18 The Unseen

Her head whipped to the two figures silently. The wyvern roared and Phoenix screeched simultaneously. She felt the fighting spirit in Helen and Charles. She smiled. It was good to see some vigor in the youths. Not many were interested in - what they term stressful and annoying - pure battles like this, at least not in this generation.

She left the arena assuming her passive posture. Out of the dust and cracked debris, the two bodies blurred as they continued their high-scale battle. The audience felt the air tremble as they duked it out. Charged in wind energy, Charles was the fastest and embraced in flames, Helen was the one who had the most explosive power.

Dodge, strike, move. Attack, defend, counter. The mantras were currently recited in their minds. They had burnt into their minds. The brilliant Auburn scales glittered as they snapped in the turbulent wind. Her hair wildly blowing. She could feel the energy flowing.

Faster. Her energy was being consumed quickly. She had to end it. A victorious roar erupted from the blurred figure behind her. Her ears were beyond redemption as she heard the responding Phoenix cry. They bled copiously and they rang in a never-ending loop.

Her lithe figure flashed as it mightily crashed into Charles'. The flames entangled her fist as the scales, running up her arm, opened. Erupting in power, her first stifled Charles. Blazing wings appeared on her back. Shifting her weight on the ground as her wings snapped open.

Damn! Charles could feel the stifling energy being compressed into her next attack. The wind began to gather. His arms raised slightly, becoming buoyant in the rough and overlapping layers of moving air. Condensing it into a sword, it took shape. It was crude and rugged but it will have to be. He glanced at Helen.

The flames condensed and formed a layer of gauntlets on her arms. The wings dulled as the energy was transferred to her fists. She felt her arms trembling. She noticed she *was trembling*. Pushing away her fear, she initiated the final phase. The figure of the wyvern disappeared as the broken fragments of the image surged into her fists.

Following her lead, he dispenses off the Phoenix image, copying her. He felt the winds increase in speed. The winds howled. His eyes swirled in emotion. She was the best opponent. He was at his wit's end. He was utterly and completely tongue-tied. He knew it his power was rising. So was *hers*.

They were ready. The ground crackling under them, the wind blew on their faces. Excruciating pain racked their bodies. Charles and Helen lifted their gaze and looked into the other's eyes.

In the blink of an eye, their figures darted. Clashing the howling of the wind became fierce as the flames grew in intensity. An Almighty explosion of elements occurred.

Daniel's forehead knit like caterpillars intersecting on a pathway. Worry. Charles had to do that, didn't he? His thoughts turned sarcastic. The next time I see him, he will be swimming in an ocean with ice cream melting on his head. How can he be so hot-headed? He was turning livid.

Daniel was so busy in thought that he didn't notice the gentle mana repulse the two before the collision. However, the elements still bumped into each other. Their bodies flew back ten to fifteen meters as they collapsed on the ground. All signs of mana in use dissipated. The images... gone like they never appeared in the first place.

The elder, in a flash, appeared beside the knocked-out Charles. Bending down in her black trousers, she injected a portion of her mana into his body. Nourishing him, healing him faster. The numerous burns and deep lacerations were indeed a problem. She frowned.

Appearing before Helen, she inspected her wounds. She had seen the sharpness of the wind blade. It was able to leave Helen in a bloody state with her excellent armor. After all, a wyvern's defense isn't something to take lightly. Several knife-like cuts bled her like leeches slurping her. Draining her. She groaned.

"Oh, she is awake. Good, just need to get them to the nurse's office." The elder faced the class standing at the platform. " Got back to your dorms. And remember this is the fight I - we need. Also, prepare your grammar books for the lesson. And worker students will be required to have paid their fees for the term by the end of this month."

Dispersing in groups, the students murmured excitedly. Daniel passed like a ghost, unseen. He walked to the dorms and he fished his key. Charles would probably be fine as the thought crossed his mind. Opening the door, he heard the door creak like a slowed version of a rat. Entering the dorm and firmly shutting the door, he relaxed into the cold shower that beat his head mercilessly.

The water droplets rolled on his skin and froze as they fell to the ground. The droplets melted, becoming a liquid, and rolled into the longitudinal hole. This process repeated itself. The emotionless female voice rang.

[Ice manipulation (Tier 1) increased +1.]

[Favourability with Teacher X has increased by 10 points (X has been used to identify the unknown).]

He was surprised by the second notification. He recollected that he didn't do anything noteworthy to gain her attention. He shrugged it off after moments of debating.

"What time is it, Thesis." He asked, not really to know the time but to test the system.

"2 hours, 13 minutes, and 28 seconds past midday." Thesis replied. Seemingly less cold to him, she answered him.

Dressing quickly, he got out and the sun bore down on him bringing cooling sweat on his body. He motioned towards the dining hall. One of the spaces where all the classes would meet. Most of the students are food from the second floor, which was more nutritious than the ground floor's meals. He took the rice and meat that had almost no taste.

Daniel knew he was no gourmet and didn't care about what he ate as long as it filled his stomach and allowed him to work. The fees were ridiculously high at approximately 5000 gold. Which meant that he had to work overdrive like a slaving donkey just to afford the fees and a mattress for him to sleep on. He currently was suffering sleeping on a wall with a loose blanket draped over him and a million mosquitoes biting and annoying him.

He absently ate the tasteless meal bringing a sour taste in his mouth. He just crunched a weevil. He sighed as he swallowed it. On the bright side, it was protein. It was better than eating raw meat and scurvy-causing water.

2:43 pm. He decided to visit the staff room which was a few blocks away. The silent clicking of shoes sounded. He arrived at the open room. It looked ordinary with white tiles, turquoise painted walls, and a bulb hanging overhead. Neatly arranged the tables were separated into the subjects: English, Mathematics, Chemistry, History, Geography, Religious Education, Physics and Biology. Respectively they formed a semi-circle with abundant space to maneuver, with the elderly teacher sitting, a phone in hand.

Sensing his presence, she glanced at him and waved him in. Due to his high sensitivity to aura, he turned aghast. The revolving auras attached themselves to the walls and obviously to be a teacher here one has to be off Tier 4 standard and above to qualify. The remnant auras seeped into his being, intruding. He motioned to the woman and arrived at her table with much effort.

"Excuse me, Miss..."

"Edna Silyavich. Yes, your name should be Daniel Wright."

"Yes, miss Edna. I would like for you to train me."

Quizzically she asked. "On what? Biology?" While narrowing her eyes. Her phone was completely forgotten.

"No, combat techniques and soul attribute control." He asked humbly. He was afraid to make eye contact. Primal fear.

"So you were motivated by the battle and want to get stronger." It was not a question. "Sure, but when you mature I want 20% of your income."

She agreed! He frowned slightly at the condition. Seeing his expression, she gave him time to consider. "Thank you, teacher. I wish-" Seeing her wave in annoyance, he shut his trap. He staggered out of the room. "Don't be so pitiful such that it paints your teacher in such poor light. If you say that again you will find yourself without teeth, understood student Daniel." It wasn't a question needing an answer. "At 8 pm meet me at the fields."

Her voice diffused into his spirit. He agreed. After he left, Miss Edna smiled. He took the initiative to come here. When she visited the students, she either found them working or chatting about irrelevant topics. The working part wasn't bad. The topics would either be about the opposite gender or the wealth and prestige of their families. Even though the Moon Crystal country was classified as a state or republic, it was still the seven aristocratic families which pulled strings in the dark.

Such a pity. Such figures of power were of the medieval era. Not giving any face to the political figures of the state. Children were spoilt rotten and lost the basic instincts of survival or activated too late. Short story short, they ended up injured, maimed, or dead. Either by man's hand or the magical beasts roaming outside the limits of Sky city, the world tests them and deeming them unworthy, their bodies are thrown for the vultures to devour.

Her black olive eyes flashed. Daniel having escaped the aura's leaching effect, went on to do his work for the day. Which wasn't much. Sweep here and there, clean here and dust there. He gained at least 75 silver for the task. 4:17 pm.

He kept the coins in his pocket. The people pitied him and paid him well, especially when seeing the wiry build seemingly with no muscle visible on him. "Yo, stick give me some of your coins." Annoyed his head whipped backward. Seeing the arrogant face and slightly large frame, he blacklisted the guy in his mind.

The chestnut eyes stared at him haughtily. He felt the urge the slap that face. "Nah man didn't you get your coins. So please do-" His arm was grabbed as he turned motioning to his dorm. "I said give me your coins. I am from the Vile family so you know what will happen if you don't give me what I want." Two boys loomed over Daniel. Lackeys. He sighed. I tried to be nice.

"Please don't make me do this."

"Do what with your toothpick body that is only fit to be thrown in the bin." The guy was trying his patience and the two lackeys blocked his path. Still holding his arm in place, the random guy tightened his grip. It wasn't enough to gain a reaction from Daniel. He spoke such nonsense, Daniel knew he was no threat.

Not trying to put up a resistance, he twisted his arm In a circular motion. His body shot forward after getting free from the guy's grip. In an instant, a chilled dagger rested on the guy's neck. Blood dripped from a small gash made on the lugging neck. The guy's head was held in a chokehold with a dagger held in place. He was too shocked by this.

"Any of you move and he is dead." Daniel's cold voice rang out. He was careful. He made sure not to hit any major artery or vein, otherwise, It would worsen the situation.

"Alright, Let our boss go. I apologize for our mistakes." The two lackeys responded. Their boss looked like he had seen a ghost. Plus the demeanor in which their target is taking this, he may kill him. They were terrified and probably begging God or whoever they believed in to let them go in peace.

"Good. Take him and the wound should heal in a few hours. Oh and don't do this again. It is not for the best to survive here." These guys were too weak and noobish. All bark and no bite; loosening up his tense muscles, he let the guy go. It wasn't right to bully the weak. At least that was going through his head.

The guy ran to his lackeys. Yes, *ran.* The dagger dissipated and without glancing back Daniel walked to the dorms. His spiritual power probed and established that no Ill intent came from them. He would probably never see any of them again.

The rules made by the school prevented him from maiming or killing his opponent but didn't prevent one from harming or grievously wounding one. He bluffed and was blessed to have someone weak enough dare to threaten him. That was the problem when students, never riding rules and signing stuff. The sunlight still covered the horizon as he returned to the dorm. He laid back after closing the door. He sat and sweat began to trickle down his body as he was very sensitive to changes in temperature. He frowned and he was on edge.

He looked at his notifications seeing the unknown X had been replaced. He didn't feel the need to touch his stat points so he left them as is. He soon got bored. His books were arranged and stationery neatly placed in a pouch he found in a bin. The place was clean with only minimal traces of dust. He decided to meditate until the time for seeing his teacher came.

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