Catching Up

Descending the mountain path from Master Ferrum's abode, Lassim couldn't shake off the peculiar feeling that had surged through him. It was a fleeting moment, yet it left an indelible mark on his senses, a whisper of warning or perhaps a premonition.

For a moment, he pondered the possibility that it was a divine nudge, a reminder of the urgency to fortify himself for the challenges ahead. Ultimately, he attributed it to the heightened sensitivity from his deepening connection with the elemental forces.

"Just a reminder from the gods, then," he murmured to himself, resolving to focus on the tasks at hand.

Realization dawned upon him that amidst the relentless cycle of training and missions with the Headmaster, he had scarcely spent time with Lustria and Sirium these past two weeks. Their camaraderie had been a great help to his sense of belonging and mental health for the first month and a half at the academy, and the absence of their shared moments felt like a gap in his recent life.

Deciding to reconnect, Lassim tapped into the jade bracelet that encircled his wrist, selecting the conduit for communication among the academy's students. He sent out a message, proposing a meet-up.

The response was almost immediate. They agreed to gather at their usual spot in the academy's cafeteria, where they could get some lunch and catch up.

Gathering in the bustling atmosphere of the academy's cafeteria, Lassim found Lustria and Sirium already seated with their plates. Lassim hurried off to grab his before sitting down and joining them. The place was alive with the chatter and laughter of students, a lively backdrop to their reunion. Settling down and beginning to eat their meals, the trio slipped effortlessly into easy conversation.

"So, what have I missed?" Lassim asked, breaking off a piece of bread with a smile.

Lustria leaned forward, enthusiasm lighting her features, making her twin pony tail hair bounce cutely. "I've managed to get my hands on a new battle art, [Void Arrow]. It's been a game-changer for me," she shared, her eyes sparkling with pride. "The arrows can teleport straight to the target. It's perfect for taking out enemies before they even know what hit them."

Sirium, nodded in approval before speaking up about his own progress. "I've been grinding through missions, but I'm still short on points for the wind technique I've been eyeing." Despite the slower pace, his resolve was clear. "I'll get there, though. Just need to push a bit harder."

Lassim listened intently, genuinely impressed by their dedication and happy for his friend's progress. "You both have been busy, then. That's great to hear," he said, feeling a surge of pride for his friends. "And it looks like you've both reached SI2? That's incredible. Isn't that slightly faster than the usual age-gated pace?"

They both rolled their eyes. Sirium added, "Just slightly, but it's nothing compared to a freak like you." 

They trio chuckled as the conversation turned towards Lassim, with Lustria and Sirium curious about his recent absence and intensive training with the mysterious Headmaster. Lassim recounted his experiences, from the elemental forging to the development of his combat techniques, careful not to overwhelm them with the sheer intensity of his regimen.

"It's been...enlightening, to say the least. The Headmaster, Master Ferrum, is pushing me to limits I didn't know I had. He's also helping strengthen my body and I can feel a greater connection to the elements. My body feels so much sturdier, but the pain was intense." Lassim admitted, a hint of weariness creeping into his voice tempering the sense of fulfillment. 

Hearing about his advancements, Lustria and Sirium exchanged looks of awe and a bit of concern. "Just make sure you're not pushing yourself too hard," Lustria had a tinge of red on her cheeks as she bashfully cautioned, sharing her concern for his well being.

"Yeah, we don't want our friend turning into a sunken wreck in a storm," Sirium added, a teasing glint in his eye.

The laughter that followed lightened the mood. As their meal neared its end, Lassim voiced a suggestion that had been brewing in his mind since he heard about Sirium's lack of points. "Say... I was thinking...we should take on a harder mission together. Something challenging that can help you both rack up some points. I'm already at SI5 and have power to face monsters easily at SI7. I think I can help carry you guys through it if we choose the right mission. If we do that, we could earn a ton of points in one go."

Lustria and Sirium looked at each other, the prospect of tackling a mission with Lassim—who was now much stronger than them and ahead of everyone else in the first years—was both thrilling and a bit daunting. Yet, the trust and friendship between them made the decision easy.

"Count us in," they said in unison, their voices firm with resolve.

Finishing their meal, they went and put away their trays and utensils before making their way to the mission hall, a hub of activity and ambition within the academy. 

The trio navigated through the crowded mission hall. The hall was a hive of activity, filled with students discussing strategies, negotiating partnerships, and selecting their next challenges. Amidst this flurry, Lassim's arrival with Lustria and Sirium by his side turned heads.

Whispers followed their steps, a mixture of admiration and speculation, as tales of Lassim defeating Edric, becoming the headmaster's disciple and his dual elemental spirits, had become the stuff of academy gossip. He'd gotten used to the attention since he still had to accept missions under Master Ferrum's training regime, but it was new for Sirium and Lustria.

Unfazed by the attention, Lassim focused on the mission board, scanning the lists for a task that would suit their collective abilities and offer substantial rewards. Their criteria was flexible; it needed to be challenging enough so that the mission reward would yield a high amount of the academy points Sirium sought, yet feasible for their combined strength. An ideal mission would be something that allowed Lassim to be the main attacker and handle the enemies while Lustria was a distraction and Sirium could use his quick speed to flex positions or complete the objective. 

After several moments of deliberation, Lassim pointed to a mission that caught his eye. "This one," he said, "It's deep in the Wildering Woods outside of the nearby Evergreen City. It's about 4 hours if we walked, but with our enhanced speed we could probably make it there in 2 hours if we run. We're to retrieve a sample of the Nightshade Bloom—a rare plant that only flowers under the full moon. It's known for its healing properties but is guarded by the Moonlit Stalkers."

Lustria raised an eyebrow, familiar with the creature's reputation for stealth and agility. "Moonlit Stalkers are tricky and usually around SI5 in strength, but with your strength and my [Void Arrow], we can probably handle them. I'll also have a boost in my strength since we'd be fighting at night."

Sirium, ever the pragmatist, nodded in agreement. "And the terrain will work to my advantage. The dense woods can allow me to find hiding spots quickly with my wind techniques. If you distract them, I can sneak up behind and add some confusion to the group or pick off stragglers. If we get overwhelmed, I reckon I should be able to gather the Nightshade Bloom if you get them to focus all of their attention onto you."

With everyone in agreement, they selected the mission and approached the mission registrar, a stern-faced administrator this time, who reviewed their choice with a scrutinizing gaze.

"This mission is quite ambitious, especially for two SI2s," he commented, nodding towards Lustria and Sirium with a stern eye.

Lassim stepped forward, confidence in his voice. "We're aware of the risks, but I'm at SI5 and have been recently gaining a lot of strength and practice in my training with the Headmaster, we're prepared. We've planned our battle tactics accordingly and are ready to tackle this challenge."

The registrar, moderately convinced by Lassim's assurance and perhaps swayed by the name dropping of the Headmaster, for he too had heard the rumors and didn't want to risk losing his cushy registrar position, quickly stamped their mission scroll. "Very well. You have until the end of the week to complete this task. Be cautious—the Wildering Woods are unforgiving, and the Moonlit Stalkers are not to be underestimated."

Mission scroll in hand, the trio left the hall, 

Lustria, with a strategic mind honed by countless hours of training by her family, was the first to add her input. "So, should we plan to accomplish this mission tonight? We could head over to Evergreen City now and we'll get there as dusk arrives. We can start heading into the Wildering Woods and find the pack of Moonlit Stalkers to see where they're protecting the Nightshade Bloom."

Sirium nodded, the wheels turning in his head. "Agreed. We can also ask some locals if they've heard of any sightings of the group of stalkers to give us the best direction for our search." 

Lassim, feeling the weight of leadership, felt a surge of gratitude for his friends' readiness and insight. "Sounds good. I'm glad I can count on you both. Let's make our way over." 

Suddenly pausing his steps, Lassim turned to face towards the top of the mountain and said, "Master, we'll make it back before my regular training tomorrow morning!"

He knew Master Ferrum's spirit sense was constantly stretched out to observe a vast area throughout the academy, the city and nearby area at all times. Surely he'd be able to notice his disciple's message. 

Bewildered, Lustria and Sirium shared a confused look but ignored it since they knew nothing about the mysterious Headmaster and if he was listening it would be too risky to pry. 

Up in the mountain abode, a man in deep meditation gently whispered back, "Good luck." The dragon by his side merely opened an eye for a brief moment before returning back to sleep.