(Three Months Later)
I wish that I became an adventurer, because this academy life is so boring. I wake up, go to class, eat when I can, hang out with Arthur or Tessia, then go to bed. It was like the same thing every day.
On occasions, I changed up my day and trained with the Disciplinary Committee. Claire likes me, so she allows it. I enjoyed it when I sparred with Arthur, Claire, or Kathyln. Surprisingly, Kathyln's ice magic isn't that bad, so it's fun to go one on one with her while I use ice and water as well.
The Team Fighting Mechanics class is going on a dungeon run in two weeks, but I'm not allowed to go. My parents, Arthur, and Director Goodsky all thought it best if I stayed behind, because I was too young. I was stronger than the students going, and it wasn't even a dangerous dungeon.
Well, it wasn't considered dangerous, but it will be when the students go. The Alacryans infected the mana beast there, and most of them are stronger than they should be. Also, the beasts on the lower floors make their way up to the top floors. I believe they will encounter two Widow Queens, B Class beast.
While they go and have fun, for a little at least. I'll be stuck at the academy, doing who knows what, probably training by myself.
I was currently sitting in Arthur's personal training room alone; I have been fighting with a thing that Gideon made called Tobi. I was taking a quick breather, as I got ready for round three with it. The Tobi device was a good thing for me, since I trained alone most of the time.
I stood and activated Tobi, then reinforced my body with mana, and launched myself at it. I swung my flame covered sword at its body, but it quickly moved out of the way. I was only focusing on enhancing my body with elements, I wasn't using any range spells.
I swung from the right, and then from the left, attacking Tobi as fast as I could, using wind mana to increase my movements. I wasn't using my blood magic for obvious reasons; I was fighting a machine. Tobi sent a roundhouse kick at me, and I blocked it with my sword, it moved me slgihtly.
I continued my attacks at Tobi, trying to take it down only with fire and wind. My blade made contact and sliced through Tobi's right arm. His left hand went to grab me, and I side stepped away from it.
I brought my sword up and started attacking the one armed machine, it was slowing down, allowing me to connect with my attacks. I slid my blade into its chest, and then its shoulder, and then its head.
Tobi fell over and turned off, I sighed. I released my magic, and then took a deep breath. It felt good to get that out, I don't know why I had anger built up in me but taking down Tobi right there relieved me of it.
"I think it's dead." I turned to see Gideon walking in staring at his creation and shaking his head. "What's with you Leywin boys? It's like you two need to kill everything you touch."
"Maybe if you made something a little bit stronger, we wouldn't destroy them so easily." I shot back at him.
"You cheeky brat." Gideon walked up and started to examine Tobi. "Where is your brother?"
"I don't know." I sat down on a rock and placed my sword back into my mana ring. "With the Disciplinary Committee probably."
"I see." He stood up. "Then I'll go."
"Am I not good enough for you?"
Gideon started to walk toward the door. "I just needed to pick your brother's brain; you won't be any help." He walked out before I could even respond.
I wanted to try something, but it needed to be in secret. I walked over to the door, and made sure it was locked now, so no one could just walk in like Gideon did. I pulled a little knife out of my mana ring and held it in my hand.
I placed the blade on my other palm and made a small cut in my hand, and then I activated "Blood Oath." I used my blood magic to stop the bleeding and close the wound.
I did it again, but this time I lifted the blood out of my hand. I had it float around me like water, only a small droplet, nothing more. The wound on my hand wasn't that deep anyways. I launched the blood into the distance about twenty yards and then pulled it back to me. This answered a question that I had, could I control blood outside of people's bodies?
I brought the blood back to my hand and placed it back into it. I then proceeded to close the wound. This could come in handy in the future. The war was starting soon, and I needed to prepare myself for all the possibilities. I didn't know what my birth changed, so far nothing serious has happened, but we don't know how long that will last.
Why couldn't I go on the damn dungeon raid? I should just tell Arthur about my Blood Deviant powers, maybe then he would see that I was strong enough to go with him. Everyone was going to find out if I fought in the war.
However, if I couldn't get my family to let me go on dungeon raids, I don't see how I fight in the war with their permission. I was trying to prepare myself mentally for everything to come, but it was hard when you didn't know what exactly war was like up close.
I'm going to have to grow a pair, because I couldn't let anything happen to my family. I don't know if my interactions can win the war, but I know I can save my family. I have a plan to deal with my family if they say I can't fight in the war, but I'm only going to go through with it, if it's the last possible choice.
I might as well call it a day in here, I placed the knife back into the mana ring. I then left Arthur's training room and made my way out of the building. I was probably just going to go back to my room. There wasn't much to do besides train, and I was training for over an hour. I needed a break for a little.
Walking the halls, I still received looks from the older students, even though I have now been here for over three months. I was used to the attention by now though, it also didn't help that I was the brother of Arthur, a member of the Disciplinary Committee, and Tessia the Princess of Elenoir.
"Hmm." After some time in the hall, I sensed Arthur's blood and heard an unfamiliar voice talking to either him or someone else.
My brother made eye contact with me and waved me over to him. I noticed down the hall Lucas Wykes was talking to his older brother Lance Bairon.
"Veer." He called me over and I stood against the wall with him, as he spied on Lucas and Lance Bairon for some reason. "What are you doing here?"
"Going to my room?" I questioned.
"Just wait a second." Arthur continued to peek down the hall.
I sensed someone else's blood coming for us, I drew my sword from my mana ring and quickly blocked Lance Alea's sword from getting close to Arthur and me. Her eyes went wide in surprise after I deflected her sword.
"How did you know I was coming?" Lance Alea was watching curiously, I placed my sword back into its mana ring.
"Lance Alea, bringing swords into the school dorms isn't wise." I told her with a bow, to show my respect. "I heard you coming."
Arthur quickly bowed next to me. "Lance Alea."
"You heard me coming?" She asked, trying to figure out how someone like me could hear her. "That's impossible."
"As you can see, it was possible." I smiled.
"Anyways." She stared at me and Arthur. "What are the two of you spying on Lance Bairon for?"
Arthur went to speak, but I cut him off. "I was asking my big brother if he could get me an autograph, but we were too scared." I winked at Arthur.
"I see." Lance Alea relaxed a little. "Then why where you emanating bloodlust toward him?" She looked at Arthur, and I got confused. I didn't feel that at all, I thought Arthur was just looking.
"I've never met the man, so I think you have been mistaken, Lance Alea." Arthur spoke so calmly like a king.
"I guess it doesn't matter." She drew back her sword. "Lance Bairon is too strong for you."
"How strong is he?" Arthur asked as I was being entranced by Lance Alea, she was going to die in the next week.
"He is considered to be one of the strongest Lances." Lance Alea was the weakest I believe.
"Are you strong?" Arthur asked her.
"I'm about this strong." She held her hands out and did like a measuring thing. Arthur and I just stared, wondering what she was doing. "No laugh from you two?" She paused and then got close to Arthur. "My brother would be about your age right now." Lance Alea placed a hand on his head. "So, thanks for this short conversation."
"It's my pleasure, Lance Alea." Arthur bowed.
"And you." She turned to me. "I don't know how you sensed me coming, but I can tell that you are going to be powerful mages."
"Thank you." Arthur and I said.
She started to walk toward Lance Bairon. "Staring at people is rude."
Arthur turned to me. "I'm sorry about that."
"What? You getting caught spying on Lucas and his brother?"
"Yeah, Lucas an--."
I cut him off. "I know, Lucas was happy when you got hurt during class. I almost fought him, but Claire stepped in."
"What?! Why didn't you tell me?" Arthur seemed a little angry now.
"Lucas couldn't touch me, Arthur." I told him the truth.
"Still." I leaned my head over to see Lance Alea and Lance Bairon speaking. Lucas must have walked away. This was going to be the last time I saw her, if I didn't save her.
I started to ponder ideas, is there anything I could save her. I mean the Lances are not going to take the advice of an eight year old. The only idea I had was giving her my Phoenix Bracelet I got from Arthur. I was planning on using that for someone else, and absolutely couldn't afford to use it here.
Dammit!
"I'll tell you if anything ever happens again."I told Arthur as my tone of voice went sorrowful looking at Lance Alea. "Anyway, where is Sylvie?"
"In my room napping, are you alright?" Arthur noticed my mood change.
"Yeah." I paused. "I'm just tired. I'm going to go to my room, and rest like Sylvie is." I started to walk.
"Okay." Arthur went in the opposite way.
When Arthur finds Lance Alea in the dungeon, she is still alive. If I was there, I could use my blood healing on her. I don't know if it would work, but it would be better than letting her just die. I am pretty sure that her core gets destroyed.
It is sad to think about, but I don't think her life would change anything. She is the weakest Lance, obviously she could take down a decent amount of Alacryans, but if she runs into another Retainer she'll just die again.
Another thing, if Arthur truly was emanating his bloodlust why didn't I feel it? My connection to blood should have made the effects even greater, or maybe it was able to cancel it out. I felt the cold pressure Arthur released toward Lance Bairon at the announcement thing. Was that because it wasn't bloodlust, but his aura. It is possible I was just to zoned in on Lance Alea coming that I didn't notice.
---
(Two Weeks Later)
"Can I seriously not come with you?" I asked Arthur as he was getting ready to leave for the Dungeon raid, he was going on for class.
"Veer, we already talked about it, I want you to stay here." He slipped on a jacket over his uniform.
"I know, but isn't this like the safest time to go, with a class." I already used this argument before, but I was dying to go. "You can't protect me like this forever, you know."
"Yeah, I can." Arthur smiled as he patted my head. "I already asked Elijah and Lilia to make sure nothing happened to you."
"You don't need to do that, Arthur."
"I do. You are my younger brother, and I won't let anything happen to you."
"When will you realize that I'm strong enough to defend myself, to a certain degree?" I pouted at him.
"Veer, trust me, I do already, I just don't want you to have too." He smiled at me. "I have to go; the class is leaving in twenty minutes."
"Fine, have fun without me." I told him as he hugged me and then we left the room.
Of course, he would have Elijah and Lilia watch over me, I bet mom asked him to do that. She doesn't trust me; she thinks that I'll burn the school down. I grew past that stage of playing with magic a long time ago.
I started to walk to the dining hall, I assumed that no one I knew would be there, but I was hungry. It was the middle of the day, and I didn't have any more classes because the one I did have is leaving for the dungeons.
I got a tray of food and made my way to an empty table and began eating. The attack Xyrus was happening soon, most likely this week. It's basically when Arthur returns back.
There were two choices to be made, do I stay or leave? Do I kill Lucas or do let Arthur do it? Whoever kills Lucas is going to end up being detained by the Lances. I couldn't know for sure if I could even kill Lucas, but I needed to learn to deal with the whole killing thing. I didn't want to be looked at as a child during the war, this was my time to show everyone.
There's still a chance the Lances would only come for Arthur still, I don't think I'm any value to Agrona besides being Arthur's brother. Since the dwarven King and Queen are the main people behind the capture of Arthur, they wouldn't want me at all. Agrona wants Arthur in his possession before the war starts.
I've been holding back on my blood magic usage my whole life; I never truly used its full power. I was always protective of it, not wanting to accidentally kill someone with it.
Kai will attack the Disciplinary Committee with other mages, that's where I was planning on going if I decided to stay. I've bonded with Claire over my time here, and I know that she loses her mana core during the attack. I wanted to prevent that from happening, all I would need to do was take down Kai. There was a chance she lost her core to something else after I did, but I couldn't control that.
There will also be mana beast here, but that isn't an issue for me. I won't be hiding my blood powers, so I should be able to handle the weaker ones with ease.
I sighed, I had to stay, there wasn't a choice, what was I thinking. I already let Lance Alea die, if I could prevent some of the students from dying, I had too. Staying will just improve my chances of fighting in the war, that's all I needed to worry about. I just had to prepare myself for what I needed to do.
I couldn't look at these people as humans, I needed to picture them as monsters.
On a positive note, I should be able to see Sylvie in her dragon form, that's if I left Lucas for Arthur. I might have to, if I want to protect the people. I'll have my chance with Lucas when he helps Kai capture the Disciplinary Committee. If I don't take him down there, then I'll let Arthur deal with him.
My main goals are to show off, protect the people, and make sure Claire doesn't lose her mana core. If I didn't take out Lucas with the Disciplinary Committee, he would abuse Tessia for a little. She lives but knowing that it happens and not doing anything feels wrong. It helps build character, that's how I'll look at it.
The war was starting.
It was time to change things, I had plans for after the events at Xyrus, so I just need to survive and prove my worth.