Bonds Forged in Battle

1 year later

*CLASH*

Jirael and Rina were exchanging fists. They'd been continuously training with each other for a year and would occasionally spar. They whizzed around the training arena. Rojin screamed.

"GOD DAMNIT YOU TWO!!! HOW MANY TIMES ARE YOU GOING TO BREAK MY GODDAMN ARENA LIKE THIS?!?!?!?!"

He grabbed them both by their shoulders.

"Let's discuss compensation shall we?"

...

He brought them to his office and as he sat down on his desk he looked at Jirael.

"Are you going to join the adventure class?"

"Yes. That was the plan. The assignments there allow me to see the world."

"Then do you know who your partner's will be?"

Jirael paused for a moment and then spoke.

"I do not but I do wish to travel alone."

Rina was shocked.

"Atleast take some teammates with you you idiot or else you'll die!"

Rojin sighed.

"You're going with a team and that's it. Rina here will be the leader of your team. I'll try to find some good teammates who won't lose to you that much in strength. Do you accept?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. The reason I'm doing this is because I want you to find me a bloody lotus near the Movun Caves."

"Yes sir."

2 days later, outer courtyard

The second and third years lined up by the outer courtyard. Looks of contempt were filled in the eyes of his old classmates who couldn't pass the practical exam to advance to be second years.

"How could someone like him who sleeps everyday pass?! Everytime I think about it it just makes me angry."

They continued on and Jirael couldn't ignore it when these words were said

"It's because he's the principal's bitch."

His killing intent flared up as he rushed at them. They were stunned and couldn't move at all. Jirael's killing intent was like a heavy pressure. He was about to land a punch when Rina stopped him.

"Forgive them Jirael. They were just stupid. RIGHT?"

"Yes yes yes miss. We'll never ever do this again and speak ill of brother Jirael."

Jirael was still angry. He couldn't let them off no matter what.

"Please release my hand. I can't let them go like this."

"Can't you find it in your heart to let it slide just once?"

"Fine"

As soon as Rina let go of his hand, Jirael immediately bolted at super fast speeds and managed to punched the both of them. Jirael spoke.

"Next time, I'll break your legs."

Rina sighed.

"Do you always have to beat someone?"

"I don't care if people talk behind my back. My only problem is they were bold enough to do that in front of me. I can't let that go."

Jirael walked away and went to stand by the second years. Immediately some started shuffling away from him. Rina sighed.

"I guess there's no helping it. HEY JIRAEL!"

She went over and stood next to Jirael as they talked about some stuff. Rojin came out and stood on the podium.

"I'm sure you've all heard about the adventure class. You'll be tasked with exploring dangerous regions in order to hone your skills. You will receive a paper where you will write down the weapon you want to receive. Your weapon of choice will affect which people will be your teammates. I believe that is all. Stand in a straight line and wait to receive a paper. After you're done, put it in the box here. Have a good day."

As time went by, Jirael got his paper and he didn't even need to waste time thinking about it.

[Twin Daggers]

2 weeks later

Jirael was sitting in the shade by the academy wall. He had worn the combat gear that Rina had bought for him. It was a black robe but without the sleeves. He was polishing the daggers he had recieved the day before. Rina walked over to him.

"Still as lonely as ever huh?"

"I'm not lonely. I'm just comfortable with being alone."

"Fine fine. Anyways check out these bad boys."

She took out two 3-bladed claws.

"What do you think huh? Aren't they pretty cool?"

"Becareful with those. They're pretty hard to use."

Rina smiled.

"Did you just worry about me?"

"Don't read too much in to it."

"You know, now that I think about it, you sure have grown a lot."

"Shut up."

Rina was right. Jirael's age progression wasn't like normal humans. He already looked like a fourteen year old. Since he is a demon beast, he will grow as fast as he can to an optimum level. Jirael wasn't an exception as he had a highly athletic build. Growing up fast is a survival mechanism in order to survive in the domain of demons. He always looked older than children his age. Soon it was time. Rojin appeared on the podium and called out all the teams each student would be in. Each team would have one teacher and three students, making a total of four. He began calling out the teams.

...

It was soon Jirael's turn and he was grouped up with Rina, second year Kurina and a fifth year Sakke. Kurina was the same girl from a year ago who could see Jirael absorbing chi. She had short green hair. Sakke was a big guy who wielded a giant axe on his back. He had a furred cloak with the sleeves cut off. His white hair spiked up as he ceaselessly combed it. Rina spoke.

"Come on. Let's go meet our teammates."

"Sure"

They walked over and they met the two of them standing by the fountain. Sakke was drinking rum from his goat skin bottle while Kurina was fiddling with her blood reaper chain. Rina spoke.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Rina."

Kurina replied.

"Nice to meet you to. My name is Kuri-"

The air suddenly became tense. Jirael and Sakke were glaring at each other, both of them smiling. Sakke spoke.

"You feel it to huh?"

Jirael smiled.

"Yeah."

Rina sighed

"Oh no."

She had immediately recognised what this was. It was battle instinct. According to the books, it's the feeling you get when you find a perfect opponent for you. Neither stronger or weaker than you, just at the same level. Such moments for martial artists are a rare occurrence. When one meets their fated opponent, their bodies will immediately react to each other and a strong will to fight will envelop them. Both dropped their weapons to the ground. They both couldn't hold their battle instincts back as they clashed fists with each other. Sakke spoke.

"You know, I never was interested in this academy. Everyone was weak but you, you're different. I'VE NEVER FELT SO ALIVE BEFORE!!!"

They continued fighting, darting around from place to place. Each was blocking each other perfectly. Jirael would try a double horse kick but Sakke would dodge. When Sakke tried tripping him, Jirael would retaliate with a front dropkick, only for him to block it. It was purely a battle of stamina. Like they understood each other, neither used chi. It was a battle of pure physical strength. It continued, with neither side overwhelming the other until one of the deacon elders, a frail old woman who manages the martial arts library stopped them. She was at the peak of the 6th Gate.

"Do I really have to come all the way from the senior campus just to deal with a couple of kids? Damn that rascal Rojin."

The Royal Steel Academy is divided into two. The Senior campus and the Junior campus. Two principals manage the respective campuses with the headmaster managing them. The junior campus manages students from the ages of five to twelve while the senior campus manages students from the ages of thirteen to eighteen. After graduating from the senior campus, you can choose to re-enter as a disciple of the Royal Steel Sect and while cultivating, you'll be tasked on teaching the junior students like what Rina is doing. Once you cultivation reaches the 5th Gate, you can decide on becoming the principal of the junior campus or become a teacher for the senior campus. Rina spoke.

"Um Elder Lee? What brings you to this side?"

She ignored her and flew up into the air. She spoke.

"Listen up you brats. An emergency mission has been issued. Find out where Rojin last disappeared on the Movun Caves. The winning team will get a very generous reward from the headmaster herself."

Murmurs began to surface. Everyone was doubting the mission since what could they do if even a 5th Gate was taken down. Jirael spoke.

"Let's go to the Movun Caves."

Sakke smiled as he hung his hand over Jirael's shoulder.

"Let's complete this mission so that we can continue later."

"I look forward to it."

Rina was shocked.

"Jirael didn't protest at all. He who has always been very antisocial let a completely random stranger touch him. I'm not liking this. Jirael is MINE"

They left the academy through the forest. They were blazing through the trees. Jirael and Sakke were in front chatting with each other about their combat experiences. She also noticed Kurina was gazing intently at Jirael. Kurina was thinking.

"He said that as long as there is no malicious intent, he doesn't mind if I look at him. Does that mean that he...likes me too? Get your head together Kurina. You're not strong enough to be worthy of him yet. I'll show him that I'm not deadweight. This mission will be my chance to impress him"