34. The Plan During the Hunt

In a breathtaking display of power, Yvonne created forth a colossal palm made of ice, its immense size just appropriate to fit in the confines of the laboratory, and propelled it towards Andrew with an unstoppable velocity. With no choice but to release his grip on Blaze, Andrew swiftly pivoted to intercept the oncoming assault, which hurtled towards him with the swiftness of a speeding bullet.

In an awe-inspiring spectacle, vibrant orange flames spontaneously materialized, swirling and enveloping Andrew's right arm. With unyielding determination, he unleashed a mighty punch, directed at the icy palm. The impact shattered the colossal construct into a cascade of fragmented shards, but the residual force propelled Andrew backward, his body colliding forcefully with the unyielding wall. Caught off guard by the unexpected sneak attack, his mana had been hastily formed, rendering him vulnerable to the devastating blow.

Andrew rose to his feet with deliberate, unhurried grace, his flame igniting and enveloping his entire being, searing away the remnants of ice that clung tenaciously to his suit.

Once the ice had completely melted, Andrew extinguished his fiery aura and humbly bowed before Yvonne. "Sorry, Miss Yvonne. I lost control for a moment. It won't happen again."

Yvonne responded with an air of composed calmness, her voice carrying a weight of authority. "A month ban from the academy. Leave." As she uttered these words, the swirling currents of mana that encircled her like a tempest, receded into the depths of her being, and the laboratory regained its former tranquility.

"Let me just have a word with my son," Andrew pleaded.

"Ten minutes," Yvonne replied coldly.

Andrew nodded and walked out with Liam.

"Okay, you can stop pretending." Yvonne turned to Blaze, who was lying like a deadman.

"I guess I can't fool you…uhh." Blaze stood up with a painful groan.

"Reason?" Yvonne asked as she walked towards him.

"Reason?" Blaze repeated with confusion.

Yvonne's voice dripped with a chilling disdain, her eyes devoid of any warmth as she leaned in, her face mere inches away from Blaze's. The air crackled with tension, the smile that once graced her lips now replaced by a steely resolve.

"Don't mistake me for a fool," she retorted, her words as sharp as ice. "You were content to watch from the sidelines, biding your time. But the moment you sensed stability, you rose like a puppeteer, intent on sowing chaos between Andrew and me."

Gazing into Yvonne's unwavering eyes for a fleeting moment, Blaze finally responded, his voice tinged with a blend of curiosity and determination, "I just wanted to know how strong you are."

Yvonne's piercing gaze delved into the depths of Blaze's eyes, searching for any flicker of deceit or hidden motive. Yet, as her scrutiny intensified, she found nothing but an unwavering plainness within his gaze

Reluctantly, Yvonne withdrew her face from its dangerous proximity to Blaze, a subtle acknowledgment of the fruitless pursuit of deception. Her expression softened, a trace of understanding mingling with her unwavering resolve.

"Know your boundaries," she spoke with a measured tone, her words carrying a firmness born of experience. "Allow me to escort you to the Healers Dome. It seems you need assistance."

"Don't worry about that. I can take care of myself," Blaze said and turned to leave.

"You will be healed in two minutes if I take you there," Yvonne tried to convince Blaze.

"Don't worry. I'm good." Blaze knew very well that he might have to take off his uniform.

When Blaze got to his house, Aphrodite asked, "So, why did you want Andrew to hit you?"

"I already said the answer in front of Yvonne," Blaze said calmly as he wrapped his body with a white band. Although he never broke any bone, the hit bruised his skin.

"That's not all," Aphrodite retorted coldly.

"I guess you've started understanding me. What I told Yvonne was the partial truth," Blaze said with a smile. "I also want to know the range of protection the school can offer against powerful nobles. Andrew was the best test subject. At the same time, I need to know who controls the school: the nobles or the principal."

"What a scheming fellow. You control everybody in the room, but they don't know. I guess Yvonne is right. You're a puppeteer." Aphrodite clicked her tongue.

"Okay, it's time to go to the student gathering Yvonne called for," Blaze said calmly as he put on his uniform. He made his way towards the spatial gate that led to the Potion Lab.

Upon reaching the lab, Blaze spotted Yvonne standing on the platform, patiently waiting for the students to assemble.

Yvonne started her speech when all the students assembled, "The reason why I called out for you is because there's one more thing you healers need to learn: students with light elements need to learn how to heal others while those with water elements need to learn how to heal themselves. Tomorrow, your first assignment will commence and injury can't be avoided. Although you can't perform complex healing, patching up wounds, and healing up internal injuries is possible."

"Follow me to the Healers Dome of the academy." Yvonne beckoned the students to follow her towards the spatial gate that led to the Healers Dome of the academy. As they approached, the spatial gate opened, revealing a pathway to the dome. The students, including Blaze, proceeded through the spatial gate, making their way to the Healers Dome.

As they emerged on the other side, the students found themselves in a completely white room. Every surface was painted in a pristine shade of white.

In the center of the room, a soldier lay on a bed, his chest open and torn. The sight of blood startled some of the students, causing them to jump back in surprise. However, Blaze remained unfazed. Having witnessed his fair share of bloodshed, the sight of a little blood held no impact for him.

Yvonne announced the division of students based on their elemental abilities, stating, "Elsa will be instructing those who have awakened the light element on healing with light. As for the students who have awakened the water element, I will be teaching them how to heal themselves." Yvonne then gestured towards a woman who wore a friendly smile on her lips.

The woman had short black hair that framed her face, complementing her sapphire eyes. Blaze couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her height, as she appeared short with a petite stature and graceful figure.

"Hello, I'm Elsa Rain. Light students, come this way." She stood up from the soldier she was healing with the light she conjured on her palm and called out to the light students. There were only ten students who awoke the light element.

"Let's go this way. The water element is always fewer. Wind and Fire are the majority," Yvonne said and led them to a wide room. There were only 30 water element users.

Yvonne's voice took on a serious tone as she initiated the exercise, commanding the students, "Alright, let's begin. Everyone, use your element to create a knife and make a small cut on your wrist."

Some students' faces paled at the thought of intentionally injuring themselves, displaying their hesitation and discomfort.

Yvonne's voice turned frosty as she continued, "If you refuse to comply, pack your bag and depart from the academy." Her words held a stern warning, devoid of any emotional leniency.

Without hesitation, Yvonne demonstrated by creating a beautiful and delicate crystal knife with her element and cutting her wrist. Blood slowly trickled from the wound, staining the crystal knife red. Blaze, wearing a stoic expression, followed suit, cutting his wrist as if it were an everyday action. Yvonne raised an eyebrow at his composed demeanor, noting his unflinching response to the task.

The other shivering students did try with a shaky hand. They knew they had no choice.

Yvonne observed the students' reactions closely before proceeding with her instructions. "Excellent! Now, allow your water elemental mana from your core to flow to the injured area. It's as simple as that."

Following her guidance, Yvonne directed her mana toward the wound on her wrist, causing it to heal instantly. Blaze, like the others, also channeled his mana to his wound, but his healing took a slower pace, lasting approximately five minutes.

"For a quicker healing experience and more efficient mana consumption, let your mana flow along the edges of the cut. This will double the healing speed and reduce mana consumption by half. Consider this the foundation of self-healing. Best of luck with your assignment tomorrow," Yvonne concluded with a smile.

Appreciating Yvonne's efforts, the students expressed their gratitude before making their way back to their respective rooms for the day.

When Blaze entered his room, he did not rest immediately. He used only thirty percent of his mana core as he pretty much did almost nothing. The healing only took a little mana.

Blaze diligently worked on crafting the short sword he had previously used in battle against Aurora and Cherry, using his element. This time, he focused his efforts on sharpening the edges, realizing that a blunt sword would be ineffective against creatures with superior strength. He repeated the process over and over, striving for perfection in his creation.

As Blaze concentrated on his task, Aphrodite took a seat beside him, engaging in conversation. "Do you have a plan during the hunt?" she inquired.

"Hmm," Blaze responded, not losing his focus. "I plan to leave the academy and investigate the situation outside. By then, my mana veins should be healed."

Aphrodite's next question pierced the silence that followed. "But what if your identity has been exposed? What will you do then?"

Blaze raised his head, his gaze shifting towards the sky. "I'm not sure," he murmured absentmindedly. After a moment, he added, "Let's assess the situation first and see what's going on before deciding our next course of action."