"I'm glad you're back in time for this." I told Risa as we walked toward my classroom. It was the first day of school. I'd been in Englesia for a week now. The first two days, for me, had been spent unpacking and getting settled in my new dorm. Then, Risa and I had gone our separate ways.
I'd spent the rest of the week in the Englesian library, learning literally every single bit of magic in every single book there, with the help of the Wise One. It might have looked strange from other people's perspectives, watching me simply pull books out, run my hand along their cover, then put them back without opening them, but the results spoke for themselves.
While I was learning magic, though, Risa had gone out on her very first mission for the Free Guild, defeating a Greater Demon that was wreaking havoc in some small Western Nation. Apparently, she'd needed to hold her full power back, but the fighting experience had been completely worth it. She'd flown there herself, a three day trip including the day she'd spent fighting the demon.
After that, she'd spent the last two days 'resting' as best she knew how. By running simulations and traveling to Tempest to check on her pets. Today, it was time for school.
Basically, this school was a training ground for future Free Guild members. It was meant to teach you anything and everything that you could possibly need to become an adventurer, and all three specialties. It also taught combat skills, naturally.
But the class that I was to teach was a bit different. The S-Class, as they called it, was a class of students deemed to be problematic in some way, shape, or form. Since their prior advisor, Shizu, left her post due to personal issues, the class had been left teacherless. Any time Yuuki sent someone to try to fill that void, they'd simply be driven away.
After all, these kids were otherworlder summons, taught by Shizue Izawa, the Conquerer of Flames herself. They couldn't be weak.
I knew of seven people that Shizu had taught over the years. These five kids, Yuuki, and a woman named Hinata Sakaguchi. Yuuki and Hinata were both easily strong enough to defeat A-rank adventurers. Hinata in particular, had apparently surpassed Shizu in strength before the age of fifteen. And according to Risa, Yuuki was strong enough that even I was screwed against a serious version of him in a hand-to-hand fight.
But as strong as these kids were, they were still dying. Their bodies weren't developed enough to deal with the massive energies that they had, due to being otherworlders. Eventually, it'd literally burn their bodies away.
Apparently, multiple Western Nations were carrying out half-hearted otherworlder summonings over and over again, hoping to summon powerful, over-A heroes. The problem with these summonings was that they were completely random. Basically fishing for people. These people would then have a locking curse placed on them, which restricted their actions, basically turning them into their summoners' slaves.
These kids, since they were essentially useless for the countries summoning them, didn't have any such curse. Their countries had freely given them to Yuuki, in fact, since they were slated to die either way.
Sad. Time to prevent a few deaths.
I also had plans in place to put pressure on these nations to stop the summoning rituals at all costs, but that would take time. Needed to grow Tempest into a world power, first.
…
"Hey, guys! I'm in charge of you all starting-" I was interrupted by the slash of a flaming sword. I dodged it, but Risa just caught the blade with her hand, extinguishing the fire.
"What the-!"
"Ken, just because it looks good doesn't mean it's strong. Check it, that lady caught your sword and everything!"
"Shut up! I'll get them both this time!" Without a shred of concern, the children carried on like we were just dummies to be hit. Man, kids these days. Kinda depressing.
The five summoned students in class were: Kenya Misaki, a wild ten-year-old boy. Ryota Sekiguchi, a more subdued looking ten-year old boy. Gail Gibson, a plain-looking eleven-year-old boy, Alice Rondo, the youngest, a haughty nine-year-old girl, and Chloe Aubert, the final one of the bunch, a ten-year-old girl clearly ignoring everyone else with her head buried in a book.
"Alright, everyone. Roll call." I called each name, while Risa casually leaned against the wall behind me like none of this was her problem. She was really just here for moral support, anyway.
"Ranga." Aww, the kids loved him. They were crying tears of joy, seeing this giant dog appear behind them.
They answered my next roll call. Still, though, I needed to do something to get rid of that hostility in their eyes.
"Alright, guys. We're gonna do a little test… or a game, really. Mock combat in the gymnasium. Each of you is gonna choose between me and Risa here, and we're gonna see what you're capable of, 'kay?" I decided on the fly. Wise One could get information from Risa or I, so I figured it was better to give the kids a choice. They didn't stand a chance against either of us in a combat scenario, anyway.
"Long as you don't use that dog!" Kenya shouted.
"Alright. You guys can figure out the turn order, and who fights who, on the way to the gym. Let's go."