Field Trip - Part 4

After walking for what seemed like an eternity, they finally reached the Outrigger Surf Hilton Resort, a five-star hotel known for its serene atmosphere and world-class food with the addition of phenomenal customer service and unique architecture. 

The entire resort was built in a semi-circular formation that stretched across the Hamakua coast resembling an omega sign. Fortunately, by the time they arrived, they were still open so in no time they managed to secure six rooms, after, Jessica insisted on paying and booking their rooms for the entire month.

A task she managed to complete quickly considering it was almost nighttime and most employees had already clocked out. But that is beside the point as right afterward Niko split the class into groups of five and made them pick a room at random.

Before heading to the last room and going straight to sleep along with everyone else, since after nine o'clock all lights are out and it is forbidden to step outside unless instructed to.

***

The next day...

Blink. Blink.

"Ugh, what time is it?" Rin asked as he opened his eyes to a blinding light and instantly closed them.

"It should be about 10:30 a.m. if I'm not mistaken," Nathan replied as he glanced at the clock on the wall, "Oh, and Good Morning, Rin! Sorry if it is a little too bright, I could close the blinds if you would want?"

"It's alright, I just never expected it'd be so bright around this time," Rin said after giving his eyes time to adjust.

"Hey, Rin what was your clear time for the Tower of Shadows, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Um, I believe it was 15 minutes if I'm not mistaken, how about you, Nathan?" Rin asked as he got up and stretched a bit, before making up his bed.

"Oh, um it was 24 minutes and 15 seconds," Nathan replied awkwardly as scratched his head.

"Not bad, so how have you been Nathaniel? Or should I call you Nathan for short?" Rin asked after glancing at Nathan closely and realizing he looked like a kid he helped back then during his birthday.

Just a tad bit taller and more muscular with curly brownish-black hair instead of blonde, and gray instead of blue eyes. As he made his way toward the bathroom to go brush his teeth and change into some new clothes.

"Sigh, so you knew all along, huh? And here I thought I could start all over and create a new identity for myself." Nathan muttered a bit shocked that someone managed to see through his disguise.

But on second thought it was bound to happen, considering it is impossible to rid himself of this accursed family name so easily. When he is the eldest son and future heir of the Shadow Clan, even though his younger brother is more fit for the role.

"Don't say it like that now... but yeah, considering you only used the law of illusion to modify your facial and body structure somewhat... Nothing truly impressive but still quite genius, since you almost fooled me for a second, luckily, I have a pretty good memory."

Rin chuckled as he shouted from the bathroom downplaying Nathaniel's usage of the Law of illusion. Something most view as basic yet can be quite overwhelming once cultivated to its peak becoming something akin to "I'm Reality and Reality is me as all things are an Illusion within my domain, merely a perception I have gifted the world." - Grand Emperor Pi, ancestor of the Nine-Tailed Kitsune Clan stated arrogantly during his grand ascension to Immortality.

"Damn... that's harsh, but I guess coming from you that's a compliment." Nathan smiled triumphantly, "Also, I'd prefer if you called me, Nathan as Nathaniel isn't what I want the world to me know as just yet. Not until I at least have the power to separate myself from that family of vultures."

"Understandable, so if you don't mind me asking, what laws do you cultivate besides illusion, Nathan?" Rin asked curiously as he walked out of the bathroom and threw on a white graphic tee, black shorts, and some Champion slides.

"Sorry, but I'd rather not say, lease you laugh at me."

"Dude, relax all Laws are equal power it's just that some take a bit longer to reach that point, since even though creation and destruction might be overly powerful laws. If you cannot understand them or wield them, what is the point of cultivating them? As there is no such thing as a weak law only a dumb user, who cannot realize the potential of the things they own?"

Rin stated as he shook his head, "Well, your loss dude but anywho where's everyone else?"

"Sigh, at breakfast waiting for us... as we were the last to wake up when Prof. Niko initially called everyone downstairs to eat," Nathan said as he glanced at Rin and laughed shyly.

"Another case of oversleeping, huh? Just why is it so difficult for me to wake up early like back in Kyoto?" Rin muttered and shook his head and dismissed the matter until later.

"Well, since you're finally done let's go as this wasn't how I planned to spend my first day in Hawaii. But I guess beggars can't be choosers, so come let's go see what Prof. Niko has in store for us."

Nathan said as he left the room and began making his way toward the dining hall with Rin trailing behind him. Who took in the unique style of the resort as it was a mix of German and Italian architecture with hints of Japanese artistry.

A few minutes later...

"Aww, if it isn't thing one and thing two! My, my truly this must be a call for celebration, after finally mustering the strength to get up. You can only manage what they must have been doing last night." Ethan shouted as he stood and quickly motioned for Rin and Nathan to sit down, the moment he saw them walk in together.

This caused the entire class to burst into laughter as everyone turned around and glanced at the duo. Making one of them embarrassed beyond understanding as they hurriedly sat down while the other just walked calmly to one of the other available seats and sat down across from his friend.

Carrying a light smile on his face as he saw all this as an amusing act to get back at him for yesterday, but it would take more than that to rile him up.

"Sigh, even though I'd love to go back and forth with you Ethan, I have better things to do today… so get on with it, old man as I'm sure we've kept them waiting long enough."

"Hmph, what do take this as gym class where you can just walk in and start barking out orders of nowhere? Now while I may let this attitude of yourself slide at times, today's not that day so could you please say sorry to your classmates for wasting their time and shut up until spoken to?"

Niko said calmly as he glanced at Rin and squinted his eyes, waiting for the moment he said something slick, so he would have a valid reason to discipline him.

'Just say it brat as we all know how snappy you can be once provoked, especially when you are ordered to do something, you deem below you.' Niko grinned as he knew we had already won the game before it even started.

"Hmm, I didn't think of it like that, I guess I have been kind of cranky lately," Rin said as he pondered over his past actions and stood up, "I know, I'm not what most of you would consider normal but I'm human as well. So sorry for all the trouble I've caused you all these past few days and I hope y'all will be able to find it within you to forgive me."

Rin said as bowed his head and apologized before lifting his head and sitting down, "Oh, and good morning, everyone sorry for the late greetings."

"Morning!" Everyone replied after digesting what he said and looking at him peculiarly as this did not seem like the Rin they were accustomed to.

"Thank you, Rin... but we'll get into the neat and gritty later as I'm sure everyone must be famished by now, so please do not let me hold you all up any longer," Niko stated with a smile as he stood up and spread his arms, finally allowing everyone the chance to dig in.