57 "He Is In Good Hands."

Master Nien Dinra's residence

In one of the several rooms of the manor, Master Dinra's slender white form was sitting next to an unconscious body. The entirety of Master Dinra's gray eyes had transformed into the blues of the deep ocean, while her body exuded vast amounts of warm blue flames.

Master Dinra's arms were outstretched over Ovandarrak's body, and the blue flames within the woman were being transferred into the unconscious boy. As they were being transferred, the flames engulfed Ovandarrak's whole body giving it the appearance of him being consumed by a mighty blue inferno.

Master Dinra stayed in that position for what seemed like an eternity. Given the level of Ovandarrak's injury to the soul, she would have to keep this up for the next two or three hours.

Twelve seconds… The boy had endured the oppressive violet essence for twelve seconds. Even Master Dinra had been curious about how Ovandarrak would fare in the trial, and thus, had been paying attention to it. How mentally strong was he to endure something that terrifying for so long? The first requirement for becoming a soul recovery doctor was incredible mental resilience. With such a strong mind, she was sure that this boy was bound to do great things. But first, she would have to heal him.

The moment Ovandarrak could no longer take the pain, he aborted trial. Thankfully, the violet level was designed such that once it ended, the applicant would automatically be transported straight to Master Dinra's laboratory. That way, the person could be treated as soon as possible.

When Ovandarrak was suddenly whisked into Master Dinra's laboratory, the master quickly observed that he had a huge gaping hole in his soul. The violet essence, though designed not to kill the child, had still been effective in wounding Ovandarrak's soul.

Since Master Koo Minchii was an evolved blue user, the violet essence duplicated by Naa Vah was not as powerful as the real thing. Even still, a blue user would still find it incredibly difficult to endure it. Thus, for Ovandarrak to withstand for so long, Master Dinra felt absolutely certain within her soul that she was looking at the next prodigy in soul recovery.

Perhaps, she would take him in as her direct disciple; the first one she had ever had.

…....…..

"Come on, let me in. I need to see him. I don't how many times I have to tell you. Captain Jarjaha is my mentor."

"I already told you, you can't go in. It's forbidden to the likes of you. You can see your 'mentor' somewhere else."

"What do you mean to the likes of me? I'm amazing. Also, why are you so stubborn? I'm supposed to be the stubborn one here."

"Leave before I throw you out myself."

"I dare you, captain. I dare you."

From a distance, Savyrran and Minyet watched the two young men bickering with each other like children. Well, at least one of them was a child, around their age. And from the wide mischievous smirk on the boy's rotund brown face, Savyrran was sure that he was absolutely enjoying how he was taunting the older man. The more Savyrran looked at the short bald boy with the tough stature, the more Savyrran felt she had seen him somewhere before.

"Is that not the boy who partook in the trials with your brother?" Minyet whispered, as if she did not want anyone to discover their presence.

A realisation finally dawned on Savyrran as she suddenly remembered where she had met the boy. That was the same boy who had completed the indigo level with Ovandarrak. What was he doing here at the Captains' Room? Or was he here for the same reason as them? That was highly unlikely. If that were the case, then didn't that mean that the boy was friends with Ovandarrak? Why else would he want to see Captain Jarjaha?

After Savyrran and Minyet had left the play room in Jenggen Hall, they came to the Grand Hall to look for Ovandarrak. However, he was nowhere to be found and they could not find Captain Jarjaha either.

Thus, Minyet had suggested that they should probably go to the Captains' Room.

The Captains' Room was located inside the Student Court and while all students were allowed within the court, only the eleven captains were allowed inside the Captains' Room. This place was sacred to the captains, and even all the teachers of the academy understood that. Thus, a student who was not one of the eleven captains who entered the Captains' Room could be expelled from the academy.

Minyet knew this because after she had passed her trials, the Captain of the School of Weapon Studies had brought her here to introduce her to the Captain of Jenggen Hall. But since only captains could go inside the Captains' Room, Minyet had had to wait outside.

"What is this? More freshmen? Who allowed you people in here?" The captain shouted with fury when he noticed the presence of two others. Clearly, these were freshmen who did not know any better. If they did, they would not have even ventured this close to the Captains' Room. He blamed those other soft captains who usually brought their proteges here.

"We apologize, Captain Benu." Minyet said. "We are just here to see Captain Jarjaha. This is an emergency."

For a moment, Captain Benu's furious eyes shifted in uncertainty. How did this girl know who he was? Well, he had quite the reputation as the captain of Yugaki Hall. Thus, perhaps, this girl might have heard the stories.

Captain Benu mustered up all the pomp and air of self-importance. Three children looking for Jarjaha Kon-Montu in one day? He did not realize that Jarjaha had taken so many proteges for himself. That irresponsible idiot?

"See if he cares." Pan scoffed when he heard the girl's apology. "Why do you think I'm still standing outside?"

Captain Benu had the strong urge to smack the bald boy to death. However, he knew he would be in trouble for that, and thus, tried to control himself. Maybe once the academy officially resumed for classes, he would challenge this idiot to an official duel. That way, even if he pummeled him to death, it would still be in accordance to the rules of the academy.

"Please Captain Benu?" Minyet pleaded in her sweet voice. Even a psychopath was sure to melt with kindness once they heard her voice.

Captain Benu felt his high rigid walls crumbling. "Fine. Wait here."

Minyet smiled and nodded obediently as the captain went back inside the room.

Pan's big eyes got even bigger with shock when he witnessed how the girl had just sweet-talked the captain in a matter of seconds. He had been trying to get Captain Benu to listen to him for close to half an hour, and yet, the captain would not even budge.

"How did you do that?" Pan asked the red-haired girl.

"Do what?"

"Make him do what you asked. He would not even listen to me. I mean, obviously you are a very beautiful girl. But clearly, that was not the reason. Do you know him? That captain was a real piece of work."

Minyet laughed heartily. Was this boy that clueless? All she did was ask nicely. From what she had seen, this boy had a knack for antagonizing people with his words. Minyet however kept that to herself. Instead she said, "well, all I did was say please."

A long hysterical laugh suddenly escaped from Pan. It was as though what the girl had said was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. Say please? She must be joking. His strategy was simple; piss them off until they give up.

"You are in the same school with Ovan, aren't you?" Savyrran asked, interrupting the boy's manic laughter

It was the first time Pan truly noticed the presence of the other person next to the red-haired girl. He slowly observed the full form of this person's body. He almost mistook her for a boy, however, after a close inspection, Pan knew that this handsome being was actually a girl. He blatantly eyed the girl's strong muscular arms, then slowly, he looked at his own arms. Though he had been very serious in his physical training, and he even had the body to show it, something about the girl told Pan that she had endured harsh unspeakable horrors in her training.

Savyrran chuckled when he saw how the boy was just looking at her, as though figuring out whether she was a boy or girl. This was something she had become used to and it never bothered her at all. In fact, she was usually surprised when someone she meets for the first time immediately knew that she was a girl.

"Ovan?" Pan asked.

"Ovandarrak Thark."

"Oh, Ovandarrak. Yes, yes. We are. I'm here to see our captain because of him, and… wait…" Pan paused, excitement dancing in his eyes. He suddenly recalled the description Ovandarrak had given Captain Jarjaha when he was talking about his sister. Why did this girl bear a close resemblance to Ovandarrak���s description? She had the same hairstyle as Ovandarrak, the same beautiful black eyes Ovandarrak had emphasized on, and according to Ovandarrak, his sister 'was as strong as she really looked.' In fact, Ovandarrak had even claimed that his sister was far stronger than he was; a fact Pan found hard to believe given how powerful Ovandarrak's essence and soul armos were.

"Are you Savyrran?" Pan blurted suddenly.

Savyrran slightly raised her eyebrow. Ever since she came to this academy, it felt like random people knew her name even before they'd met her. First it was the captain, and now this boy.

"My name is Pan. I'm a friend of Ovandarrak." Pan quickly added when she sensed Savyrran's hesitation.

"This is my friend, Minyet." Savyrran said and Minyet waved at Pan with a friendly smile. "Did Ovandarrak tell you my name?" Though there was a cheerful smile gracing Savyrran's face, Pan could tell that the girl was being serious.

As much as Savyrran tried to imagine it, she just could not see Ovandarrak sitting down with a 'friend' and then telling them about his life story. There must be another explanation to this. But if Ovandarrak was making friends, then this was certainly a good thing.

However, before Pan could say anything, before he could explain that Ovandarrak did not really tell him all that, but instead had said it to Captain Jarjaha, the door to the Captain's Room opened, and out walked the captain himself. Talk of the devil…

"Captain Jarjaha." Pan said as soon as the captain came out, grateful to finally change the subject.

"Pan. What are you doing here? What did you say to Captain Benu? He's really mad at you."

"He wouldn't let me come in to see you. And I wasn't letting him get away with it."

"That's because you can't come in unless you are a captain."

"Oh. How do I become a captain then?"

Captain Jarjaha laughed. After learning about Pan's temperament, he had come to know that the boy was not a serious person and anyone with a short temper would always be irritated by him. It was no wonder Captain Benu could not stand Pan's guts. Jarjaha felt like he was looking at his young self whenever he looked at Pan. For this reason, since the rules of the academy demanded that every senior was required to mentor a first year student, Captain Jarjaha had taken Pan Ranma as his protege.

"Ah, you came here with Savyrran and her friend?" The captain said as he smiled at the two girls.

"My friend is Minyet." Savyrran added.

"She seems keen on telling everyone about her friend." Pan added.

While Minyet frowned and bit her lips at Pan's rude tone, Savyrran just laughed as though amused by it.

Pan cursed himself in his head. These twins were driving him crazy. One just did not care about anything he said and straight out ignored him, while the other just laughed in his face.

"I'm guessing you three came to look for me because of Ovandarrak, right?"

Three heads nodded simultaneously.

"Is he okay?" Savyrran asked. There were people saying her brother had died. She knew better than to think that. Though Ovandarrak was only a green user, his mental resilience was extraordinary. Thus, she knew her brother was still alive.

"Honestly, I have no idea. But I believe since the master is taking care of him, he will be alright. He is in good hands."

"So he is alive then." Minyet heaved a sigh of relief. The nagging feeling that something terrible had happened to Ovandarrak slowly dissipated.

"Master Dinra is taking care of Ovandarrak?" Pan asked.

Captain Jarjaha nodded. "And the recovery would go on for another few hours so you will have to wait for now. The master does not like being disturbed while with a patient. So why don't you all go and come back in about three hours. I'll take you to see him then."

After the children had agreed to Captain Jarjaha's arrangement, they finally took their leave.

…....

Baono exited the Captains' Room, a large file in hand. Though she was not one of the eleven captains, she was one of the few people allowed within the Captains' Room. Well, she was not a student of Royal Dream either, and thus, she could not be said to be breaking any rules. She found the idea of being a student even ridiculous to her. Even teachers here could not be called her equal.

The thing was that she was the personal aide of her lady who was a captain in the academy. Thus, while the lady usually stayed away from the Captains' Room, it was Baono who would always come here in her stead, unless, the captain's actual presence was an absolute necessity. Though Baono abhorred having to mingle with these pesky little students, serving the lady was her utmost duty, and thus, as a loyal aide, she did whatever was required of her.

Right now, Baono had gone for the list of the new first years so that her lady, the Captain of Haniki Hall, would select those students she would want in the hall of residence.

While Baono was thinking about how deserted the Student's Court was, since it was usually one of the busiest places in the academy, the middle aged woman heard voices ahead of her.

As she got closer, she saw three teenagers heartily conversing with each other like long lost friends. Baono had been around this academy long enough to know that these children were either applicants or had just become students of Royal Dream. All in all, it looked like a normal scene, until one of the three children caught Baono's eye.

Those shiny black eyes, she had seen them somewhere before. But where? Baono thought long and hard. Anything that was related to the lady, whether directly or indirectly, was extremely important to her. And she knew that this boy was somehow linked to the lady.

Ah, yes. Ahn Bayari. Baono thought. Those long black dreadlocks were very familiar. It was the same boy they had seen in Ahn Bayari; the boy selling the toys. What was he doing here? It did not sound like a coincidence that someone they had met in Southern Cape Province a few months ago was in the same academy here in Royal Hill Province.

Baono made a mental note to report this new development to Lady Ashesi. In the mean time however, he would keep a close eye on this boy. With all that was going on, she was not taking any chances when it came to the safety of the lady and her sister.