21 Volume Two | Chapter - Royale Preliminaries Part One

The academy was under extensive repairs for the foreseeable future.

Leaving much of the academy in disarray after the Nebula attack, but that didn't stop the students in their studies and practises.

However with the extent of the destruction that was caused by the battle. It left much of the facilities inoperable.

And with the Royale preliminaries coming around the corner, it made contestants practising for the tournament at a disadvantage.

Sachika was lying on the grass in one of the many academy gardens. Her headphones blaring out music made other students look towards, some of them annoyed.

Her cell phone vibrated in the pocket of her corset, taking it out Sachika swiped the screen with her finger pressing upon the green phone symbol.

"Hello?" Sachika asked immediately.

"Sup Sachi, do you have some time to talk after class sessions?" Chi-Sun responded.

Sachika suddenly remembered that she was going to see Aiko before she got let out of the infirmary tomorrow.

"Yeah sure, we can talk while I'm heading to the infirmary after school"

Chi-Sun responding sounded slightly excited, "Sweet! I'll meet you after class bye!"

The call was instantly hung up on Chi-Sun's end.

Sachika was about to put the cell phone back in her pocket before a notification appeared on the screen. Indicating the start of her next class session.

Putting the cell phone back in her pocket, she starts heading to her next class session.

***

"Who knows why we can't extract a Nebula Core?" The class instructor asked her students.

Sachika seating at her desk towards the back at the top of the sloped room was twiddling with her loosely put together pigtails.

Paying no attention to the instructor, and what she was saying.

"Sachika!" The instructor shouted.

Sachika jolted upward out of her chair, "Y-Yes instructor!" Stumbling on her words.

"Tell me, why can't we extract a Nebula Core?" The instructor asked an agitated expression clearly evident on her face.

Thinking desperately to herself Sachika blurted out incoherent words. The instructor sighed clearly dejected, as Sachika just stood there unease by the current atmosphere. Another student stood up. Sachika looking at the student, realised she'd never seen her before.

Sachika noticed the South Korean tag on the girl's uniform. Indicating that she was from the Essentia South Korea.

"Instructor, it's because the Core is highly dangerous emitting a poisonous aura meaning we can't withstand its effects for more than a few seconds"

The girl sat back down, her black hair was short but a long fringe covered her right eye.

The instructor just looked at the student for a moment, "Very good Roselle, next time don't speak without permission" the instructor went back to teaching the class.

Sachika leaned over to Chi-Sun who was seated next to her.

"You know that girl?" Sachika asked.

"She's one of the first years, many of the students of that year avoid her...for reasons I don't know" Chi-Sun answered Sachika's question. As for Sachika she just looked at Roselle, who was hunched over her desk.

***

As soon as the class session ended, Sachika noticed Roselle leaving the room in a hurry. This piqued Sachika's interest, but before she could indulge herself further Chi-Sun came into view.

"So you ready to go?" She asked a smile on her face.

Sachika nodded so the two of them left the room heading towards the infirmary. Passing by various buildings within the campus of the academy, Chi-Sun decided to ask Sachika her question.

"So Sachi, are you aiming for first place in this year's Royale?"

"Um...I dunno maybe, to be honest, I have more pressing matters on my mind" Sachika replied.

Chi-Sun grinning wrapped an arm around Sachika.

"Oh, I get it!..." Chi-sun twirls in a circle in front of Sachika "...love is on the horizon!"

Feeling agitated Sachika just blanked Chi-Sun, as they continued to the infirmary. It wasn't too long when they arrived, as they entered through the main entrance they noticed the sparsely filled corridors.

"But really Sachika you should try this year, you came first in last year's Royale" Chi-Sun stated.

Sighing Sachika responded, "Look it just depends on how things turn out..."

As they went deeper into the building, the duo noticed Roselle sitting in the corridor on a chair. Walking up to her Chi-sun was the first to speak.

"Hey, you were in our class earlier, must be tough being lumped in with second years until the top brass at Essentia sort out your redeployment"

Roselle didn't respond, she just darted her head upward for a moment, staring at both of them. Then returned her gaze to the floor.

"Maybe she's feeling unwell" Sachika concluded.

"Are you unwell?" Chi-Sun asked as she went to place her hand on Roselles' cheek.

Roselle jumped backwards violently.

"Don't touch me!" Her voice echoed through the corridors, startling what few students there were scouring the corridors.

Roselles' expression seemed to be that of fear. Which confused both Sachika and Chi-Sun. Before the duo could continue talking to her, Roselle darted up out of her chair heading further down the corridor, before taking a left turn.

Both Sachika and Chi-Sun looked on rather confused at what just happened.

"Maybe, she's still dealing with post-traumatic stress from what happened on the Korean Peninsula?" Sachika nodded at Chi-Suns' statement.

"That's a possibility but, she seemed rather protective of herself"

Shrugging, Chi-Sun wasn't too fussed about the ordeal. It was common, especially among first years to experience some form of mental trauma in battles.

Elbowing Sachika in the side, Chi-Sun pointed down the corridor.

"We better get going, before curfew..." winking at Sachika "...Aiko is waiting"

Sachika flustering at the cheeks, "You're not gonna let it drop, are you?"

"Well duh, of course not!" Chi-Sun started to laugh hysterically.

"It's not every day you get to see this type of connection between Familiar and Coordinator"

Without further ado, the two friends headed towards Aiko's patient room.