Chapter 263

The garden in Eden that morning was filled with students. The parents from the neutral territory were happy to see their children training, and not having to watch their backs while doing it. That's not why it was crowded though. With the arrival of the usual students, a large group appeared following John. After receiving the basics they've spent four hours cultivating with the rest of the other students.

After meditating for so long a handful of the otherworlders have started to feel an odd sensation flooding the area around them. Sitting in front of their group was Zack with Helena at his side, and he was connected to them all to offer guidance.

'To connect to so many minds at once could only be done by an angel.'Haruna observed quietly.

"I had to see it with my own eyes." Asami smiled down at Haruna.

"I've never lied to you before," Kintaro told Asami while dropping down from a branch.

"They could use a better teacher." Miu walked out of the forest with a smirk.

"Jealousy isn't attractive dear. He seems fond of the children perhaps you could guide them as well." Asami relayed to Miu while glancing towards Zack.

"Playing favorites obasan?" Haruna asked.

'I forget how sharp this one is.'Asami smiled.

"Didn't think you would be interested," Asami replied while approaching Haruna.

"What they do is of no concern of mine, but you won't use the children as pawns," Haruna stated.

Haruna walked over to the students to signal the others of the next exercise. Miu was watching her cousin wake Zack, and the smile he had when seeing it was Haruna greeting him. When the children got up they crowed Haruna hoping to continue their shinobi training from before. Asami smiled when watching Haruna interacted with the children.

'She looks just like you...Why did you have to go back?' Asami's smile quickly faded.

"Can you grab the equipment?" Zack asked Kaya.

Kaya nodded as she cycled through the setting on her ring.

"Do you have to sit that long every time?" Bethany asked.

"The only way for humans to stand against the other species is to have a reservoir of mana to pull from. If you rely on your natural supply it would exhaust quickly, and then your body will be left fatigued or worse if you're inexperienced. You get used to meditating, and it even becomes therapeutic. " Zack replied.

"How long until we can use magic?" Kenny asked.

"You need to be patient it can't be that easy," Bethany scolded Kenny.

"Did you forget the fight at the camp?" Zess asked.

"John held his own against Kishi," Denam said as he examined the tattoo on John's fist.

"That's because the glyph helps channel mana from his surroundings. If I was a minute later his body would've been imploded from the force. Everyone advances differently, and there's no need to rush it. This test will show us where to start, and what level of training we can help you with." Zack announced.

Kaya retrieved a podium with magic crystals surrounding the outer rim, two mithril handles with intricate patterns spiraling down it, and a large crystal at the center resembling a crystal mountain.

"What's that for?" Wesley asked while stretching his legs.

"It's to find out what nature you possess," Miu stated.

Miu walked up and gripped the handles pouring a trickle of mana into it. One of the crystals along the rim began to glow, and the other ones quickly followed it. When they finished igniting the crystal in the center had waves of water crashing against the sides.

"Does that mean you can only use water magic?" Marc asked.

Miu placed her hands a few inches apart as a small gust swept their way, and began to gather between her hands. Then she aimed at a nearby boulder as shallow cuts appeared.

"With training, I've learned to wield other elements, but we all share a deep connection with one," Miu explained.

With a slight gesture of her hand, Miu rapidly pulled water from a nearby barrel. It was the size of a pebble in the palm of her hand but split the boulder in an instant.

"Less effort, and better results," Wesley examined the damage.

"You could even combine them with practice," Zack announced while approaching Miu.

Miu raised her hands once more as a cold breeze filled the garden, and gathered in the palm of her hand as the temperature dropped. When the icy winds mixed with the moisture in the air a ball of ice formed between her hands. The ice rapidly condensed into a shuriken, and when she pulled her hands apart two more appeared.

"I slowed it down to make the steps more visible, but once you learn to combine the two it will appear in its new state naturally," Miu announced.

To demonstrate to newbies Zack grabbed one of the shurikens floating before Miu, and his hand slowly began to freeze. She watched Zack walk away displaying it to the students as frost covered his hand.

"When forged from magic simple flames won't work," Zack said as he attempted to melt the shuriken with a light flame.

The shuriken had a layer of condensation on it, but it still held firm. That changed when the flame turned blue and engulfed Zack's hand. The shuriken began to melt, and the color rapidly returned to his hand.

"If you wanna form a line behind Wesley we can get everyone checked," Haruna announced.

"Can I try?" Helena asked.

Zack smiled and lifted Helena up to the platform. The second her hands made contact with the mithril all the crystals ignited with a divine glow and began to emit a loud ringing. When the crystal in the center began to rumble Zack pulled her away.

"That was close," Kaya smirked.

'We need that power in the branch family.' Miu observed Zack carefully.

Wesley approached the podium after the lights faded. After holding the handle for a minute a small cyclone appeared in the center, and Haruna took note on the scroll floating before her. Wesley was used to be at the top of the class, but he was unsure how to determine his results. Haruna wasn't someone he could read either. Not wanting to hold up the line he stepped to the side where Zack was standing.

"Is that good?" Wesley investigated.

"If you were taking the entrance exam as a child it would put you in the advanced group. A typical response for beginners is a gust of wind barely strong enough to shuffle the pebbles at the bottom" Vanessa stated.