Chapter 24

- Here we are! - Claire waved her arms.

In the Combat Mechanics classroom, or should I say field, on the other side of the Academy, the senior class was in session.

There were several obstacles chaotically arranged on the huge field, and the field itself was surrounded by high walls with runes engraved on them. On top of one of the walls was a small glass room that acted as a viewing platform for the other students.

- Come on, Curtis is waiting for us. - Pointing to the familiar figure next to the tree, Claire said.

After saying hello to the redhead, we waited for the professor to arrive.

"There's quite a lot of elemental mana particles here, is it because there's a lot of fighting?" - but I was prevented from thinking by Arthur appearing on the horizon. I waved my hand, beckoning him toward us.

- Ah! I didn't know you took senior classes, Arthur," Curtis greeted him.

- And I didn't know there'd be so many DC students here.

- No wonder," Ethan said, nodding hello. - It's one of the most popular classes, so it's quite a popular one.

- It's good to see you again, Arthur! - Claire hugged him, smiling brightly. - We mustn't shame the disciplinary committee, must we?

- I'll do my best. - He didn't look happy at the pressure, he said. - Curtis, who else is going to be in class?

After his question, we turned toward the entrance and heard a few exclamations. The elven girl and the vice president of the student council came into the class, drawing a lot of stares.

- Good afternoon, Princess Tessia! - Claire exclaimed, not even bothering to remove her hand from Arthur's neck, and smiled at the princess.

- Kind," the Elf said stiffly.

- Hmm, I wonder why she's in a bad mood today," Claire asked perplexedly.

- You're too close to her lover. - My words were spoken loud enough that Tessia flinched, glaring at me with a red face.

- That's it!" Bladeheart exclaimed with a sly smile. - So our Arthur has a girlfriend and I don't even know about it!?

But Arthur didn't answer, glancing angrily toward the half elf that was Lucas. Seeing that, I poked him in the side, bringing him out of his trance.

- What are you doing Aaron! - The boy looked at me with irritation.

I leaned him closer to me, switching to a whisper: - For someone who's trying to pretend he doesn't know Lucas, you looked at him with clearly visible rage. If you go on like that, you're sure to attract unwanted attention.

- You know what he did. Should I just forget about it? - His expression softened after my words.

- No, but you might not give in to your emotions so easily. - I shook my head.

Arthur nodded absently, immersed in his own thoughts. The others seemed to want to know what we were talking about, but they were interrupted by a voice booming from above.

All the students raised their heads in search of the source of the sound, and I saw an enormous mana beast of prey hovering above the field.

The beast was at least four meters long and had a wingspan of more than eight. Clawing at the ground with its sharp claws, the beast slowly descended, revealing to us a sturdy woman with a giant sword perched on the back of this hawk.

- Welcome! My name is Professor Glory and I'll be teaching you brats! This Firehawk's name is Torch, and he's my dear mana beast.

Arthur grimaced at something, and the professor looked right at us. She walked around the group of students in a circle, scrutinizing everyone, and tried to identify my core stage, which made her own grimace.

"You're not the only one with protection..." - I sent her a rather eloquent look.

- I must say, you're much stronger than the other classes," the professor declared after examining Lucas. She took a little longer to examine the members of the Disciplinary Committee and the Student Council, nodding from time to time.

- If it isn't my new colleague, Arthur Leivin. Nice to meet you," the professor smiled playfully at Arthur, as if intending to tease him.

- You seem to be doing a great job of not drawing attention to yourself, don't you, Art? - I muttered as I watched Glori walk toward us.

Of course, the upperclassmen weren't happy about the fact that some freshman had become a professor, and shouts of protest began to reverberate across the field.

- Quiet, quiet! Instead of complaining, we should trust the principal' opinion more. After all, this boy was able to defeat the previous professor! - Glory tried to reassure everyone.

- But professor! I bet some of the upperclassmen could easily be better teachers than him! Take Ethan, for instance!

Everyone looked at my roommate, who was stoically staring at the speaker.

- It was Principal Goodsky's decision, and none of you have the right to question her choice. I ask you to let Professor Glori continue her class in peace.

Ethan's words sent everyone to a halt, and there was silence on the field. Arthur gave him a grateful look, and whispered, "Thank you."

- Since everyone has calmed down, then I suggest we start off this semester's classes with a little game! Wouldn't that be fun? - It was clear from the looks on the students' faces that only the teacher was happy about the suggestion. - So! What game shall we play... how about a team fight? A war game?

- How about putting DC members on the same team, Professor? I think we'll show great teamwork," Curtis said, and Claire nodded supportively.

Glori rubbed her chin.

- Hmm, that's not a bad idea!

- But Professor, Curtis, Claire, and Ethan are some of the best students at this academy! Plus, they have an AA-rank adventurer with them. It's not fair to put them on the same team.

- That's so... Aha! I got it! For team DK, Arthur will play the role of King. And if he wins, the whole team loses. I think we could also move Aaron to the other team. Now, who to take to the other team with him? - It was like she was talking to herself, muttering possible candidates under her breath.

- Professor. How about putting the entire student body on the other team with Aaron? - The vice president suggested.

- What?" the elven woman turned to her deputy, but before she could object, Professor Glory clapped her hands.

- It's even more interesting that way! But it wouldn't be fair if there were only three of you against four of you. And I think the president of the council would have the same role as Arthur Leyvin.

- I'd like a spot on the student council team," Lucas Wykes said quietly, leaning against a tree.

- Yep, Mr. Wykes, another genius freshman... Good! I'd love to see your abilities in action! - "I don't know," she said, "but doubts haunted her. Maybe she'd heard some rumors about him.

- Oh..." some of the students sighed in frustration at not making the teams, but everyone was still eager to see the game begin.

- The game has a time limit of 30 minutes, which includes a warm-up. Get ready! - At these words, a pile of clothes flew out of the professor's spatial ring to the ground in front of us.

With a serious tone, she began to explain: - These are special equipment, artifacts capable of measuring the amount of damage inflicted. If the damage passes a certain threshold, the gear will emit a piercing beep. If anyone chooses to ignore this warning and continues to fight, they will immediately be expelled from my class and further study at the academy will be called into question. This rule applies to absolutely all students, so learn it by heart. You're all capable of protecting your bodies with mana right now, so use it, and don't rely on equipment that's unlikely to protect you.

Professor Glori cleared her throat:

- DID I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!

- YES!

- Okay. Teams, get ready - she sat down again on her mana beast, and the other students proceeded to the observation deck.

- Well, looks like we're going to be adversaries. - I said as I looked at my enthusiastic colleagues.

- Yes! At last I will be able to fight you! - With great enthusiasm exclaimed Claire.

- Let's try our best, and show everyone what the Disciplinary Committee is worth. - With just as much enthusiasm in his eyes, Curtis said.

- Yes!

I followed the others to pick up my gear. It included a tight jacket and gray straps to wrap around my legs and arms. I was a little uncomfortable wrapping the straps around my arms, so I looked back at the guys, looking for help.

"Claire's helping Ethan, Arthur's helping Elf, that leaves...oh Curtis."

We both looked at each other, and I was about to ask him for help, but Curtis quickly turned around, picking at his straps.

"Huh...looks like he doesn't like me because of that incident with Caitlin. He's understandable."

I somehow secured my straps, and waited for the cooing Arthur and Tessia, who were eventually rushed by the professor, to finish.

Ethan, Arthur, Claire, and Curtis, stood a few feet away. They all seemed to be amplifiers, and we had the advantage until they could shorten the distance, between us.

I was a little nervous. Now, I would be fighting the strongest students in the academy, especially Ethan, whose strength I didn't know at all.

I began to release the gravity elemental mana around me, and electricity ran through my nerve endings, amplifying my reflexes and perception many times over. My hair and clothes fluttered, and the ground throbbed beneath my feet.

The professor's powerful voice echoed across the field, signaling.

- LET THE GAME BEGIN!