After three days the leave they'd been given had come to an official end. It was time for the select trainees to begin their trainings for the next part of the Tatum-Deru tournament.
Itekan and Itoyea had been in Kutote's room since earlier that morning. Kutote had finally woken up the day before. But they still weren't allowed to visit till he had stabilized properly.
Thus today was the first time since the end of the 1st round that they had met.
"How are you feeling now?" Itekan asked as they settled on the couch on either sides of the bed.
Kutote sat up with a pained grunt and shrugged, "As good as one can feel after having a bone drilled into their bodies. But Nurse Gretta has been quite good. She says I'm healing fast. I should be discharged by the evening."
Kutote said with a pleased look on his face, Itoyea and Itekan smiled too.
"Good. Because you missed a lot!" Itekan said then told him about the Hot springs hang out they'd had three days prior by the time he was done Kutote was ready to jump out o the bed just to smack him.
"Itoyea—" Kutote said as gently as his heated body could.
"—Gladly" Itoyea said before using his sword sheath to smack Itekan right on the top of his head.
"Hey! What gives!" Itekan roared in pain as he clutched the spot that had been hit. Meanwhile Itoyea and Kutote burst out in laughter as they witness Itekan's pain.
"You both are the worst" Itekan said, then burst into laughter as well.
When they had all calmed down they remembered the real reason why they had come here today.
"Master Kime announced that we all the Four Stars trainees that got advanced were to meet come to his office tomorrow morning. Binturu think he wants to train us." Itekan said, picking through the bowl of grapes on the bedstand by Kutote.
"Really? Master Kime is going to teach us all — himself?" Kutote asked.
"Yeah" Itekan said munching on the grapes.
"What do you think he's going to teach us?" Itoyea asked getting up from his seat on the other side of Kutote's bed.
"Dunno—" Itekan shrugged and passed the bowl to Itoyea who had stretched his hands for it.
"Whatever it is it'll definitely be useful for the next round of the tournament"
"Has there been any news about concerning the next round, any slips, I dunno—anything that could help?" Kutote asked as the bowl of grapes reached him.
He wasn't supposed to eat anything solid but— he didn't give a damn.
"Nothing concrete right now, though Candice seems to think it won't be dungeon based and we won't be split into teams. And to be honest I kinda follow that logic." Itoyea said as he sat back down.
"I don't think it matters what if we know what the next round is about. What matters is how well were prepared. Because we're not the only ones training." Itekan said.
"True. I heard that the Ranger trainees took to the mountains alongside their monolith. Senior Korimer said Ronga took some of the Hero Academy trainees out for an intense training session."
"I'm not too surprised though, their overall performance was the lowest during the competition." Kutote said.
Just then Nurse Gretta walked into the room and said warmly, "Alright boys, visiting hours are over, he need to rest"
Reluctantly Itekan and Itoyea said their goodbyes and left the infirmatry.
"You busy?"
"No. You?"
"I'm free, wanna go a couple rounds?"
"Sure." Itoyea agreed and the two turned from the dorm path heading to the training grounds.
---
The Next Day...
Itekan and Itoyea walked down the hallway that led to Headmaster Kime's makeshift office. They had not returned to Four Stars Academy just yet. Choosing to stay in Lestrel City, however the remaining trainees from Four Stars Academy who had not participated in the tournament were sent back.
Afterall studying continued on Monday.
there was nobody else on the path though they had expected to see some of the trainees loitering around outside the office, surprised that they didn't see any the two increased their pace.
Knocking gently on the door, they were allowed into the massive office.
The grand doors opened with a creak as Itekan stepped inside. His gaze immediately wandered to the walls, which were adorned with several portraits of the sea. To his right, a painting depicted a green vortex spinning with several screaming souls trapped within it, lost in a path of endless agony. Next to it was a Taoist painting of a mountain that exalted itself above the clouds and the heavens. This painting seemed to pull him in, drawing his attention to the exotic birds within it. Each bird appeared to tell a story of its own.
Entering the office proper, they found Kime sitting at his desk, which was piled high with paperwork and documents—so high, in fact, that they formed an unbelievable tower. Itekan couldn't help but wonder how it all managed to stay standing.
But they were not the only ones there, besides them at the far end of the office was Korimer Ransthrol who sat by on the window looking outside at the lake below.
Nuelle Ness and Candice were standing by te wall of the office quietly. Cheim Nell was squatting besides them. In her hands was a little mechanical bird that twitched every once in a while. Once she saw them she waved once and tuned back to her bird.
Then there was Bukanami Ao, Konacho Ojoche and Tobi Fustavo. The three of them were more of a single being than individual persons. They stood nearby Korimer and were currently engaged in a discussion.
Jokovik Martennel, Great Man and Illiopo Sengares were engaged in a heated argument that made everyone leave them alone.
Then there was Tendo Kech, who was asleep at a hidden corner of the office.
Headmaster Kime looked up briefly as they entered and bowed respectfully, nodded to acknowledge them he went back to his paperwork.
A few minutes after they entered Binturu walked in with Kutote Tuo behind him. They were the last ones to arrive.
Kime looked up once again and nodded acknowledging their muffled greetings. Of all the academies that had participated in the first round Four Stars Academy was the only one to not have a single group eliminated. It was pleasing really. It gave him a sense of Pride.
One he rarely felt.
He had been right to establish this academy. Training the next batch of heroes was always fulfilling. It was his way of making sure the world became a better place than how they (that is the 5 legends) had found it when they first arrived on this realm.
Standing up from his large desk the size of an tomb.
"We are all in attendance now. Welcome. Firstly I would like to congratulate each and everyone of you here. You have done not just yourselves proud but have done Four Stars Academy proud. As the hosts of this tournament you have shown not just your capabilities as heroes but as leaders and members of a team.
"However, this is not the end. From hence forth you fifteen will be propelled into greater heights and greater dangers. The time has come for you to stand as the beacons of a new tomorrow. It is time for you to become your very best. Because that is the only way to win this tournament.
"I have great hope on you guys and I am deeply impressed with your efforts so far. So I will be teaching you something new—Not all will grasp it. But for those who will they will enter a new realm of power and authority. Now unto all who will make the first bold step I encourage you. Be valiant and be possessive for those are the ways of them that exist beyond laws." Kime said. He saw the looks of hope and confusion arrive in separate measures from within the lot.
Korimer had a gently smile on his lips as he process wat was being said. Binturu had a look of apprehension as he realized what Headmaster Kime was about to do.
Kutote was lost in thought as he processed. This was next level. He could already see himself evolving to the next level.
Itoyea had a small triumphant look on his face. It was time. He was about to grow much stronger. He could feel it in his bones. He was close to the strength that would fulfill his dreams.
And Itekan he was ready, ready to pull those — who as Headmaster Kime had said — exist beyond the concept of Laws. Anything to meet his father once again.
Kime knew what he was about to do was not for all. But for the select who will understand. Truly understand—the intricacies behind the laws of the universe.
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Spiritual Energy (SE)
Spiritual Sea (SS)
Spiritual Signature (SST)