Chapter 46: The candidates
"So you're not going to give up your position?" Elliot asked
"Of course not, imagine how funny it'll be to hear people call me captain and me bossing them around, and none of you can do anything about it then"
Elliot then just nodded and dig into his lunch
"That's it? You aren't gonna like freak out and scare me to giving up the chance to become captain?"
"Why would I? I'll make a mistake trying to pick a fight with you, Noblesse wasn't that weak, I just gotta win the competition and teach you who's better" he took another bite
"I like you, what about you two? Why are you guys here? What's your agenda?"
"We forgot to introduce ourselves" the blue haired guy said "I'm Caleb Light, a third year and a faithful believer of the church of light under the goddess of the brilliant light, Helena"
-I knew one of these guys will show up one way or another- I sighed internally
-Yeah, a guy with the last name Light and worships a goddess of light, sounds like something coming off a novel- Ace agreed
"And this is Liam Raven, I've known him for a long time" he introduced the guy with the long messy red hair
"Nice to meet you, Perseus Silver, I was just strong-armed into this, Caleb wants to know you and Elliot feels a bit insulted that a first year to be rated equal as him. I'm just going to compete fairly, don't worry about me" he shrugged
"So you guys have any clue about how we're going to compete?"
"No clue" Elliot answered
"We don't either" Caleb replied
"Caleb was it? Albert over there is also a big believer in the goddess of light, you should convince him to join your cause"
"Ah a comrade" He got up and went to speak with the uncomfortable Albert
"I heard you got a field trip in a couple days" Eleanor said
"Yep, a small camping trip for a few night, if you want good food again, you can ask Damon to cook for you"
"That's not what I'm saying, I'm joining you, so is Lucas" she replied
"What? You guys aren't even in my class"
"We will, we registered for an extra class, and it turns out, we were in time to join your class" Lucas joined in "I want a bond too you know"
"You guys will have to be camping outside and hunting for food you know, unless of course, you don't want the extra points"
"Well, you going to have to teach us" Eleanor finished her plate "You come from a family of hunters right? Besides I always wanted an excuse to escape from all my escorts, this trip will easily allow me to, no offense Balor"
"None taken, your highness" he bowed, he also looked a bit disappointed
-Ask them how long they've known each other, I'm curious- Diana asked
"How long have you and Balor known each other?"
"Since I was young, he's 5 years older than me, comes from a knight household, he was trained and tasked to protect me, so we've known each other for a very long time, he's the closest to me compared to most people in the palace"
"I'm also the only one in the palace who always manage to find you every time you try to escape" Balor exclaimed
After lunch ended and on the way to enchanting class, Albert came up to me
"I never thought I'd hear so many things about Helena, I'm quite amazed by his stories" Albert shook his head
"Well were all of them true?"
"No, just myths or exaggerated tales"
"What are you guys talking about?" Eleanor asked
"Just small talk, don't worry"
*****
Me and all my bonds except Damon were in a carriage, Eleanor, Lucas and Professor Emma was in the same carriage as me, she also brought along her bonds, one was a beautiful magic bird, the other is the magic horse that is pulling our current carriage.
"Seems like both of us got magic birds as our bond" she chuckled "And you also seem to do last last bonding ritual with her too"
"What is the last bonding ritual, Professor Steel?" Eleanor asked
"Ah, you haven't attended our class during our earlier days" Professor Emma clasped her hand "It is the last stage of the bond, where you and your bond share your past memories together"
"Did you do that with all your bonds?" Lucas asked me
"Of course, they're my family after all, I trust that my memories are of use as theirs are for me"
-That's very sweet of you- Diana rubbed her head against mine
-Sounded genuine too- Dabria added
-Which is a rarity- Siege agreed
We then came to a stop.
"Bandits, damn it" Professor Emma cursed "Why do they like to attack students during field trips, always happens once a year"
"How'd you know it's bandits?" Eleanor asked
"Wilson told me" she answered
"How? He's a horse" Lucas said
"That's the thing, the last bonding ritual allows you to have a conversation telepathically, some beast can do that without one, they also learned our language after they've experienced our memories, they just choose not to speak it"
-Like me, I can use telepathy without bonding- Ace said proudly
"Professor Emma, well since your brother is not here, Professor Steel, can I fight with them too? We've got a lot of practice in getting stopped by bandits" I asked
"Sure, but please run back if it's too dangerous, we already got teachers on the job" She replied
"I can kill them right?" I asked
"Of course"
"Thank you"
-Sounds like fun- Ace said
-Yeah, I need to stretch anyway- Siege got up
3rd person view
"Be care-" Eleanor tried to say, but Perseus, Ace and Siege warped outside "-ful"
"Sorry for that, I'll make sure they get your advice" Diana apologized and flew out of the carriage
-His wolf got a spatial attribute too?! I was told that only his cat got it- Professor Emma thought
-I'll go check on them- The bird replied
-Thank you Wally- Professor Emma replied
"Did you hear his bird talk?" Lucas asked
"So I wasn't dreaming" Eleanor facepalmed
1st person view
"Look a kid trying to be hero" a bandit laughed
"Kid, tell your teachers, get us money, and we'll let you all go" another one added
"Well, I heard most of em are nobles, we can kidnap them and ask their mommies and daddies to pay us a huge sum" one suggested
"We can also have fun with the pretty ones" One replied and the rest cheered
-I'm kinda tired of the bandit troupe-
-Just kill them and complain later- Dabria replied