Midterm Concept

Just as the sun began to crest the horizon, two students could be seen walking across the campus. Although there was still a distance between them, it was far less than the day prior. Many that knew the two would be curious as to what happened for the beauty to walk so closely to another person.

"Where did you learn to do that exactly?"

"I sort of just stumbled on it when I was younger. I was so focused on getting stronger that I'd push myself to a breaking point day after day. Afterwards, I'd stare at my pool for hours hoping for a change. After I got irritated at the lack of changed, I noticed that I'd accidently moved a strand. Kind of went from there."

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At the age of thirteen, Joe was absolutely enraged that despite all the hard work he'd been putting in to get stronger had reached a point that it no longer progressed. He was not content with just slightly better than average. He wanted to power to protect those closest to him.

In a seemingly random fit of anger, his mind began to take hold of the magic that was erupting within himself. After weeks of repeated attempts, he managed to find a consistent method to move his own magic within his mind.

Where he had previously only moved a single strand a fraction of its own size before it rebounded to chaos, he now had assimilated half a dozen strands. He noticed a considerable jump in his own strength the following day. He was slightly faster than he had been although his endurance was still rather lacking.

From that day on, he focused more intently on his own pool and was determined to unify every stray strand. Every day, more and more of his magic revolved around his magic core and with it, he grew by bounds ahead of where he had seen his previous peak.

Until he took control of First Squad, he kept this method to himself. If it wasn't for John's addition to his morning routine, Joe may never have shared it with anyone. Now, he took pride in the fact that his own method benefited those around him.

Although he didn't instruct secrecy amongst those he taught, nobody outside of their squad was ever given this training technique. Not out of spite towards their own classmates and peers, simply every member held Joe in high respect. He not only unified them, but he also never let any of them give up on themselves. He saw in them a potential even they couldn't.

Today marked to first day that Joe shared this method outside of his squad and, as always, he said nothing of secrecy. Quite the opposite, he encouraged Clara to share the method with her squad. All he asked before she did was that she consolidate her entire pool so when the others take a glimpse into it, they could have proof of the effects.

"I cannot share this with them. That would mean I'd have to show them the power within me and to do that..."

Her voice trailed off. To most who knew the practice of viewing another's magic pool, this would seem cold. They would perceive that she did not consider them worthy enough to touch her.

Joe knew the truth. Although she gave off an air of distance, this girl was socially awkward. She didn't have the experience dealing with people to be comfortable being in that contact with others yet. Little by little, he was growing a wider understanding of this shy girl beside him.

Before separating at the entrance to the dorms, the two decided that they would spend an hour after classes finished for the day together. In that hour, she would hold up her end of their deal and carefully instruct him with all her knowledge on swordsmanship.

By the time the two arrived together at the training field, all their classmates were already present and talking amongst themselves. Talking that seemed to freeze in time after the first noticed the two arriving together. Whispers began moving in between the groups.

"Since when were they so close?"

"Maybe it was the trial?"

"Didn't he carry her all the way to the medic tents back then?"

This is how rumors start. Unless they are extinguished at his spark, they will explode out of control in no time. Joe knew this fact but after seeing the tint of red present on Clara's cheeks, he opted to ignore it for the time being. Only when it reached an unreasonable point would he step in. Plus, maybe that is the push she needed to get over her social anxieties.

Immediately on arrival, Instructor Summers had the entire class standing in formation. She had news to share about some of the upcoming events remaining this year. The entire class stood in silence and awaited the instructions to follow. It wasn't very often that they were put in a formation lately.

"This is going to take a bit so get comfortable and listen up. The midterm process has been decided. As you all are aware, after the bombs finished falling humanity wasn't the only species to emerge changed. Many of the otherwise natural wildlife also underwent the same changes we have.

For your midterms, we will be traveling to an undisclosed location. Every student is required to eliminate a Level One beast within the allotted time. Teams are permitted but for every member your team will have to eliminate equal beasts."

The entire class began to have similar thoughts running through their minds. Beasts were relentless and would sacrifice their own lives to take yours. A Level One beast was roughly equal to a magic level of one hundred but could reach as high as one hundred twenty-five. How can the school expect first years to hunt these beasts?