The last class for today is all about combat. Apprentices will have to attend this class more often than the other classes. Apparently, there are five school days, and four of them entirely focus on developing the student's melee skill.
This is not a school, this is a bootcamp! Our classes are always outside!
Master Arno, a man of muscularly large proportions, leads the class. Unlike the other instructors, he doesn't wear a robe. He prefers to be half-naked, only showing his bare torso of godly aesthetics. On his back, he has a tattoo of the Golden Ascension Academy insignia. So, I guess he is technically following uniform regulations.
"Listen, apprentices, the Darkwaste is an unforgiving place. It won't take pity on you, and it won't wait for you until you can help yourself. The monsters there will devour you and eat you alive. That is why, for our first day of class, I expect you to be mentally and emotionally prepared. Today, I will only discuss what to expect and maybe do a short lecture about the Darkwaste."
The master, for the last five minutes, has been really gentle to the young apprentice since the start of the class. He was spewing about strengthening the mind and the heart before we build a strong body. He was unexpectedly encouraging.
Master Arno continued, "Then next week we'll start doing exercises and drills on how to use your Beastblades. Soon, we will be training our combat skills in the first layer of the Darkwild. I know it sounds scary, but I know you got this, and if you feel scared, just know I will protect you all."
Layer? Like an onion?
Everyone in class was attentive and listening. Smiling at the fact that, finally, there is a decent instructor in this place, and all it took was getting through the first three or four classes.
Finally, now we can learn properly!
"Let's start our discussion with your questions. I know some of you are still confused about certain things, and I am ready to answer your questions. So, who's first?"
Bella raised her hand. She and the rest of the class were sitting on the grass. Beside her is Stella and her stupid llama companion. Good thing I am a butter worm. I rest on Bella's lap as I keep my ear to the class.
"Yes, Bella, what's your question?" Master Arno points at her.
"Master Arno, how many layers does the Darkwaste have, and which one is safe?"
"That's a good question. Think of the Darkwaste as a bottomless pit, and as of now, we have only explored 67 layers. But some say the top guilds have discovered 69 more; that is an unverified report, since the Forge claims the deepest we went in history was at least 420. So, it's all conflicting and confusing, but one thing is clear: it seems endless."
Whoa?! It's not just a place all along, it's a full-blown pit! Like a dungeon or some sort. But what's in there besides monsters and souls? Why are they trying to go deeper?
"But which one is safe? Hmm," Arno paused, "My guess is the first layer, since the Ministry has an office there, a checkpoint to deter those who dare enter without permission. Also, the first layer has its occasional flying bug-type monsters that are easily killed."
"What about the guild headquarters?" Jared raised his hand, "Are they safe to be around?"
Jared's been interested in guilds, huh? I thought he was just a dummy with a bowl cut.
"The locations of guild headquarters in the Darkwaste are supposed to be a secret. Besides, guilds only protect if they are willing to provide it to people outside their group. So, my answer to that is it depends on whether they are a nice guild or not."
Alexios was next to ask, "Why is it a secret? You almost make it sound like the guilds are not good people. They're not all bad."
Master Arno glanced to see Alexios properly, "I understand where you are coming from, Alexios. Since your family owns the Three-Headed Red Dragon guild, I am not implying the guilds are bad. I'm only saying that since the Darkwaste is lawless, we must all be cautious. Do you understand?"
Alexios pouted, caressing his egg, "Yes," he replied weakly.
"Anyone else?" Master Arno looked around.
"Oh, oh! Me, I have a question!" Stella excitedly blurted out loud with her hands waving.
Master Arno chuckled, "Yes, Stella, go on."
"What's in the Darkwaste and why are we even going there in the first place?"
Finally! Someone asked the thing I wanted to know!
"That's a good question, Stella." Master Arno rubbed his chin, thinking of an answer.
"Bella, I got to ask a question!" Stella whispered.
This is not a competition, though….
Bella nodded, happy for her friend, "Good job!"
Master Arno snapped his fingers, "In the past, monsters came out of the Darkwaste to terrorize our land. The Ministry was created to seal the horrors beneath with the help of the Forge. Many lives were lost in the centuries of fighting, and the Beastblades that the brave souls carried with them were left behind. Thus, guilds were created to retrieve these lost weapons!"
"You should know that already, Stella," someone from the back said, a snotty brat with a featherless four-winged capybara sleeping beside him. His arms are crossed, and he appears to be from a wealthy family. He has a red scarf around his neck, hiding a brooch.
"What's your problem, Ronan?" Bella defended her friend, fist at the ready.
"Don't act like you don't know it, too, Evermore. I'm so sick of sitting here pretending we should ask these questions. The only reason the master is letting us ask questions is for the poor, slop-eating Gifted to know some stuff they don't normally know!"
Gifted. There goes that word again. What is his problem with it, though?
"Hey!" Jared stood up. Beside him is a hairless, pink, little hog with its limbs stretched out, sleeping stiffly, "You got a problem with us Gifted? Just because you're an Inheritor doesn't mean you can talk to us like that!"
Inheritor? Why are they just spewing new words!?
Ronan followed him up, arms still crossed, "But I can talk to you like this, what are you going to do about it?"
Uh oh! They're going to fight!
The two boys were inches away from each other. Their Beastblades mindlessly idling by, it was a laughable sight. But the class felt the tension. They all knew what they were talking about, and some agreed with each boy's opinion. It was like an invisible problem that I am now starting to see.
It's all about whether you got your Beastblades through your family or the Forge. Are they fighting over something this trivial at such a young age?
"That is enough," Master Arno stepped in between the two, "This topic is over. If you want to use your energy, I suggest you use it at our next meeting. Tomorrow, we will train."
Ronan and Jared backed down and returned to their summoned beasts. Their Beastblades didn't care about their petty argument. I know I didn't.
But it was intriguing, though!
"Class dismissed." Master Arno said.