The Third Party - Chapter 78

3rd Person’s POV (12 yrs., 8 months)

Meanwhile a few minutes ago after Ken along with the masters left, Allen approached his fellow students by the weights and obstacle course.

Coming up behind Icarus stretching for the obstacle course as everyone else was, Allen silently assessing everyone. Eyes clouded. Torn in between thoughts of concern or… nothing, he doesn’t know why he’s concerned for Ken.

He shook the thought away, maybe it’s just his reaction because Ken is his friend, and don’t friends worry for each other? Surely everyone else is concerned about Ken, not just him.

But the thought that even that guy can’t seem to cure his own discomfort along with that bone chilling cry from earlier, gives him uncomforting thoughts. Look at him with such thoughts, how deep is his concern for that unruly guy.

Okay, he’ll stop now, there are more pressing matters at hand. He relayed the message to everyone present that Ken will not be joining them for the morning exercises and shall undergo treatment from Master Kara.

Concerns were inevitable as they tried to inquire how their friend was doing, Allen only gave them a silent look, indicating that he was not sure whether the person of discussion will be okay, but there will be nothing more to worry about.

“Let us resume this morning’s activities.” He said straightforwardly with an indifferent look, and everyone returned to their business, not that they’re putting this back into their mind, finishing their task for the day will give them enough time to go and visit Ken.

Or at least that’s what most of them feels.

For the day in the obstacle course, the group undergone speed test both in dodging and traversing a set amount of distance in the smallest time possible.

Square like contraptions made out of wood, 20 each, were placed to surround a 100 square meter area, a good 50 meter distance behind the weights, evenly spread out with five boxes on each sides.

Each box of wood were enchanted to fire off random elemental spells ranging from the four main elements, to ice, light, dark, wood, lightning, and even arcane, with a magic circle at the vicinity’s center as a catalyst to start the simulation.

The magic circle can be activated by anyone and will last for an hour, difficulties of the simulation may be increased if one of them decided to add another magic circle on top of the one already carved on the ground on a stone plate.

Once the simulation starts, the magic circle sends out an energy flux to the wooden boxes that will activate the stationary spells enchanted and carved into it. If one would look closer, the magic circles piled up on the boxes created a complex image for everyone to see.

Unlike the magic circle at the center which only have a simple design of having two inner circles with sixteen lines starting from the center, extending to the outer circle. Surprisingly, the magic circles on the wooden boxes do not overlap or overcharge one another.

Surprising the group greatly since it was Ken who made, but it comes to no surprise since with Ken’s stupid talent for creating so many things with his extraordinary power, it shouldn’t. Questionable decisions and choices yes.

But what can anyone do when that’s what Ken wants to do for his powers. The group began the simulation and this time, they added the level of difficulty of the activity by adding two magic circles on top.

For each magic circle added, doubles the damage, speed, and accuracy of the spells the wooden boxes dish out, a spell dished out by the wooden boxes approximately has the speed of a flying arrow, the damage of a regular spell, and the accuracy in normal.

Now think about whether adding one more magic circle on top of the one added before, what kind of result it would bring. Of course it would be such utter disaster since not everyone can react in an inhumane speed to dodge the spells.

Surely the group had thought this through since they added the level of difficulty by two.

With a countdown of ten seconds, the ten students prepared themselves mentally for the onslaught to come, each facing different directions against the wooden boxes.

The timer hit zero, and they all closed their eyes, for whenever anyone adds a magic circle on the other one, a special feature is added as well.

This time, the feature of flash and burst were added, hence they closed their eyes in order not to be blinded by the flash of light that the wooden boxes emitted, they simultaneously crouched down still with their eyes closed,

As a burst of wind passed above their head, the other feature designed to knock them out of their feet once they were blinded.

Without sparing a second, everyone jumped out on their own, brandished their weapon from where it were resting and actively dodged and approached every spell that came their way.

For those that usually use long range weapons, such as Celine, switched out to a sword in order to deflect spells she could deflect. They were thoroughly engaged with the direction of every spell in their surroundings that they looked like they were dancing while dodging.

Occasionally, two or more people would be force in a corner with their backs to one another. A spell heading their way. Flin, Allen, and Wilbert each felt the other for a moment, but with the spell ahead, they each jumped out of their way and teleported a short distance.

The three different spells that collided after their dodging it created a series of colorful bubbly like explosions before sending out a shockwave that would have shredded anyone on the area.

Luckily the spells only affect individuals and not the nature around the area, which explains why most of the trees hasn’t been burned, frozen, or cut down to the ground by the random spells, all made possible due to the barrier set up along with the magic circle at the center.

The barrier having the property of exchanging energies whenever they hit any parts of plants in the area and gets converted to energy need for any plant in the area, evenly distributed. Efficient, and dare anyone would say, economical.

All made possible by concept.

The group continued to ‘dance’ on the area for an hour, their clothes drenched in sweat, but their bodies, still full of vigor, it’s like all their exercises being mixed into one activity.

Incredibly taxing but very satisfying.

After the last spell shot itself out of a wooden box targeted at Celine, she back flipped once gaining some distance, held her sword in front and let the ice shard break in front of her as well as cracking her sword.

With a force akin to that of a bullet on the spell, she just easily shrugged of the pain with a little bit of healing spell.

“Alright we’re all done.” said Allen, releasing the sword he was holding to the ground which broke into pieces. With a little bit of ice magic, he froze the pieces of the broken sword and thawed the ice, also affecting the broken sword as it reverted back to pure mana, albeit just a little bit of it.

As his blade was the only one that broke, everyone else put theirs on the rack near the weights for them to use again. What he did was something that Ken taught to them, for finding out that any ‘thing’ has its own residue of energy, he deliberately taught them how to convert things into energy.

The concept of solid to liquid of water was used and incorporated to the elements his friends use, by coating an item with the users elemental magic, it allowed them to quickly disperse whether they’d repair the item or revert it back into pure mana.

But repairing items is another matter, so reverting them into pure mana, is the better course of action, as per Ken’s opinion, he doesn’t like to waste anything.

“You may all take a rest, and we wait for lunch, later in the afternoon, it is up to us whether we’ll undergo one on one session with the Masters or we do something else, alright? Dismissed.” said Allen to his friends lined up before him.

“Yes Sir!” they replied.

Groans and sighs of relief rang out from everyone as they walk leisurely towards their table, some plopping their tired bodies directly on top of the table, or using their hands as a makeshift pillow to support their heads as they sleep.

That vigorous training did a number on them, almost all of them took a nap either long or short to recuperate from the intense movement of their body and limbs.

Lorna who was in charge of the kitchen for today arrived at the scene of serenity where everyone all just looked like little angels sleeping soundly.

She smiled to herself as she counted the number of people she will be going to feed. Noticing that one was missing, she racked her brain for whomever it was, a memory came back to her.

It was Ken who was not here with the rest, as he was still getting treated by Kara at her cave. She softly approached the bunch, particularly going to her son, caressed his head, with that slightly long hair almost covering his face.

She gave him a soft kiss to the head, and smiled fondly at him. The boy scrunched up his face then went back to normal from the sudden itch. Lorna gave one last caress and returned to the kitchen with the rest of the people to bring them their food.

Lunch rolled, as the group were all awakened to eat. They all looked sleepy as they ate slowly, but after a few mouthfuls their vitality returned to them as they enthusiastically ate their fill.

After lunch, Allen, Glen, Wilbert, Icarus, Saber and Lila remained at the training grounds with Masters Ras, Kilean, Nazir, Rena, Abel, and Oldin, to train with each other respectively.

While Princess Lang accompanied by Riyah, Celine, and Flin went to her highness’ residence to talk with her assistant, she recalled that in this afternoon they would be able to get the letter from her father whether they’d be allowed to come to her Kingdom or not.

The four arrived at the house where the princess rests along with her assistant. They entered inside to see her assistant writing on a table by the right side of the house dedicated to studying.

The house has approximately two rooms inside, while outside were the kitchen study table and a small rest area located. Her assistant name Melen was wearing clothing close to that of a butler, but mostly white and silver in color.

Melen turned to the princess that had arrived and greeted her. Those draconic features on his face adding a slight air of a collected person.

“Your highness, you have returned early, how may I be of service?” he said standing up, bowing towards the princess and her guests.

“I would like to know of the update on the letter of request I sent to my father, has he given a reply yet?” the princess said, sitting down on a chair by the resting area, she urged her three companions to sit with her.

“Ah, yes your highness, his majesty has sent a letter early this morning.” Melen took out a letter from under the book of his study table and handed to the princess.

The princess opened the letter and read its content, the other three leaning close to read as well.

“Hmmm… Father approved of the request, that’s a relief.” She went silent for a moment, pondering on the last part. “But he needs to meet all of us first.” She turned to her companions saying.

“What do you guys think?” the three looked at one another.

“We don’t mind?” said Celine.

“Mm *nod*.” replied Flin.

“That would be a good opportunity for everyone since meeting the King personally will help us familiarize ourselves, and to give due respect to someone of higher position rightfully.” said Riyah. The other two nodded with her.

“Then it’s decided then, but first, we need to inform the others of my father’s decision. I have to send him a letter again too.” said the princess.

“Right, by informing everyone, we would be in our best behavior.” The others nodded at Flin’s statement. They all thanked Melen for his time and leisurely went out of the house, heading to the training grounds.

They contentedly conversed with one another, but remembering the temperament of her father sometimes, Princess Lang could not help but be weary, would this situation go smoothly?

Predicting the future is such sweet sorrow. Seems like there’s still more variables to consider before their plan could commence. Well, she doesn’t really need to worry much. At least?

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