Recovery

In the infirmary, I slowly opened my eyes, the sterile white walls of the room coming into focus. As I attempted to sit up, a wave of exhaustion washed over me, reminding me of the toll my recent battle had taken on my body.

To my surprise, I found April, Nina, Lily, and Rose, gathered around my bedside, their expressions a mixture of concern and relief.

"You're awake," April said softly, a hint of worry in her voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, my voice hoarse from my recent ordeal. I struggled to push myself into a sitting position, my muscles protesting with every movement.

Liao Ru entered the room, her presence commanding attention as always. "August," she said with a slight nod, her eyes assessing my condition. "I see you've recovered quicker than expected. Your resilience never ceases to amaze me."

I offered a weak smile in response, grateful for Liao Ru's concern. But as I recalled the intensity of my battle against Blaze, a sense of determination settles over me. I knew that I can't afford to rest on my laurels, not when there are still challenges ahead.

"I need to get stronger," I declared, my voice firm with resolve. "Blaze pushed me further than I thought possible. If I'm going to stand a chance against Archer, I need to be prepared."

Rose and Liao Ru exchanged glances, sensing the weight of my words. Rose looked at April, Lily, and Nina, sensing their equal resolve to defeat Archer and his team back at St. Meishi.

Liao Ru stepped forward, her expression a mixture of sympathy and curiosity. "August," she began, her voice gentle yet probing, "I understand that you're focused on your goal, but you mustn't underestimate the strength you possess."

Rose noded in agreement, her eyes reflecting a similar sentiment. "Indeed, August," she adds, "you've proven time and again that you are a formidable warrior. Your power may come from Utalia, but it's your own determination and skill that have brought you this far."

I listened to their words, grateful for their support, but I couldn't shake the nagging feeling of unease that gnawed at me from within. "I appreciate your confidence in me," I said slowly, choosing my words carefully, "If I can't defeat Blaze nor Archer without getting into this condition at full power, how can I trust myself in defeating Darkness, our true enemy? How can I avenge my fallen people..?"

That very question piqued both the interests of Rose and Liao Ru. They sensed that there was more to me than met the eye, but they couldn't quite put their finger on it.

"What do you mean when you say 'avenge your fallen people'?" Rose asked, genuinely curious.

I looked at Rose for a moment before lowering my head to look at my hands that rested on my legs. As I began to recount my fragmented memories, my voice grew somber, my gaze distant as I relived the painful events of my past. I told them of a time long ago, when I was known not as August, but as Prince Ascea, heir to the throne of Eyica. I spoke of my mother was killed by Darkness, a kingdom plunged into complete chaos, and a desperate flight to Earth to save my own life.

As I reached the end of my tale, a heavy silence settled over the room, broken only by the sound of my steady breathing. Liao Ru and Rose exchanged a knowing glance, their minds racing with questions and possibilities. The truth of my origins may be shrouded in mystery, but one thing was certain: my journey is far from over, and the secrets of my past may hold the key to unlocking my true potential.

As April, Lily, and Nina offered their comfort to me, they could sense the weight of my past bearing down on me, despite their best efforts to lift my spirits. They stuck by my side, offering words of encouragement and gestures of support, knowing that sometimes, simply being there for someone in their time of need is the greatest comfort of all.

As the trio leaves the room to allow myself some much-needed rest, they exchanged worried glances, their thoughts lingering on my troubled expression. They knew that I was strong, but they also understand that confronting one's past can be a daunting task, especially when it's filled with pain and uncertainty.

Meanwhile, outside the infirmary, Liao Ru and Rose engaged in a hushed conversation, their voices low as they discuss my revelations. They both agreed to both help me and my allies reach our full potential, and even wanted to call Nagini and Professor Ray for help to see if they had any tips for them.

--------------------

After spending some time in the infirmary, I was finally released and given a report on my condition. I read my report as I walked down the hall, seeing everything was negative and I was perfectly good to go. I let out a soft sigh of relief, scratching the back of my head and thinking about my battle against Sennie and Blaze.

As I made my way down the hall, my phone began to ring. Taking it out of my pocjet, I noticed it was April calling me and I immediately picked up. "Hello?"

"Hey, August!~ I was calling to tell you that Ms. Rose wants you to come to her classroom," April said.

"Mmm. Got it. I'll be there in about five minutes," I replied, a smile slowly gracing my lips.

"See you soon!~" April said, hanging up the phone.

I placed my phone back in my pocket then went into a light jog toward Rose's classroom. Once I made it to her class and stepped in, I noticed April, Lily, and Nina also in the classroom. April waved at me, wanting me to sit beside her, patting the seat next to her.

I took my seat next to April, looking at the projector and noticed Nagini and Ms. Ray were on the call. "What's this about?"

"I dunno, all Ms. Rose told us was to come meet her in the classroom and that's when we noticed Professor Noxius and Ms. Ray on the call. Something huge is going on," April said, sitting back in her seat, waiting for Rose to finish talking with Nagini and Ms. Ray.

"HE WHAT?!" Nagini asked in complete shock, falling out of her seat as the news completely surprised her.

"N-Noxius! Are you okay?!" Ms. Ray asked, helping Nagini up.

"Yeah I am! Let me talk to him! Where is my Lab Rat?!" Nagini asked, needing to confirm if the information Rose relayed was true.

"He's right here," Rose said, stepping aside so Nagini and Ms. Ray could see me.

"August! Is it true?! Did you awaken your Crest of Conquest?" Nagini asked, her voice tinged with pure curiosity.

I nodded, confirming that what Rose told her was true. Before I could even get out a word, Nagini hopped out of her seat cheering and running around the background. We all let out a chuckle as we watched Nagini celebrate.

"I've...never seen Nagini this happy before," Ms. Ray giggled, watching Nagini run around the room.

"Jeez...she's celebrating like she's the one who unlocked The Crest of Conquest," Leona chuckled, her arms crossed while she watched as well.

"Well, we've got to remember, Nagini is a mad scientist and August is her willing subject so any new breakthrough from August surely is a new breakthrough for her as well. This opens the door for many possibilities in Nagini's eyes and also opens the door for evolution on August's end," Sephora said.

"August! Can you tell me EVERYTHING about your time spent as The Tyrant? I need to know so I know what to prepare for!" Nagini exclaimed, grabbing her notebook and a pen.

Nagini's eyes sparkled with excitement as I began to recount my experiences with my Spirit Form. She leaned forward eagerly, hanging on my every word as I described the sensations and abilities I had felt while in the guise of The Tyrant. When I mentioned my Yaoke, Ms. Ray's expression lit up as she was reminded of Sephora.

As I spoke, Nagini's mind raced with possibilities. The Spirit Race was a subject of fascination for her, its mysteries and potential yet to be fully explored. With me as her willing subject, she saw an opportunity to delve deeper into the secrets of this enigmatic race and unlock the true extent of my power.

"August, this is incredible," Nagini exclaimed, her voice tinged with excitement. "We have the opportunity to uncover groundbreaking discoveries about the Spirit Race and its connection to your abilities."

I listened intently, intrigued by Nagini's enthusiasm. The idea that the Spirit Race might be more common in the galaxy beyond Utalia piqued my interest, opening up a world of possibilities that I had never considered before.

"If the Spirit Race is more prevalent in the galaxy Utalia is in," August mused, "then perhaps there's more to my past than I thought. Maybe there are answers out there waiting to be found."

Nagini nodded in agreement, her mind already buzzing with plans and experiments to further unlock my potential. "We'll start with some preliminary tests," she declared, her excitement palpable. "Who knows what we might discover?"

With Nagini's guidance and expertise, I felt a renewed sense of purpose and determination. Together, we would unlock the secrets of my Spirit Form and uncover the truth about my origins, forging a path towards a future filled with boundless potential and untold discoveries.

"As for the rest of you, keep up your good work and make sure to establish a powerful bond with your Zodiacs! Your Bond with other Zodiacs are also very important, mainly because I also want to see how strong this generation of Zodiac Knights can truly get. From the latest reports I have, you all have grown a lot stronger. St. Nova seems to be treating you all well." Nagini said, looking at her reports.

"Yes ma'am!" The girls said, their determination and resolve strong within them as well.

"I will send you what I need from your preliminary tests. These tests are pretty much missions The Pride can go on at night time where your detection levels won't be so high, but I also sent some day time tests as well that can be completed during Academy Hours. I want results by the end of the week, just to see what results come up," Nagini said, her excitement still evident in the shimmer of her eyes.

"Alright, I'll have these tests done by the end of the week," I said, giving Nagini a nod.

"Good. Alright, I have to get back to work now. I'll send Rose the tests I need you and your allies to do. If you need anything, you can always contact me or Dahlia," Nagini assured, a soft smile playing on her face.

"Thank you, Nagini," I said, returning her smile.

As we finished our conversation with Nagini and Ms. Ray, we received the preliminary tests from Nagini, outlining the challenges that lie ahead. I pored over the details, a sense of anticipation building within me as I prepared for the trials that await.

The first test caught my attention immediately—a nighttime mission to take over a base on the outskirts of the North Emerald Kingdom. I knew that this won't be an easy task, especially under the cover of darkness when The Fallen are at their strongest.

April looked at the test as well, a gasp coming from her out of pure disbelief. "Another encounter with The Fallen..? Without Nagini..?"

"You say that as if neither Liao Ru, Annalise, nor I am here. I'm sure Nagini doesn't expect you all to complete this task without a High Tier Hero being with you all for supervision," Rose said as she walked toward out table.

Nina and Lily gathered around the table as well, taking a peek at the test. A hint of nervousness fell over Nina and Lily, the memories of our last encounter with The Fallen burned into their memories.

"At night, The Fallen are more active and powerful," I explained, my voice grave with seriousness. "We'll need all the help we can get if we're going to succeed...Moreso if Darkness appears. As I am currently, I still stand no chance especially if his Clouds of Nothingness can nullify Zodiac Abilities.."

"With my Clouds of Completeness we can counter Darkness and his allies. You can always count on me for support too, although I'm still not at my current strongest," Sephora said to me, her hand gently rubbing my hair.

'I know, Mama...I am just worried. Our last encounter with them wasn't so pretty...we barely even made it out alive..' I replied to Sephora, still analyzing the mission's details.

I knew that this won't be like the daytime tests I'm accustomed to at the academy. This will be a true test of their strength, courage, and teamwork.

With my resolve steeled, I began to formulate a plan to reach out to other peers including Amunet, Avery and Athena, Liao Ru, and even Headmistress Annalise for assistance. I knew that we would be need allies by our side if we're going to stand a single chance against the darkness that awaits them.

As we prepared to embark on our nighttime mission, my team and I knew that the road ahead would be fraught with danger and uncertainty. But with our close bond and determination to succeed, we were ready to face whatever challenges came our way. Together, we'd prove that even in the darkest of nights, the light of hope and courage will always shine through.