Chapter 12: The Fall
On the main sky island of the Academy, the streets bustled with students, citizens, and workers. Among the many buildings stood one dedicated to the subject of Mana and Core Training. At present, it hosted over 400 classes.
"An Awakened has five ranks," said Adam, yawning as he paced the room with his hands clasped behind his back. He wore a frilly suit, brown leather boots, and a pair of tailored pants. His monocle had been removed and tucked into his pocket.
(His picture here.)
"A Pawn can take on around twenty regular humans in a fight. That's assuming no techniques are involved—just raw physical power. A single Rook can handle twenty Pawns on their own. And a Bishop? About fifty Rooks."
"But above that… things get uncertain. Crossing beyond Bishop requires your Dreams to be Crowned—something the other instructors will explain."
Arteus sat still, focusing intently. Thankfully, his seatmate on the left—Marcus—had gone quiet after receiving a warning earlier. It made concentrating easier. Though the occasional glares from other classmates annoyed him, he chose to ignore them.
"Anyway, Awakened ranks are measured by both their Essence Core layers and Mana Capacity. But remember—just because someone has more layers doesn't make them strong, and a lot of mana doesn't automatically make someone deadly."
"I'll explain more next meeting becau—"
A resounding bell echoed through the building. Hearing it Adam only smiled towards the class.
"That concludes our class for today! In our next meeting, we'll begin awakening those who haven't yet—and dive deeper into the path of Awakening."
With a soft clap, Adam walked back to his desk, sat down, rested his elbow on the table, chin in hand... and stared.
'Couldn't he have just left? Why stay and watch? Each section has its own room, even if the subjects are the same… so there's no way he's waiting for another class,' Arteus thought from the back of the room.
Students began filing out. Arteus, however, chose to wait until last, preferring more space to move around with his wings.
'Ugh… I seriously need to figure out what to do with these damn things. Hopefully I'll learn something useful here.' He sighed and, seeing the last student leave, finally stood. The soft rustling of his wings followed as he lifted them slightly to avoid hitting the chairs, walking toward the exit.
Just as he stepped out, something from the lesson nagged at him. Turning back, he peeked into the classroom—only to find Adam was gone.
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'Fucking CREEPY!' Arteus who have now stepped outside the Mana and Core department building shivered... his hair standing on the back of his neck.. even his feathers are ruffled.
He recalled the rumors and stories in the slum that carter used to scare him when he was younger.. those stories of strange people that will talk to you.. and if you shift your attention to anything else.. next thing you know they're gone..
Those stories of people seeing someone beconing them in some corners in the only to arrive in a dead end where no one waits for them..
Arteus cant really say that he's not scared of those anymore.. because if he did, he'd be lying..
Stepping into the busy street and seeing as other student runs to and fro — maybe late for their class. Shakin his head, he pushed the Adam situation at the back of his mind raised his right arm and checked his ID.
It reads:
___________________
Arteus
1st year - class 2B
Room - B2F4R16
•Desperados•
Course/s
•Weapon Based Combat <----{ Current Class: Starts at 8:00
•Rune Scribe
•Wilderness Survival Training
Minor Subjects:
-Mana and Core Training
-Process of Dreaming
-History of the World
-Beastiary Records
-Teamfight Tactics
___________________
Doing the same thing he did before, Art then pressed the current class. And the entire projection vanished replaced by a single arrow that points to the northern direction of the island.
'Right.. I wonder what time it is now..' he looked around.. walkin through the street. He really couldn't bring himself to ask around.. Its not really what they do at the slums.. and besides.. just like the slum there's people who dont like him here..
"Eey, Who do we have here?" a voice said from behind him and he heard a sound of someone quickly running up behind him.
Suddenly, Arteus felt a weight on his shoulder as an arm hooks around his neck
'Fuck! I let my guard down!' Arteus' mind accelirated 'A chokehold?!' thinking of a way to retaliate he tense and raised his wings up about to slam it down to take flight in urgency when he realized who it was...
"... Mark?" He spoke in an uncertain tone assessing if his seatmate is trouble...
'Maybe he's a noble?..' he didn't really paid attention to him.
"Huh.. wait, were you about take off? and what do you mean Mark — it's Marcus!" He said and ruffled Arteus hair
"Get off me dude!" Arteus growled shoving him back.
"Okay! sheesh.. no need to be agressive! I wont touch your precious hair anymore." He spoke rasing his hands up in mock surrender.
"What do you want?" Arteus asked flatly, eyeing the weirdo infront of him.
"Not much of a talker are we??" Marcus grinned speaking in a playful manner, unfaze by cold tone. "Im not here for anything, dude.. I just wanted to get your name.. I mean, I'll be sitting with you for the foreseeable future no?"
"....It's Arteus" he replied after pondering his words. And besides, he saw something that made him consider it..... Marcus is what he Arteus calls.. A red string yes he made it up.. its for those who have a red trimmed seams in their uniforms.
"Cool! Can I call you Art?" Marcus asked.. his eyes sparkling.
"No" A firm rejection came making Marcus' shoulder slumped..
"Shame.. it sounded cute too" He grumbled in lament.
"Fuck off dude"
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"Anyway.. Where are you heading to? Your next class? or are you vacant for the time being?" Marcus who was walking besides him said, he was walking wtih both his hand on the back of his head.
Marcus is taller than Arteus.. with Arteus only being 5'6 he tower over him as a 6'0. Marcus is also 16 years old and he have a broad shoulder and a aurburn hair in what appears to be a low fade.
He wears the academy uniform. But unlike Arteus who put on the suit as well. Marcus only wore the white polo and the vest and yes, its already considered a uniform.. so you don't really get punished for it.. or so he say.
The vest has a design of a greyish pattern of a phoenix and dragon.. which is the Academy's symbol. And for his lower outfits, he have a black pants and a black leather boots as well..
He's pretty athletic too so, he gets a few looks from his good looks. Unlike Arteus who gets attention because of the wings and the raven black hair...
"Im on my way to my Weapon Base Combat class.. No idea where is it though.. im just following th — " Arteus was explaining when he suddenly felt Marcus grabbing his shoulder.
"Bro.... you're so fucked... hopefully that wings of yours can flap really fast" Marcus said, his eyes filled with pity.
"What are you saying its still to early anyway" Arteus said his brows forrowed in confusion.
"Bro..it's...." Marcus paused and brought his right arm up, before continuing. "..7:34!"
"And? That's early... And did you have a clock on that magic mark?" Arteus was confused even more.. and also irritated... while also being fascinated about the thought of having a portable clock on his mark.
"Oh yeah, you get this by paying for an upgra — THAT'S BESIDES THE POINT! You're gonna get late! You should definitely fl —"
"ARRGHH!! Can you just fucking tell me where is it?!!" Arteus yelled at him.. and grabbed his collars while shaking him.
" ITS.. ON.. A... — BITCH! STOP SHAKING ME!" Marcus yelled and grabbed Arteus hand and the shaking promtly stopped then he continued " Its on a different island up north.. Im pretty sure you can see it from he — !"
*WHOOOOSHH*
A sudden powerful gust of wind almost knocked him over,shielding his face with his hands he tried to keep his eyes open, people around him squeeled and yelped from the sudden burst of wind. Stepping his right foot back, he steadied himself and looked up.. Only to see Arteus already fading in the distance followed by a loud beating of his wings.
".... Didn't even say goodbye???..." He asked the sky where Arteus fades into "Damn.. That was pretty fast.." he mumbled.. then fixed his ruffled clothes then left to his next class... which is right across the street.. Adjacent to the mana and core training department..
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The air grew cold. The higher he flew, the thinner it became. Wind roared past his ears, loud and relentless—but Arteus pushed through. He raised a hand to shield his eyes, forging onward.
'That moron, he should have led with that!' Arteus screamed in his mind.. of course he was aware what he meant by the sky island on the north he could see it.. useally it would take about 40 or so minutes of travel towards the sky port for the sky ferry on the north end. And then once aboard it would take 5 minutes before landing..
It was possible to reach it usually specially if he already made his way there earlier since class finished have finished at 7:00 (the class earlier was only 30 minutes.) but on his case, it was already 7:30..
That was the reason he was flying with all he could he really was about to be late...
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On a separete island that houses the largest jungle and forest, there is a big clearing not far from the port where the sky ferry lands..
A man wearing gi with a black belt.. stood in a middle of the clearing.. There are hundreds of kids sitting infront of him forming a long rectangular formation. They are all wearing a gi but with a white belt instead.
The man's body is immense he stood at the height of 7'5 feet, with a rippling muscle that the gi he was wearing is struggling to hide. He have a sharp facial structure and a clean buzz cut. His pecs are bulging. His shoulder wide and imposing.. his arms are massive. His thigh as big as melons.. He was like a living hulking flesh of muscle. He's barefoot.
And besides him is a delicate looking lady. She have a short neck length red hair.. and she have wonderful physique and curvitures. She's sitting on a head of a log size war hammer. While swingging her feet and humming a tone. She wears a thight long sleeve that hugs her curves.. and a black pants as well and a boots.
In front of her is another rows of hundres or so student that all carried different kinds of weapons.
Current time: 7:57
"3 Minutes left.. those who dont make it, tell them that they failed this subject! We dont tolirate tardiness in our subject do you all understand?!!" The man yelled, his voice echoeing through the clearing.
"YES! TEACHER!" everyone answered loudly.
And after that there were tense silence as they waited for the others..some prayed that their friend make it.. some laughs in delight.
the next minute 8 more student arrived running, still wearing the academy uniform before promptly collapsing from exhaustion.
"Good job! you two dont have to join the warm up..OK since the time is already running out. Lets get started gus!" the lady cheerfully said as she jumped off the war hammer.
Current time: 7:59 and 23 seconds...
The students are all starting to get up as well. And some are already stretching.
"OK! The Weapon base combat and Unarmed Combat All converge! We will start with a sim — Oh? an uninvited chick?" the man suddenly looked up and smiled.
"He's still on time dont worry!" The lady spoke besides him.
"If you say so" He said.. squinting his eyes up in the sky.
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"FUCK FUCK FUCK! IM TOO FAST!" Arteus desperately yelled. He can see the ground and its aproaching too fast. He have already spread his wings to catch as much air as possible to slow down but its not doing enough work.
He's currently flying in a diagonally towards the ground head first and feet pointed up.
He was about to crash.. His mind started to accelerate. Dive cancelling have been a challenge to him since he started making his way in this place.. he recalled all those times he crashed in the river while practing Dive cancel.
He just couldn't get it.. He's doing it just like what the bird do! He would change direction, spread his wings and pull his head backward so that he can use the momentum and his wings position to sling shot himself up, but he could never succeed.
And now hes about to crash again.. 15 seconds before impact.. He closed his eyes to focus on searching for a way.. should he steer it? Go for the trees? Is there anything nearby that can help???
9 seconds before impact..
'Think Arteus! THINK! ..What am i MISSING??! I did what the birds do! I've mimic them with the best I could! I —' Suddenly an idea came to his mind his eyes opened wide.
6 seconds.... The wind are still roaring in his ears.. his eyes having throuble opening.
5 seconds... He clenched his teeth together and took a deep breath and brought up his wings, loaded and tensed
4 seconds... He pulled his head back and flipped.. with his feet now going first.. and then he pulled and raised his wings up loading it.
'I did it exactly like a bird... But im not really a bird am I?.. Im too heavy for such manuever... So instead of pulling up and just gliding steeply...I need a boost.'
3 seconds before impact...
Together with his back, and shoulder.. he swung his wings towards the ground with all the strenght his already tired body could muster.
*WHOOOOSSSHHH*
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One students on the ground were watchin his teacher in Weapon Base Combat when he realized that they're looking at the sky. Making him looked up as well but —.... there's nothing in there?..
"Do you think he can stop in time? he looked to be in panic...should we help?" The woman besides the man spoke in a gentle tone.
"Let's see" The man replied still staring at the sky.
'What are they even looking at?' the student thought and look at the sky.. there was nothing yet.. but then theres a soud.. like a deep whistle and at the same time a roar of the wind. And suddenly he saw it.. — a blur.
And suddenly..
*WHOOOOSSH*
He was blown away, next thing he knew he was rolling on the ground.. The entire clearing is engulf in a thick cloud of dust.
*Cough* *Cough*
He quickly stood up.. Loking around coughing 'An enemy? is it a test??' He thought as he look around.
And as the dust settle, he saw other covered in dirt.. it seems like he wasn't the only one that was sent rolling away.. Looking towards the teachers.. he saw them standing on the same place, not even moved.. and an umuse look on their face?
He looks toward where they were looking.. and while doing so he saw other students on the way as his eyes move towards the source...
Around him, others were still brushing off dirt, some dazed, others muttering curses. A few clung to their weapons like lifelines, blades and staffs stabbed deep into the earth to keep them from toppling .. but there where two deep lines on the ground infront of them.. as if the wind have forcefully pushed them back..
Then he saw it.
At the far edge of the training field, where the dust was thinner and the air calmer, a figure knelt. The ground beneath him was scarred—two deep trenches carved into the soil, trailing behind him like burn marks from a meteor strike.
Wings.
Massive white wings stretched out on either side, feathers disheveled, some still fluttering from the last desperate flap. In the center of it all, crouched like a fallen angel, was a boy—one hand braced on the ground, the other gripping his knee. He was silent, unmoving. His back rose and fell in heavy, shaky breaths.
"Heh.. well done! seems like you figured it out the last minute huh?" One of the teacher — the man, spoke out loud while looking at the the boy with wings.
'What just happened?'
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Arteus .. still squatting.. quiet and unmoving... with everything that just happened there's only one thing in his mind...
'My..... knees...'
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