End of the Field Trip I

After acquiring Seraphim's Embrace, the rest of the field trip was relatively uneventful. Our primary task was to complete a group research project on the places we visited and what we learned. The Academy mandated that we work in groups of five, and we were given the liberty to choose our teammates.

I aimed to partner with Rachel. She was the top student, an academic genius who managed to achieve a perfect score on all her written exams during the mid-years, even with the significant increase in difficulty.

'How did it end up like this?' I thought, forcing a smile as I surveyed the scene in my hotel room. The five of us were gathered to work on our project. Given that it was a group assignment, the professors permitted us to mix genders in our rooms.

My gaze swept over my teammates, and I almost let out a sigh.

Especially at the two who were arguing.

"Hey, don't make it look like that!" Cecilia snapped, pointing at Sera's work. Sera's blue eyes narrowed in defiance as she continued ignoring the blonde princess, causing Cecilia to clench her teeth in frustration.

Rachel, the designated leader, was trying her best to calm them down and steer the group in the right direction, but her efforts were proving futile.

Meanwhile, Luke was staring at Rachel with such adoration, it was as if he believed an angel had descended from heaven.

'Why is my luck so damn bad?' I cursed internally.

The air in the room was thick with tension. Cecilia and Sera's bickering was like nails on a chalkboard, and Rachel's attempts to mediate were only adding to the chaos. Luke's infatuated gaze at Rachel wasn't helping either. It was clear that focus and productivity were far from the group's reach.

Cecilia's face was flushed with irritation, her hands on her hips as she leaned over Sera's shoulder. "You're not listening! This part needs to highlight the cultural impact, not just the historical facts."

Sera, with a calm that bordered on cold indifference, replied, "I know what I'm doing, Cecilia. If you want to rewrite it, be my guest."

Rachel sighed, running a hand through her hair, her voice gentle but firm. "Guys, we need to work together. This project is important."

Luke, oblivious to the turmoil, continued to gaze dreamily at Rachel, his notebook untouched in front of him.

I took a deep breath, trying to quell the rising frustration within me. 'This is going to be a long night,' I thought, bracing myself for the challenges ahead.

"Hey," I elbowed Luke, breaking his trance-like stare at Rachel. He turned to me, still half-focused on her. "Huh, yeah, what?"

My brows twitched with irritation. I siphoned some mana from my core, channeling a mild electric charge into my elbow, and jabbed him again.

"Ouch!" Luke yelped softly, rubbing his arm. The three girls were too engrossed in their argument to notice our exchange.

I leaned in closer, whispering, "Stop staring at Rachel already. Do you think she doesn't notice? She's just too kind to say anything."

His eyes widened in shock, his expression aghast as if he had never considered that possibility.

'I wouldn't be surprised if someone told me he's already gone through her social media, saving every picture she posted... maybe even doing something more with those pics,' I thought, a shiver of disgust running through me.

I shook my head to clear the unsettling thoughts. "Arthur, that's wrong," came a mellifluous voice from my left. I turned, almost grazing Rachel's cheek. Her sapphire eyes were laser-focused on my tablet.

"It's wrong?" I managed, trying not to stare at her or the distraction below her face.

I could feel Luke's burning gaze, so I quickly turned my attention to where Rachel was pointing. "Yes, you forgot to consider the star-like clusters in astral energy," she pointed out.

I clicked my tongue in annoyance at myself for overlooking such a detail. "Thanks, Rach," I said, managing a smile.

She returned the smile warmly. "No problem."

The five of us managed to get through the group research project without any further issues. With Rachel likely on track to become valedictorian, she skillfully led the project, ensuring it was likely the best in the Academy.

Each of the twenty groups had a unique topic to investigate and research. Unfortunately for us, we got the challenging task of exploring the 'Temple of Enlightenment.' This meant we had zero overlap with other groups, making our work both distinct and difficult.

I was responsible for researching the Wall that existed between <Integration >-rank and <Ascendant >-rank, and how the Temple could help individuals surpass this barrier if they found themselves stuck at it.

The rest of the team focused on the historical and cultural significance of the Temple, including its construction and timeline.

Despite our teamwork and progress, I couldn't shake off my personal disdain for the Temple.

'I hold nothing but bad memories of that place,' I thought, my face scrunching up in distaste.

The Temple had given me nothing except pain and the haunting memory of my loss to Ren. This failure still lingered, gnawing at the edges of my mind.

As we continued working on the project, the room's atmosphere lightened. Despite the challenging topic, our group had started to find a rhythm, each of us contributing our strengths. Rachel was a natural leader, guiding us with a clear vision and calm demeanor.

"Okay, let's take a break," Rachel suggested, stretching her arms. "We've been at this for hours."

Luke immediately perked up. "Finally! I thought we'd never stop." He grinned, his usual laid-back demeanor returning.

I glanced at Cecilia and Sera, who were still deep in discussion about a particular historical event related to the Temple. Cecilia's passionate gestures contrasted with Sera's calm, analytical approach.

"Come on, you two," I called out, "Time for a break."

Cecilia looked up and smiled. "I suppose we could use one," she admitted, standing up and stretching.

Sera nodded in agreement. "A short break would be beneficial."

We gathered around the small table in my hotel room, each grabbing a snack from the assortment we had laid out earlier. It was a simple spread—chips, fruit, and some chocolate—but it was enough to lift our spirits.

"So, Arthur," Luke started, leaning back in his chair, "You've been awfully quiet. What's going on in that head of yours?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Just thinking about our project. The Temple of Enlightenment is such a complex topic."

Rachel nodded. "It is, but we're making good progress. I'm really impressed with everyone's effort."

Cecilia rolled her eyes playfully. "Of course, you are, Miss Perfect Score."

Rachel blushed slightly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I just want us to do our best."

As we finished our snacks and returned to work, the mood was lighter, more collaborative. Cecilia and Sera found common ground in their research, while Luke and I focused on analyzing the Temple's architectural significance. Rachel continued to guide us, her organizational skills keeping us on track.

Hours passed, but it didn't feel like work anymore. It felt like a group of friends coming together to tackle a challenge. The room was filled with laughter, occasional teasing, and a shared sense of purpose.

By the time we wrapped up for the night, we had made significant progress. More importantly, we had grown closer as a group.

"Let's wrap this up tomorrow for the presentation," Rachel said. 

We were going to depart from Nimran day after tomorrow.