In a flower garden, a small portal open up and a woman walk out of it.

"Come out, I know you're there." The woman said seemingly into the space.

"Ah so you do realize I'm there, I thought you started to rust already." Following the voice, a man walk out from the same portal before it closes.

"Were you the one who made that link?" The woman turn around and ask with a frown.

"You know, you would be so much more beautiful if you just smile." The man said, shrugging his wide shoulders.

"Answer the question." The woman's frown deepen.

"How's your sister doing?" A mocking smile flash on the man's face.

"Answer my question Molokai!" The woman snaps, sending waves of pure Mana bolt towards the man.

The raging bolts pave through the garden turning everything in it's path into ashes but when it is about to reach the man, it crashes as if it has hit an invisible wall.

"Poor little Elona, you know the answer already, why bother asking? They are nothing but pawns in our little game, don't be so mad about it." Molokai shake his head then chuckle softly.

"Pawns? They are my children! What rights do you have to toy with their lives!" She roared as she send out more bolts.

"Just me? What about you, did you not send down that little abomination to kill your so called 'child'?" Sneered Molokai.

"I..." Her face contorted as many emotions flashes. Shock, shame, sadness, and regret.

Shaking her head she returned a sharp glare at the man.

"I will never let this world end, not while I still exist. She said firmly before adding, "even if I have to be the bad guy."

"Hehehe what a futile resistance, in the end I will win this game Elona, I always have." Molokai said before turning and disappearing, his presence couldn't be felt as if he fades from existence itself.

A few moments after he is gone, Elona broke down to her knees, hugging herself while crying silently.

"Please just this once, don't walk into the darkness." She quietly pleaded to the empty space.

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

Silent... Awkward so, or at least that's how Vayne feel.

By his bedside the clerk lady from before, Fiona as Mr. Leo told me, are silent since he woke up from that strange dream as she force feed me an extremely smelly herb soup with a taste far worse than it, and strip me down before changing my bandages.

After she is done with everything, she just... Sit there, staring at me. Her outer look is one of casual and calm, but somehow her gaze made all the hair on my neck stand straight.

*Creak*

The door to the room creak open revealing both Mr. Leo and Mr. Maharashtra, both are frowning seems to be mad about something but as soon as Mr. Leo sees me his expression turn to a gentle smile.

"I see that you've awaken child, how are your wounds?" Mr. Leo said as he and Mr. Maharashtra walk up to me.

I look over to my wounds and plainly said "well it doesn't hurt anymore so I think I'm good now."

"Well that's good, because from tomorrow you won't just be learning about forging and alchemy but also battle techniques and magic from us. Ya better be grateful kid!" Mr. Maharashtra chimed.

Startled, I look towards Mr. Leo for confirmation. Scratching his cheek he said "well, I would have told you once you're better but I guess the bean is out of the bag now. Yes, we will be training you in the art of battle from tomorrow onwards."

I don't know if I should be happy or not but in the end I just nodded my head.

After that silence is back for me as Mr. Leo and Mr. Maharashtra talk about the arrangements for the time management.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw the clerk lady walk out of the room but before she do she seems to gave me a look of... Pity?

Looking back at the two old man I thought

'Should I be worried about these two teaching methods?'

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

groggy, Lucas felt pain over his back when he wakes up, he wants to rub it only to realize he is strapped to a cross.

*fwoosh*

an arrow flew pass his face, he turn his head forward and saw Luna holding a bow and Steph notching an arrow to her own. he turn to his side and saw not far away, Elea is strapped the same way he is.

looking around, he recognizes the place as the academy archery ground.

"oh, you're awake?" Elea's calm voice drift to his ears.

he was about to answer something but another arrow flew pass his, merely inches from his face. he turn towards the two lady, ready to shout his complain but his friend stop him.

"save your breath Lucas, there's no stopping them. we have completely underestimated a beastkin sense of smell and now we're paying the price."

He feels a bit shock by how Elea can be calm in such situation and wanted to praise him but an arrow landed just a bit above his friends head. if it were not because his move his head a bit to the side, it would have been his end.

Lucas shut his mouth and all intention to complain and just focus his attention to the flying arrows coming his way, hoping until the girls calm down none of the arrows would hit them.