Preamble of the Midterms

I walked in front of the desk, surveying the goods laid out in front of me. Once I was finished observing, I started with the leftmost urn and squeezed it. The urn crumbled under the pressure revealing the objects inside. Inside were two scrolls of dark leather tied with two small silver ribbons on both sides of the rolled-up scrolls. It wasn't hard to figure out what was hoarded inside of the scrolls. It was most likely the Martial Art and Physique Art I was in need of. The difference between these and the ones Convir gave me is that these two match up with the Firearm Branch, giving me much more strength than it would otherwise.

I tucked the two scrolls into my robe and focused my attention on the middle urn. I didn't waste any time and repeated my actions, causing the urn to crumble into shattered clay. On the inside of this one weren't more scrolls, as I'd expected, but instead was a tiny metal cartridge. Its height and length was about as big as my thumb, but the width was very thin, giving it a sleek look. It took the shape of a rectangle and had a black exterior until your eyes went farther down it. At a certain point, it grew smaller and took on a silver color. One side had what looked to be a face made from two holes and a dent while the other had a long line-shaped dent going through it in a key-like motion. As I turned the thin side to face me, I could see the inside was filled only halfway with a strange white material and a green board on top that was decorated in white lines and white squares connected to together.

I had no clue what this thing was, but I was sure that with enough messing around, I'd figure it out. So I just pocketed it and moved on to the final urn. This one was a mystery to me because I already got my Arts, and I was pretty sure that the weird appliance I just got was connected to the Crossbreeding Guide that I needed, so I was unsure what was left for me to gain. But there was no point in guessing when I had the answer right in front of me.

I opened up my hand and wrapped it around the final urn before gripping it with all my strength and breaking it from the neck down. Once it shattered into pieces and I blew the dust out of my face, my final gift was exposed. I looked at it, dumbfounded for a moment before quickly recovering.

My surprise turned into a tumultuous smile as ideas brewed in my head, "How could I forget about such a key part of ascension? I'm sure that whatever Medisma plans to throw at me, this will make it extremely interesting..."

After storing my final reward, I turned around and began to make my way out of the inheritance.

'I have many things to do now. There is only about a week remaining until the midterms, and I'll have to spend that entire time double, triple, or even quadruple checking my plans while confirming my faction's strengths and weaknesses. I'll have to absorb my ascension as best I can before the midterms because even now I wasn't confident about taking on a 2nd half Coal Class Wild Beast. The last one I defeated was purely circumstantial; I'd be foolish to let that go to my head. The next week would be busy... but I am excited to find the conclusion.'

I breathed in, and as I did a wave of anticipation, excitement, and readiness cascaded down my spine. This feeling of adornment sat in my lungs for a brief moment, spreading upwards to the tip of my tallest hair, and to the bottom of my soles. And then I breathed out. The feeling was sucked out of my body, condensing into one feeling of the highest ecstasy. Once I finished breathing out, this thrilling feeling left with it, but not without filling my body with the want... no, the need of the satisfaction gained from carrying out my long-thought-out plan.

This's the rush of adrenalin I get from risking it all on one bet, one bet to win it all.

But, I suppose that's just in my nature.

I am a demon after all.

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Convir's POV:

I leaned back in my chair while giving an exhausted sigh and placing the ten or so papers in my hand over my face. I've been nothing but swamped with work lately. It was harder than you'd think to set up a schoolwide test. Even though it was a smaller class this year, it ended up being even more work because of everything going on in the political world of the sect. I had to have Hasrem, Telferr, and the old man make tests that were personalized based on the crop of students this year, and once they finished I'd go over it before making recommendations. And for some reason this year, besides Hasrem, they seem to be giving it half as much effort compared to the last. Repeat that process over two weeks, mix in the impossible difficulty of setting up the practical exam and the sect being in a state of panic, and you get me.

Of course that wasn't all, if it was I'd still have time to eat one good meal a day. I also had to constantly work things out with Medisma to make sure our actions aligned with our goal once the midterms began. Because, big surprise, everyone was filled with such dread from the Wild Beast attack that they're gonna be paying more attention to the midterms than ever before. Of course, this is good for us, but it also completely takes away the safety net we had before. It was now or never.

But this wasn't even the scary part. If it was up to me, I'd be much more confident, but this is all up to Quis. It's not as though I suspect him of mutiny or anything similar, he was far too young and inexperienced to let go of the pride he got from being in one faction to betray it. It was that I feared he couldn't match up to the expectations Medisma had for him.

Suddenly the door was flung open, and even though I couldn't see who it was, I knew it was Medisma.

Her wooden cane clinked on the wooden floor as she approached me while talking to me, "Oh, don't act like that. It's been difficult, but the hard part is almost over. The midterms are approaching quickly, and I have everything set up. The important part now is the execution. We can leave the publication to Quis, but we still have to be careful. If something goes wrong, we'll need the right people for the job."

I brought my chair back to the ground and pinched my nose bridge, "Yeah, I know. I have everyone on my side ready for guard duty. We can't have a repeat of the Wild Beast incident, so we'll have to stay back, but Quis can almost match our strength, and that old man is particularly strong, so we should be fine."

Medisma nodded her head, "That's good to hear. I actually have those four elders of mine participating in this, and I expect great things out of them now that they've changed so drastically. And even if Quis' teachings didn't do enough, the death of a comrade would be sufficient to prepare them. When life hits you like that, you either toughen up or buckle under the pressure. I'm proud to say that my elders were a part of the former."

I brought my head out of my hand and looked at the ceiling, "Great. Since we're both clear with everything, I just have to finish my duties as the school's dean, and we'll be set. We already have plans for something going wrong... alright. Then I guess we just have to wait until tomorrow."

Medisma laughed out loud, "Haha, It's great you know? For the fruits of your effort to finally be reaped."

I gave out a small chuckle and joined her in her happiness.

"You're right about that. The satisfaction truly is wonderful."

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Opacus' POV:

The rain dropped outside of the window I sat next to.

Tap, tap, tap, it went.

My fingers went up and down on my desk, the fingernails pounding against the wood in hypnotic strides.

Tap, tap, tap, it went.

The thoughts in my head swirled like the dark clouds did, slamming into each other in the process of elimination.

Tap, tap, tap, it went.

Suddenly, there was one thought remaining. One idea that stood above the rest.

'I was worried a bit there, but this works well. I'll wait for the midterms to get into an ending phase, during the practical exams to be exact. I know that Medisma and Convir are going to do something during this period, and because of that, they'll definitely put more effort into guarding the exam closely. But I can also surmise that they themselves won't be involved in it or they would look irresponsible in the eyes of the public for leaving the sect soon after a Wild Beast attack. So I have to strike then. Send him in. Then forcefully weaken their faction. Once they are weaker than me again, they'll have to spend time recovering. But why would I give them that luxury?'

My eyes darted around the room, looking at all of the different papers I had hanging on my walls. Each correlated to life lessons I wanted to make sure I remembered. If there was ever something I didn't know how to act toward, I would look at these papers for guidance. Right now, on my desk was one that was very simple. It was titled, "Crush Your Enemies Completely."

'They were the ones that forced my hand. I didn't want to resort to something as childish as violence, but now I have to. I have to do it, for the sake of my father, and his father before that. I had to do it, or else everything I held dear to myself would fall. It was up to me. All up to me.'

I stood up and grabbed the paper before stepping toward an empty section of my walls.

Step, step, step, it went.

I tied the piece of thread back into the hole I made long ago, tying it against the wall before swiping off the crud gathered on the paper.

Swish, swish, swish, it went.

Once the paper was firmly held against the wall, I fell down on my back and brought my hands out in front of my face. I spread my right out completely and took my pointer finger out of my left one, "There are five. One is murdered by a crazed maniac." I sliced the top of my thumb with my pointy finger and dropped it down causing my right hand to now represent four.

"There are four. One is found hanging on a noose, the oxygen missing from his body." I repeated the same for my pinky and put it down, now having the number three on my hand, "There are three. One is found guilty of treason and is sent to exile for life." I once again repeated the process for my ring finger, "There are two. One is not found murdered. One is not hung. One is not exiled. One is silent, never raising his voice, therefore, he's not there. But the other. The other is loud. And is there. The silent and the loud make a great combo. One is not enough. For without one, the other is obsolete. But too many is cramping."

I put my hands down and stared at the ceiling.

Oh, how limiting it felt.

But to break it would be a feat of impossibility.

Unless you only hit shallow before hitting hard, using its own arrogance to shatter through.

A great feeling that would be.

A great feeling that I wanted to be.

A great feeling that will be.

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Quis' POV:

"Alright, let's get introductions out of the way. You might know each other's names, but I'm sure we all know that isn't telling enough. So let's do a bit of an ice-breaker. You'll say your name, your Class and Level, your Branch, and finally your favorite activity. I'll start it off. My name is Quis, I'm in the 1st Level of Stone Class. The Branch I cultivate is the Firearm Branch of the Technology Path. And my favorite activity is planning and enacting stratagems. We'll go clockwise starting with Hasrem."

"Oh, yes. My name is Hasrem, as you already know. My Class is the 1st half of Coal Class, and I'm at the 2nd Level. I cultivate the Wood Branch of the Magic Path. As for my favorite activity, ummm, I'd have to go with the teaching. It's my job after all, ha."

"I suppose I'm next. I'm Culdia and I'm at the 6th Level of Coal Class, 1st half of course. I cultivate the Wood Branch as well. And my favorite activity is definitely going to be violence. War, murder, slicing, hurting, anything really. I just want to see red."

"... Alright then... You certainly have your priorities straight, what an interesting young lady. My name... my name has lost its meaning. You can just call me old man, old guy, anything of the sort. I am at the 9th Level of the Coal Class. I am still in the 1st half and that will not be changing anytime soon. I too cultivate the Wood Branch, though I have not been truly focused on it in quite a time. And my favorite activity... let's see. I've been researching the Magic Path for the longest time, but I would have to say I enjoy the battlefield most."

"I have a feeling we'll get along quite nicely then."

"... If you're both done having a pow-wow, I'll go. I'm Fragitus. 4th Level of Coal Class, 1st half. Explosive Branch, Technology Path. My favorite thing to do is easily fighting. Just a heads up, I share this body with another person, her name is Paxium. She hasn't officially decided to join yet, so don't freak out if I change personalities on you. Next."

"Well alright then, quite the cast you've got here Quis. It seems like everyone here is just a meathead who wants to fight, but I suppose that's what we're here for so no harm no foul, haha. Anyways, my name's Beulus, I'm still in the Stone Class, 9th level, and it's not by choice in case you're wondering. I just use the Fire Branch, nothing too unique. And my favorite activity is getting a taste of that dirty water after a long day of work."

"Right... I'm uh, I'm Onvima... I'm at or, I mean in the 6th level of Coal Class, uh 1st half. I cultivate the... Light Branch... And I guess I like reading books-"

"Come on dude, you seriously need to grow a pair and stop being so awkward. It's not that hard, just say your words like you do when you're around us."

"It's harder than you think, Fragitus! I'm sorry that I don't have enough pride to not run away when I know death is certain. At least I don't act like I'm better than everyone else..."

"I don't do that! I only act like I'm a little better. Trust me, Iraspisit acted like he was better than others... Sorry."

"... No it's alright, we all need to move on anyways... Who's next?"

"That'd be me. The name's Telferr, so try and remember it-"

"Not much to remember."

"Shut your trap Beulus... Anyways, I'm in the 8th Level of Coal Class, I'm still in the 1st half, but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't believe the 2nd half is going to be soon. I cultivate the Sword Branch, Technology Path. And my favorite activity has to be just everything involved with the sword. That's about it."

"Guess I'm last then. Well, I'm Vernam. I fall into the 5th Level of the 1st half of Coal Class. I use the Lightning Branch, Magic Path, and my favorite thing to do is... hanging out with my friends. Now that we're done with that, what going on Quis? Why'd you call us all here?

I put my elbows on the table and put my hands in a praying gesture before laying my chin on one of the spaces in between my knuckles. I slowly moved my eyes across the table, looking at every one of the pawns I've been able to capture thus far. I closed my eyes and when they reopened I looked forward with a twisted smile.

"Today, we're going to go over the midterms."