeping a gentle hold on his hand.

Ja'vassa nodded quickly, taking a moment to catch his breath. "I know where to find Hoshino. She's at the Kaiser PMC Base.. that rumored outpost in the desert. They're keeping her there. The contract she signed was technically void, but given what the President did yesterday, it's highly unlikely that we can just march up there and ask them to release her. If we're to bring her home, we'll need some help. The four of you should remain here, prepare yourself for the trip. I'll head to Gehenna and see if I can't get into contact with Hina.. perhaps I can convince the Prefects to help out after their fiasco here a few days ago."

Shiroko gave him a look of surprise as he mentioned Hoshino's location; she was practically itching to just run off and rescue her friend all on her own, but she knew full well that without help, her mission would result in failure. "You really think they'll help us, Sensei? You and Hina seem to be on good terms with each other, but... it didn't seem like Iori or Ako had a lot of respect for you."

Ja'vassa shrugged in response. "I'm not positive, but it'll be worth talking with them anyways. If they can't offer any assistance, I'll gather my own men. One way or another, Hoshino comes home, even if I have to fight through Kaiser's forces on my own." He'd stand back up, ready to head out once more. "I'll talk with them and be back before the day is over."

As Ja'vassa left the room to begin his journey towards Gehenna, the other students remained behind. Once he was out of earshot, Nonomi had spoken up. "I'm not entirely convinced that the Prefects will help us... maybe we should talk to his Council members while he's away? Sensei's made it clear that we were welcomed to visit them."

It sounded like a good idea, but without his authority, none of them were entirely sure if any of his Council members would listen to them or agree to help out. Maybe it'd be a waste of their time, but they wouldn't know until they tried.

"I think they're aware of how important Hoshino is to him, so maybe if we convinced them of the necessity of the mission, perhaps they'll lend a hand." Ayane responded as she'd stand up. "Come on, we'll probably want to speak with them before Sensei returns."

Serika sighed, shaking her head. "That sounds like a good idea, but Sensei hasn't shown us how to use the Milestone. Didn't he say that we had to have knowledge of the spell before we could use it?"

She was right, Ayane sighed and slumped back down in her chair. "Yeah... I forgot about that."

Shiroko was mostly silent throughout the conversation, but spoke up once she remembered that they had access to the Void Storage thanks to the physical conduit that Serica had built for them shortly after they first met. "Can't we write them a letter? We might not get a response for a little while, but it's our last option."

Nonomi quickly nodded in response, grabbing a piece of paper and a pen. "You're a genius, Shiroko!" She said cheerfully; figuring that the letter should be short and sweet. It took her a few minutes, but it simply mentioned that she'd like to meet with Relumara and Serica as soon as possible, they had something urgent to discuss.

Nearly two hours had gone by before Relumara stepped into the room, looking towards them with an intrigued expression. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting for too long. I came as soon as I received your letter. What did you need to discuss?"

At his sudden appearance, Serika jumped up in mild surprise. "Relumara! We... we need your help. Hoshino's been taken from us and we know her location, but we're going to need some help if we're to match on Kaiser's outpost. We thought... maybe you send a few of your men to join us." She explained, her ears twitching nervously. "Sensei is probably at Gehenna by now speaking with the Prefect Team; he suggested we speak with you as well while he was away."

Relumara listened quietly as she briefly explained the situation. "Yes, Serica filled us in on Hoshino's disappearance. I know how much Ja'vassa adores her, I can spare a few warriors to help, but I can't send too many. I can't risk the Imperials discovering that we're on the move, even if it's not against them." He replied, crossing his arms slightly.

The statement about the Imperials was a bit confusing to them. "Aren't the Imperials allies of yours? Why are you so worried about them?" Ayane asked.

"Technically, that is true, but that doesn't mean our relationship with them is tense at times. They fear Sjel Blad's growing influence. One wrong move could cause a number of problems with them, so we have to be careful. I'll gather some of the men upon returning to Skyrim and I'll have them await for Ja'vassa's word." Relumara explained, leaning against the wall slightly. "Though, I don't understand why he didn't just come to us in the first place."

Shiroko shrugged slightly, "It's possible he had the same reservations about the Imperials like you did. It might raise a few eyebrows if he's seen wandering with a strange army down the streets.. probably doesn't want to risk trouble with the General Student Council."

Relumara nodded, chuckling softly. "That old cat... it's hard to tell what he's going to do sometimes. He might seem overly cautious one day, but then he'd jump across an endless ravine without a second thought the next day." He shook his head, standing up straight once more. "In any case, I'll need to head back and begin making preparations."

Just before the old Dunmer had stepped out of the room, he briefly glanced towards Nonomi. "If you've got some time in the future, stop by the forge, Nonomi. I think Serica has something for you; she mentioned how well you handled that hand cannon of ours." He added.

Nonomi's eyes lit up at the mention of the weapon Serica had given her before. "Oh! I'll be sure to come visit real soon, then! Thank you, Relumara." She replied cheerfully, clasping her hands together.

Meanwhile, by the time Relumara had returned to Skyrim, Ja'vassa had managed to reach Gehenna. Surprisingly, he was able to reach the academy without getting lost for once and upon arrival, he had received directions for the Prefect Team's office only to find Iori guarding the entrance.

"Who...?" She muttered, looking towards Ja'vassa with a mixture of annoyance and intrigue. "What are you doing here, Sensei?" Iori asked.

"I apologize for such short notice, but I need to speak with Hina. Is she available at the moment?" Ja'vassa asked, approaching Iori with a warm smile.

"Hmph. You think after what happened in Abydos, I'd just let you waltz in there?" Iori crossed her arms, looking away for a moment. "But... maybe I can be convinced." A smug smirk appeared on her face as she looked at him. "You may pass, but only if you get on your knees and beg for it. Lick my feet while you're at it, and then maybe I'll let you in." She suggested with a teasing grin.

Ja'vassa subtly rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "...I know our last meeting wasn't that pleasant, but you don't really think I'd lower myself that much, do you?" He sighed, turning to leave. "I'll come by another time. Give Hina my regards, I'll have to treat her to that tea I promised her another time."

Iori seemed surprised, and slightly offended that Ja'vassa hadn't even considered begging her. She wanted to retort, but the sudden appearance of the Head Prefect. "No need to worry about that, Sensei. I know things are hectic for you in the Abydos District." Hina stated as she approached them, glancing towards Iori with subtle irritation in her eyes. "I wish I wasn't as busy as I was today, otherwise I would've taken you up on that tea. I know you've come to ask for help with Kaiser, but I'm afraid I won't be able to offer any. Our... intervention in Abydos stirred up some trouble with the Pandamonium Society and until the Eden Treaty is signed, we have to be a bit more cautious in the future."

Ja'vassa was a bit disappointed to hear it, but he understood. "Aye." He nodded at her, laughing softly. "I wouldn't want you to cause you any further trouble than I already have. Maybe after all this is said and done, we'll find some time to share that cup of tea."

Hina nodded in response, giving him a warm smile in return. "I look forward to it, Sensei. Stay safe on your way back to Abydos."

Returning the smile, Ja'vassa waved as he'd begun to head off. During the long walk back to the station, and with Arona's help, he had managed to send off a few messages to Hifumi in an effort to see if he could enlist any help from Trinity, like from the Justice Task Force. But, much like with the Prefect Team, the Justice Task Force was largely unable to act without risking any political trouble until the Eden Treaty was signed.

It was more than a little disappointing, but that doesn't mean he was entirely out of options yet. All that remained was gathering his own men in the morning to begin marching upon Kaiser's PMC base in the desert. After the lengthy train ride and walk back to Abydos High School, he had joined his students in the meeting room.

"Sensei! You're finally back! How'd it go with the Prefect Team?" Ayane asked cheerily, inviting him to sit beside her.

"Until the Eden Treaty is signed, it doesn't seem like the Prefect Team of Gehenna or the Justice Task Force of Trinity will be able to act. Apparently their intervention in Abydos caused Hina to get a bit of a scolding from Gehenna's student council." Ja'vassa stated as he'd sit beside Ayane, smiling softly as he felt her lean on him. "We still have Sjel Blad Castle, however. When the morning arrives, I'll gather my men and we'll march upon Kaiser's military outpost. It'll be the hardest battle we've had so far, but we can't give up. Hoshino's counting on us to bring her home safely."

The others nodded in agreement, determination etched into their faces. Ayane sighed softly, getting a bit more comfortable as she rested against Ja'vassa. "What are we going to do when we get her back home, though?" She asked, looking towards the others.

"We'll welcome her home, maybe have a warm meal, and then... I'll scold her. Make sure she never does anything like that again." Ja'vassa replied somewhat jokingly, softly combing his fingers through Ayane's hair for a moment. "Until then, you should all get some rest. We've all had a long day and we have an even longer day ahead of us."

As he finished speaking, the final bell had gone off; dismissing the students for the day. One by one, their room slowly emptied until it was just Ayane and Ja'vassa.

"Shouldn't you be heading home soon, Ayane? It'll be dark soon..." Ja'vassa whispered, glancing towards the girl resting on him.

"Maybe... but, I'm... nervous for tomorrow. Can... Can I stay with you for the night, Sensei? I feel... safe when I'm with you." Ayane asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ja'vassa sighed in defeat; he couldn't say no to her when she looked at him like that. "Tch... What have you done to me? I wasn't this soft in Skyrim..." He muttered, gently wrapping a small blanket around her.

"You try so hard to come off as this... terrifying warrior, but you're more than that, Sensei. You're not soft, but... you're a lot kinder than you claim to be." Ayane whispered softly, cuddling up to him as she felt the blanket draped around her. "I speak for all of us.. we've never felt safer than when you're around. I feel... secure and warm in your arms." She slowly trailed off, drifting off into a peaceful, comfortable sleep.

"Ayane..." Ja'vassa whispered, wrapping his arms around her protectively. "...thank you."

Despite the nervousness for the coming day, the warmth of his beloved student easily lulled him to sleep. He'd gladly cuddle close to her in return, his eyes fluttering shut as he finally fell asleep for the night.

Chapter Fifteen - Reunion

In the early hours before dawn began to peek through the windows of Abydos High School, Ja'vassa had since returned to Skyrim for a brief time to ensure his men were ready for the coming battle. Taking time to make sure all of their armor and weapons were in peak condition, that his men were all on the same page with what the day's plans were. Once everything was ready, he gathered the chosen warriors in the Council Room, he'd make one final speech.

"I want to thank you all for agreeing to join me on this day. Today, we'll storm into Kaiser's PMC Outpost and rescue Hoshino. The battle will be difficult, but that's why I've chosen you. With your skill, bravery, and determination, we will make them regret the day they decided to lay their hands on my precious student. Show these bastards no mercy. We will turn their soldiers into scrap metal and when the battle is over, we'll celebrate." He held his sword in a triumphant manner, looking towards his warriors. "Those who distinguish themselves on the battlefield will be remembered in both Sjel Blad Castle and across Kivotos for their immense courage and tenacity."

As Ja'vassa finished speaking, he opened up the Milestone and motioned for them to enter the portal. "Once you're in the portal, gather outside Abydos High School and wait for my signal. Chances are that my students are already gathered in their meeting room waiting for us."

One by one, the ebony-clad warriors stopped through the portal; heading towards the entrance as ordered. Many of them were well armed, carrying various swords, spears, warhammers, and magical staves. As they made their way through the school, the Abydos students watched as the organized, somewhat intimidating force walked by them.

"Whoa... their armor is impressive..." Ayane muttered, admiring the way the sleek black color shimmered beneath the gentle lights.

"Yeah, it is. I hope it'll be enough to defend against Kaiser's attacks, though." Shiroko replied, finding herself particularly enjoying the designs of the weapons they carry.

Once they were in formation outside the school, Ja'vassa, along with Serica and Maribelle, had entered the meeting room to give the students a quick rundown of their plans for the day.

"My army stands ready to move forward. Our plans are simple; Serica and Maribelle will lead the ground assault and keep Kaiser distracted while the rest of us will storm the palace. Hoshino will no doubt be under heavy protection. We'll need to be quick and decisive, there will be no room for hesitation. You make one mistake and it could wind up poorly for you." Ja'vassa stated, pacing back and forth around the room. "Ayane, you'll provide support from the skies until Shiroko, Serika, Nonomi and I enter the base. From there, it'll simply be a matter of navigating the base from within. We'll no doubt face resistance upon entering, so all of us must always remain on guard. Watch each other's backs and don't let them separate us. I intend to return to Abydos with all of you, Hoshino included."

The plans were simple enough, the group nodded in response. Serica gave him a slightly teasing look. "There's the classic Ja'vassa.. the war commander I haven't seen in decades. Who would've guessed that all it would've taken was your adorable little students to bring that side of you back out?" She said playfully, nudging his shoulder slightly.

Ja'vassa rolled his eyes slightly and headed towards the door. "Yeah, yeah. Let's get going. We don't want to waste any time. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can get the battle underway."

As they stepped outside, the soldiers that Ja'vassa had brought with him split into two groups; the mages followed behind Maribelle while the warriors followed behind Serica. Thanks to the coordinates given to him by Black Suit prior to his meeting, the journey to the PMC Base was relatively simple and upon arriving, they found it under heavy guard. Several of the robotic guards paced back and forth in front of the heavy gates, though they hadn't noticed the approaching group yet thanks to cloaking spells used by Serica and Maribelle.

"So... how do you plan on getting inside, Sensei? They wouldn't dare open up the gates if we just rushed up there." Ayane whispered, glancing towards him for a moment.

Ja'vassa was silent for a moment, taking some time to analyze the potential battlefield. Ayane was right, any attempt to just break down the heavy looking gates would lead to some trouble, but perhaps they could still force it open provided they had some kind of distraction. "Durnehviir can help with that... I'll summon him, and once the guards are distracted; we'll barrage the gate with fireballs. Once that's open, we'll storm in, then the rest of it will be simply a matter of finding where they're keeping Hoshino."

For a brief second, the Abydos students shared an uncertain glance amongst each other before turning back to Ja'vassa. "Who is..." Nonomi paused, trying her best not to butcher the strange name. "...who is this Durnehviir, Sensei?"

Serica grinned at the question, "Just watch and find out, Nonomi. He's one of Ja'vassa's most powerful allies."

The old Khajiit stepped forward, taking a deep breath before invoking the shout. "Durnehviir!" He yelled out; though the shout caught the attention of the guards patrolling the exterior.

"Halt!" One guard yelled out, but before he could raise his weapon or take further action, he and many of the onlookers stared out in surprise and mild fear as the undead dragon materialized in the center of a strange purple circle. Upon rising, the beast let out a vicious roar that shook the very ground beneath it.

Serika stared at the summoned dragon with a mixture of fear and excitement. "Just... what else is Sensei capable of?" She muttered.

Turning to face the guards for a moment, Durnehviir then glanced towards Ja'vassa. "Where am I, Qahnaarin? This isn't Tamriel..." The dragon spoke in a deep, guttural tone; flesh seemingly dripping off the old beast's body.

"I'll explain later, but I need your assistance. They're holding someone important to us captive. I'll need your aid for us to get in." Ja'vassa explained as he'd prepared a Fireball spell.

"Very well." Durnehviir's focus returned to the guards shakily watching him. "Diil... Qoth Zaam!" The decaying dragon yelled out; his Thu'um summoned a number of spectral skeletons that immediately went off to attack the Kaiser guards standing outside the gates. Once the attack began, Ja'vassa had launched a dual-casted fireball, followed by the barrage of fireballs casted by his companions.

The relentless magical assault on the gates slowly wore it down, eventually forcing them to fall back. At the moment they were broken down, an alarm had been sounded and large numbers of the Kaiser soldiers could be seen mobilizing.

"Now's our chance! Let's get in there and show them what you're made of!" Ja'vassa ordered, quickly rushing into the open gate. As the guards approached with their rifles raised, the Dragonborn had launched the first attack; blasting them with his Chain Voltage spell. The deadly stream of lightning jumped from one guard to another and following his example, several of the mages he brought with them joined in with Chain Lightning spells. Combined with the relentless arcane assault, several of the warriors had rushed forward, bringing their hammers down on their confused, frightened opponents.

Thanks to the quick work from the fighters that Ja'vassa brought with them, there was little stopping them from storming into the main part of the base. The Abydos students watched in amazement by the sheer ferocity the Sjel Blad army displayed; this was only a small force, they could only imagine how powerful his full army would be. Seeing their distraction, Miraelle lightly nudged Nonomi's shoulder.

"Go forward, young one. Join your teacher and save your friend. We'll be fine out here." Mirabelle said with a gentle smile, glancing towards Ja'vassa who was quickly making his way towards the main building.

She was a bit hesitant, but nodded anyway. "R-Right. Just... be careful. We'll catch up with you as soon as we can." Nonomi responded, motioning for her companions to follow behind her and Ja'vassa.

With the forces from Sjel Blad Castle taking care of Kaiser's outside guards, it was a matter of dealing with the forces inside. A combination of quick, precise strikes from Ja'vassa's magic and the gunfire of his students, they faced little resistance until they finally stumbled upon what looked to be a large surveillance room. Inside the room was none other than Kaiser's President, the very one who launched the attack on Abydos in the days prior.

As they entered the room, several of the guards attempted to fire at the intruders, but before they could even get their fingers close to the triggers, Ja'vassa blasted them with his Flame Tempest spell. Within seconds, the room itself had caught ablaze, though the flames weren't close enough to harm his students.

"I'm going to make this real simple for you." Ja'vassa stated as he prepared another spell; red colored lightning crackling around his hand. "You can either tell me where Hoshino is and I'll let you live, or you can refuse and I can personally turn you into scrap metal. Those are your choices."

Though it didn't show on his face, it was clear the President was afraid, but still used the opportunity to taunt Ja'vassa. "Kill me and you'll never find your precious student. I can't imagine it'll look that good for SCHALE's beloved Sensei to be seen threatening someone like this."

The old Khajiit shook his head. "I never said anything about killing you. Besides, as far as I'm concerned, they'll celebrate our actions here. This cruel, corrupt company is holding an innocent student hostage..." Ja'vassa replied, blasting the President with the jolt of lightning; sending him barreling backwards.

Slowly standing up from the burning rubble, the President had finally realized just how outmatched he was, but that doesn't mean he was completely out of options yet. "Tch... take her, then. You can find her in the lowest levels, but..." He paused, holding up a remote detonator. "...will you get to her in time before this place collapses?" He asked, pressing the button to set off a series of explosions.

In most cases, Ja'vassa would've retaliated, but given they had limited time, he'd have to turn his back for once. "Get back outside; join up with Serica and Maribelle, I'll go find Hoshino." He ordered, quickly heading for the door.

"Wait, Sensei! We'll come with you!" Serika pleaded, grabbing his arm.

Ja'vassa shook his head, pulling his arm away. "No, get going. There's no reason for you to risk yourself. Get outside, immediately."

Shiroko shook her head, making it clear that she wasn't going to leave him behind. "You can't just send us off like that, Sensei. I know you're trying to protect us, but Hoshino is important to us, too. We're coming with you."

Though clearly annoyed, there wasn't any time to continue arguing with them. "Fine. But, stay close then." Ja'vassa shook his head, giving one last glance towards the President. "If I catch you anywhere near my students ever again, I'll personally smelt you down in my forge."

With his final warning, the group quickly dashed off in search of their missing friend. Explosions went off one by one, the building crumbling around them with each passing second. Thanks to the use of a Clairvoyance spell, the group was able to maneuver their way around the fallen rubble, the destroyed robotic soldiers, and the flames that littered the once pristine halls. Occasionally using his Detect Life spell, Ja'vassa released a sigh of relief. "Hoshino's just a little further down this hall!" He yelled out, using a dual casted Sol Illictus spell on the doors in front of them.

The massive fireball slammed into the metal door with great force, causing them to fly off their hinges. The combined force with the fireballs and several subsequent explosions caused the structures beneath their feet to crumble; standing at the far end of the hall was Hoshino who had fallen unconscious, likely from the destruction caused by the ongoing explosions. They could hear more and more of them going off in the distance, giving them little time to think about the possible actions they could take.

Without thinking much more on it, Ja'vassa dashed forward; skillfully navigating his way around the fallen rubble. "Hoshino!" He yelled out as he finally reached her, only to receive no response. She was still alive, but likely wouldn't awaken for some time. Swiftly cutting the ropes that bound her, he'd lift her up and return to the others. "Come on, let's get going. We don't have a lot of time before this place falls on our heads."

Getting to Hoshino was one thing, but given that much of the path they used to get here was now covered in fallen debris, navigating their way through the ruined halls was far more time consuming than they had hoped. Panic settled in amongst the students, but as they finally noticed the sunlight signaling their only escape. For a brief second, smiles crossed their faces as it seemed they could finally leave the bulk of the fighting behind. However, before they could step out and feel the warm sun on their faces once more, an aftershock from the latest explosion had reached them; their only entrance quickly crumbling before them.

Handing Hoshino over to Shiroko, Ja'vassa employed his Telekinesis to stop the falling rubble, though he was straining heavily. "Go, get out of here!" He ordered, clenching his teeth as he struggled to hold onto the debris.

"What about you, Sensei?! We're not going to leave you behind!" Nonomi argued, noticing the heavy strain in his eyes.

"Worry about yourself, Nonomi. You need to get yourselves and Hoshino to safety. Meet up with my men immediately!" Ja'vassa ordered, giving them a reassuring smile for a brief second. "I won't be able to hold it for much longer... please, just go."

They were understandably hesitant to listen to his orders, but relented and moved forward at his beckoning. Shortly after they safely made it back outside, the entrance collapsed with a heavy thud. Looking back towards the fallen building, shock and fear filled their faces.

"Sensei!" Serika yelled out, dropping her gun as she rushed over to the crumbled ruins; attempting to pull some of the rubble away, but to no avail. "That... that idiot!" She muttered, pointlessly trying to move the rocks once more. "Sensei... we got Hoshino back, but... it feels wrong to return to Abydos without him."

By the time they had returned to the surface, the forces from Sjel Blad had long since finished their fight with many of the former guards having either been destroyed or had long since run away. Seeing the ruined building, Serica and Maribelle rushed over to their side; relieved to see Hoshino was with them.

"Oh, good... the young one is safe, but... where is Ja'vassa?" Maribelle asked, looking towards them with some confusion.

"He... he didn't make it out. Just before the building collapsed, he held it up, but he wasn't able to escape." Nonomi replied, tears filling her eyes. She was overjoyed to have been reunited with Hoshino, but she wished it wasn't at the cost of someone she cared so deeply for.

Serica and Maribelle shared a quick glance between each other before quickly rushing towards the entrance. Employing a Detect Dead spell, they had found that Ja'vassa was still within the rubble, but unmoving. He was still alive, but likely injured as a result of the building's destruction.

"Mages! Help us!" Maribelle ordered, quickly employing her Telekinesis alongside Serica to remove the pile of debris. It took some time, but little by little, they were able to clear a path to retrieve the old Dragonborn. Ordering some of the stronger warriors to run in, they'd pull him out and lay him down on the soft sand. He wasn't hurt too badly; a few bruises and cuts from the whole ordeal.

"We should get them back to Abydos before anything else has a chance to cause us problems." Serica stated, watching as a pair of their soldiers hoisted Ja'vassa and Hoshino onto their backs. They'd follow the rest of the group back to the school, dropping the two off into the school's infirmary.

"I'll stay here and monitor them, to make sure their condition doesn't get worse." Maribelle said, her gaze never leaving the injured pair. "Make sure you get our men back to Skyrim soon. I'll inform you if anything changes."

Serica was hesitant to leave her former teacher behind, but she knew he was strong. She knew that he'd pull through in the end. He had to, for her sake, he just had to. "...very well. Don't leave us hanging for too long, Maribelle."

As they finally parted ways, it wasn't entirely clear how much time had passed, but eventually Hoshino had been the first to awaken; slowly sitting up to see Maribelle and her classmates sitting near bed. She yawned softly, glancing around the room in a confused manner. "What...? Where am I?" She asked quietly.

At the sound of her voice, the others perked up. Nonomi was the first to speak up. "Hoshino! I... I'm so happy to see you're finally awake." She said cheerfully, a bright and warm smile crossing her face. "You're safe and sound in the Abydos infirmary; Kaiser won't be bothering you anymore."

Her eyes widened in shock as she processed the information, her expression mirroring the excited smile on her classmate's face. "I'm... back home? I see... Ayane, Shiroko, and Serika are with you, too... Maribelle as well, but where's... where's Sensei?" Hoshino asked worriedly.

Maribelle moved out of the way slightly to reveal Ja'vassa lying down on the bed beside him. "He... was knocked unconscious when they were trying to bring you home. His injuries didn't seem too bad, but I'd suspect he's exhausted from all that had happened recently." She explained, her expression quite somber as she looked upon the peacefully sleeping Khajiit.

Hoshino nodded, glancing towards her teacher for a moment. Slowly and shakily, she'd stand up; her footsteps a bit uneven as it'd been a while since she's been given use of her legs. Approaching the bed, her previously excited smile had faded away. "He... he got hurt because of me?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm... I'm sorry, Sensei. I didn't mean to cause you so much trouble. I... I'm sorry..." She muttered.

The sound of her voice caused Ja'vassa's ears to twitch slightly, and within a few seconds he had slowly awoken. His blurry gaze fell upon the teary eyed student standing beside his bed. "Hoshino...? You're okay..." He muttered, and without much hesitation on his part, he reached out, pulling her in for a tight embrace. "I'm so glad..."

Though clearly taken back by the sudden embrace, Hoshino returned it once the shock wore off. "Sensei... I'm okay, thanks to you. I'm sorry... I know... I know I should've come to you first, but..." She sobbed, burying her face into his chest. "...I just wanted them to leave the others alone. I'm sorry..."

Ja'vassa held her closely, fearing that she'd disappear if he let go. "Don't apologize, Hoshino. You only did what you thought you had to do. But... you're home now. The debt may be unresolved, but... we don't have to worry about anyone taking you from us again."

For several minutes, the world around them seemed to completely fade away as they found comfort in the warmth of their close embrace. These past few days haven't been easy for either of them, and now, they could finally rest, at least for a time. The voices of the others were distorted, with neither Hoshino nor Ja'vassa being able to make out even a single word. They were focused on just each other, nothing else even mattered at this point.

Seconds, minutes, they couldn't tell how much time had passed before they slowly peeled away from each other's touch. After staring towards each other for a little while, Hoshino turned to the others; smiling through the tears that stained her cheeks. "I'm home again. I... I promise, I won't ever do anything like that again. The debt may be daunting, but... so long as I have you in my life, it won't be so bad."

Maribelle sighed in relief at the sight as she stood up. "I'm glad to see everything's the way it should be... I'll give you and the others some privacy, I'll head back to Sjel Blad Castle to inform Serica about your recovery." She smiled softly, bowing towards them. "You and Hoshino should rest a bit more, you've been through a lot lately."

Ja'vassa nodded in agreement, sighing softly. "Thank you for all your help, Maribelle. You had no reason to join us; they aren't your students, and you risk your life anyways. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to make it up to you, but I'll find some way to do so."

Maribelle waved it off as she stepped towards the door. "We all know how much you adore these girls.. you deserve a little happiness after everything you've done for us. I'll see you soon, my Lord." She gave them one last look before stepping out to return to the castle.

The soft moonlight of dying evening had since began to creep into the infirmary. Serika sighed softly, though her smile never faded away. "I'm glad... I'm glad we're all back together again, but... I'm exhausted. I think it's time we headed home for the night. We'll see you bright and early tomorrow." She almost seemed to purr slightly as she spoke; quickly stepping over to give Hoshino a soft hug before doing the same to Ja'vassa, lingering in his arms for a little while longer. "Thank you, Sensei. For everything you've done for us. I... I'm glad I was wrong about you." She whispered, pressing her cheek against his.

She'd pull away after a short while. "Goodnight, Hoshino. Goodnight, Sensei. Please get some rest for us."

Ja'vassa nodded, an affectionate glimmer in his eyes as he gazed upon her. "Of course, Serika. We'll see you tomorrow; make sure you stay safe tonight."

As they shared their farewells, the infirmary was left with just Ja'vassa and Hoshino. The student had found herself sitting besides him, comfortably leaning on his side.

"So... it seems you've succeeded in doing what we had requested from you. I doubt the debt will be cleared, but Kaiser might not be on our case as much after what happened. I guess... I guess you'll have to return to SCHALE soon, won't you?" Hoshino asked quietly, intertwining her fingers with his. "You'll... you'll come and visit us again, won't you, Sensei?"

Ja'vassa gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Yeah, I'll probably have to make a report to the Vice President when I return and maybe my job here is done, but you don't really think I'd just abandon you after all that we went through, do you?" He asked softly, a loving smile crossing his face as he looked towards her. "I'll come by and visit as often as I can... besides, it's not like I could permanently stay away from here anyways. How else am I to return to Skyrim other than through the Milestone that's in your school?"

Giggling at the soft tease, she returned the affectionate gaze. "That's a fair point." She yawned softly, tugging on him in an effort to get him to lay beside her. "I know your little experiment might not have been a total success, but... I'm glad it failed, Sensei. I'm glad you came into our lives." She whispered, cuddling into him.

"I can't say this is what I expected on the day we started our experiment, but... I wouldn't say it failed. I'm... I'm right where I want to be. I'm not sure I'll ever get used to the sheer size of Kivotos, or the strange technology you use, but... coming here gave me incredible treasures I could never replace." Ja'vassa whispered as he'd wrapped the blanket around them. "I'll always be available to you... and to the others, Hoshino. I promise."

Hoshino smiled softly, but otherwise hadn't said anything as she fell asleep in the comfort and security of the arms that surrounded her; she remained close to him, hardly moving an inch. Following her example, Ja'vassa gladly fell asleep alongside her; his own smile never fading away.

It had barely been a month since Ja'vassa arrived in Kivotos, and yet, it felt as if he never wanted to leave again. There was nothing but love and admiration for his companions in Sjel Blad Castle, and he's enjoy nearly every moment he's spent with them, but even for all of the chaos that's happened since his arrival in this strange world, he hadn't felt this kind of happiness in decades, perhaps even longer. Seeing the smiles on his students' faces, feeling the warmth of their touch and hearing the joy in the voices, it gave him a sense of purpose and longing that he had been searching for since he had returned from his self-imposed exile centuries prior.

Eventually, he'd likely have to return to Skyrim. Kivotos wasn't his home, after all, and yet, he wasn't sure if he'd be able to bring himself to abandon them and yet, he couldn't just abandon his loyal companions either. To choose between the allies that have served him loyally for over a thousand years and the students he's known for an incredibly short time. Both decisions felt right and wrong at the same time.

Despite the indecision broiling within, Ja'vassa enjoyed the night in the arms of his beloved student. Even as the morning light crept into the infirmary, neither of them stirred and remained peacefully asleep, at least that was the case until the other Abydos students came into the room to check in on them.

Ayane smiled softly at the scene, almost hesitating to awaken them, but it was well past time for them to wake up. They had a meeting to attend, after all. She reached out, shaking their shoulders. "I'm sorry, but... you need to wake up." Her voice was soft, though her touch was firm.

Slowly, the sleeping pair had awoken and almost simultaneously sat up, yawning in near perfect synch with the other. "Morning already, huh?" Hoshino asked, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"I suppose we can't neglect our meetings, eh?" Ja'vassa asked playfully as he stood up alongside her.

The day's meeting wasn't anything serious for once, but rather, they just wanted to say their proper thanks to Ja'vassa and see him off before he'd have to leave for SCHALE once more.

"I know we've said it already, but... thank you, Sensei. You came through when no one else would for us. We'll never forget the kindness you've shown us." Ayane smiled gratefully, a slight pep in her step as she spoke.

"You don't have to thank me, Ayane. Coming to Abydos was... one of the best decisions I've made." Ja'vassa hummed as he'd gently held her cheek. "You and the others have been... incredible. I'm glad I've been given the chance to get to know all of you."

Nonomi stepped closer to him. "Promise to come back to us soon, Sensei?" She asked, her own cheerful smile never fading away.

Before answering her, Ja'vassa removed the Dragon Priest Amulet he wore around his neck and placed it around Nonomi's. "Why don't you hold onto this for now, Nonomi? I'll come back for it when I come to visit next. Be sure you take good care of it for me, alright?"

She glanced down towards the old amulet dangling around on her neck for a moment. Quickly nodding at him, it was now her turn to give him a hug. "Of course, Sensei. I'll make sure it looks even better when you come to retrieve it."

One by one, he'd give his students a parting hug and some final parting words; some variation of how proud they made him and how much he's grown to adore them. When they finally separated, they'd join him outside to wish him good luck as he returns to SCHALE.

"I'll see all of you soon. Don't forget, if you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out to Sjel Blad Castle, they'll always be there to support you as well." Ja'vassa waved towards them. "Sky above, Voice within."

Hoshino raised her hand high, cheerfully waving back towards him. "Stay safe, Sensei! Don't be a stranger in these parts."

So much has happened in these past few weeks. The discovery of a realm beyond his own, the introduction to strange technology, meeting with fascinating people. He's seen some terrible things, some incredible things, all in all, for what started out as a failed experiment has brought him more than he could've asked for. There was no telling what awaited for him next, but holding his head held high, Ja'vassa looked forward to meeting with the other students and seeing all that Kivotos had in store for him.

"Look at that, Armani. Can you believe it? I've actually made a difference in their lives." Ja'vassa held a small, silver pendant close to him. "I only wish you could've been here to see them, you would've loved them. I'm not sure I can ever fully redeem myself for what I've done in the past, but... maybe I can start over here. Start fresh and find a new path. Maybe... maybe it's time I left Sjel Blad Castle and... and Skyrim in the past. Perhaps it's time for the Dragonborn to move on."