The next day in the early morning in the capital city of Oriana.
"Ahh it's time"
A young man with brown undercut hair, a low skin fade, a brown iris in his pupils that match his hair color, and black gloves. He gets up from his bed as he prepares for school. His black button-up shirt, black slacks Aurora Saint Academy uniform, and first-year emblem on his collar, with a little cape at the end of it like a knight.
"Jericho" a female voice calls to him.
"What" he responds.
STEP STEP STEP
"What did I say about your tone of voice young man"
"Jericho," a male voice says. "Be nice to your mother"
"Of course Father"
"My apologies Mother but I've been bothered by this nagging thought."
"Like what is it?"his mother asks.
Jericho pauses for a moment "I need to make an impression. The first day my arrival was outdone by the Twelve Star mages and the exemption students. Well former exemption students"
"Am surprised they all would do such a thing especially on there first day. Shame on them" his father comments.
"Just remember son you just as good as them. Also, you're a dragon clad you'll be on the same level or even greater than theirs" his mother spoke.
"How many Twelve Stars are in this school"
"Three. Leo, Virgo, and Aquarius. There were a few other students who were on the same level as them, but there was one who was an outlier to the bunch. The irregular no-mana Valerus Marina is a skilled weapon handler who has no mana. Somehow he was able to defeat a Twelve Star with no mana whatsoever." Jericho speaks as he continues to walk around the room.
"Did you say, Marina?" the dad spoke.
"Yes Father why is that significant?"
"There was once a mage on The Federation that went by name and met his end years ago. If that is Marko Marina's son he would be a formidable rival"
"Is that so father then that means" Jericho takes a pause. He then thinks for a moment by putting his hand on his chin "Hmm yes second day it's time to have my presence felt."
"Also Jericho please be aware it seems some citizens seem to have caught some sort of illness."
"Got it I'll make sure to stay hydrated and keep healthy." Jericho Pearson says as he makes his way to the academy.
"Illness. Why is that on my mind. Never mind what shall I say to him Valerus Marina. I challenge you. Hmm, not it "Let's duel Valerus". No prepare for trouble make it. No just make it simple. No I cant do that am might get in trouble but it'll be a sanctioned match. Maybe they wont let anyone fight in the anymore on school grounds since that incident" Jericho says as he arrives at the front gate.
"Today is my-"
WARP
"Look out!" a voice yells.
BANG
Jericho gets knocked down as two people fall on him.
"Uhh, what was. Oh no"
"Val why did you do that"
"I mean he was just standing right in front of where everyone gets warped from the Teleportation Zone"
Jericho temporarily gets knocked out. He slowly begins to get his senses straight as his vision still needs to come back.
"Is that you Val-"
STEP STEP STEP STEP
"Valerus!" Ezekiel yells as he comes full sprinting at him.
"Ezekiel good morning," Valerus says as he sidesteps Ezekiel.
"Huh"
BAM
"Uhhhhh,"
"Ugh aye thanks for cushioning my fall man," Ezekiel says as he taps Jericho on the chest.
Erielle runs over. "So sorry about that" she apologizes as he heals him up.
"Ezekiel you gotta relax with that man," Valerus says jokingly.
"Sorry my bad Valerus" Ezekiel says, rubbing my head.
"Please dont rub my head am not a pet" I said.
"You should be fine now." Erielle says.
"Thank you." Jericho says.
"Your welcome see you around." Erielle says as she walks away.
"Good morning Ezekiel," Erielle says.
"Morning welcome too the second day"
The three slowly walk away.
"Who was that guy?" Ezekiel says.
"Am not sure we just landed on him while he was standing right in front of the Arrival Spot from the Teleportation Zone" Valerus comments.
"He'll be fine I healed him," Erielle says.
The three head inside the academy.
"Valerus Marina I will get you-"
STEP STEP STEP STEP STEP
"Hopefully today is a better day than yesterday," a female voice says.
"Sunny day were having"
"It is a beautiful day Suneeta Uh, what class is first again?"
"The class that we didn't have yesterday cmon Azalea"
"Have you cooled down Rose?"
"Yeah."
The five sisters arrive too the academy grounds they head towards the gate to where there stopped.
Jericho stands in front of them.
"What the" Lily. "Who?" Bella.
"Excuse me you blocking the way could you move to the side please?" Azalea asks.
"Azalea sometimes you just gotta tell them straight up," Sunneta says.
"Rose nice to meet you am-"
"Albeck Reigns!" Rose quickly walks past Jericho.
"Next time pal try again, "Bella says.
"Maybe dont block our path," Lilly says.
"Please uh um"
"Just tell him to move on aside. We'll see you around Mr…" Sunneta says as she guides Azalea.
"Who was that guy again?" Sunneta asks the group.
"Dunno know," Bella says.
As the four try to catch up to Rose who went to talk to Albeck again.
Jericho stands with a smile and a feeling of defeat.
"What's up with this morning!!" he yells while putting his hands up in the air. The rest of the students passing by look at him funny. "Tch I'll just get him at lunchtime"
He turns around quickly.
BUMP
"Ahh"
"Am so sorry. Please pardon my clumsiness."
"Its alright its an accident."
Jericho stares at Bianca for brief second. "Those ears. An elf. You must be Bianca Roche "The Earth Saint."
"Yes I am." she says.
"My name is Jericho Pearson its nice too meet you." he extends his hands.
Bianca extends her's as her eyebrows narrow"Pearson. Pearson. Oh your the Dragonclad. Its a pleasure to meet you."
"Yes someone finally knows me." Jericho thinks to himself.
"Correct that is-"
ZING
Jericho looks outwards towards the buildings right outside of the front gates.
"This feeling. Someone's watching me. No. Not me" Jericho looks at Bianca as she also stares towards the buildings with an uneasy face "She felt that too." he thought.
"Am going to let go of your hand now." Bianca says.
"Yes my apologizes. Say is everything alright?" Jericho asks.
"Yes they are. Come on lets head to class."
"Yes lets head to class." Jericho follows Bianca closely as he stares back into Oriana.
DING DONG DING DONG
Lunchtime is here.
The same table as yesterday. Valerus, Erielle , Ezekiel, and the student council eat.
STEP STEP
"Valerus Marina," Jericho says aloud.
"Oh, the guy from this morning. Sorry about that" Valerus says.
"I wish to fight you"
A brief pause.
"No"
"..."
"No?" Jericho says with a disappointed expression.
--------------------------------------------------------
That same morning Valerus' POV
YAWN
I slept pretty well.
KNOCK KNOCK
"Val you ready?"
What time is it? Oh am late.
I hurry to change into my school uniform and rush downstairs.
"Goodbye Mother see you later" "Goodbye Lady Lila"
HUFF HUFF
"Sorry, I overslept you know how yesterday was a long and eventful day"
"Dont mention it Val I woke up late as well just 10 minutes later than i usually would"
"Better than me"
The two of us hurry to the teleportation zone.
WARP WARP
"Look out"
BUMP
"Val why did you do that"
"I mean he was just standing right in front of where everyone gets warped from the Teleportation Zone"
The two of us just realized this person was knocked out.
"Oh, Erielle what did we do?"
"We? You landed on him"
"We both did technically"
"I mean it wasn't our fault who just stands in front of-"
"Oh he's getting help try and heal him Erielle "
"Ok"
He mouths something but I can't hear it what I can hear is footsteps approaching us from behind. I turn to look at a charging Ezekiel running forward, I swiftly dodge but then realize what's there when he lands.
BAM
Oh no he got knocked out again.
"Ezekiel why?" Erielle says.
"I just wanted to surprise you guys that's all. Oh am not hurt" Ezekiel looks down "Aye thanks for cushioning my fall man," Ezekiel says as he taps the student on the chest.
I lecture Ezekiel a little about jumping out and surprising us as we head inside after Erielle heals him.
We then make our way to our classes. I haven't seen Bianca yet.
Continuing too walk as we spot Ms.Carmen. Today she wore a black Sleeveless Dress that looked elegant with her high heels. She walks away after talking too a man white lab coat and khaki pants. He looked to be some kind of scientist.
"If more cases were too arise report them too me please." the man says.
"Yes you have may more."
"I suggest you wear a mask as well it might be contagious." he warns her as he walks away towards us.
The mysterious professor walks past me as he gives me a cold look.
"What was his deal?" I ask myself.
"Good morning my dears," Professor Carmen greets us.
"Good morning" the three of us respond back.
"Are you guys staying safe and looking out for one another?"
"Yes, we are" Erielle says.
She looks around as too look to see if anyone is watching.
She CLACKED her two heels together.
VRMM
"What is this?"
A little space gets created encapsulating all four of us.
"Dont panic it's my magic. We did have the facility meeting discussing yesterday's incident. The Federation has been informed. Remember to report to me if anything strange occurs. Professor Fuldre of Class 1A and Heldam 1C are working on something too do. There's also a mysterious illness running about"
I raise my hand "May I ask something Professor?"
"What is it Valerus?"
"Who was that man you were speaking too? Regarding the illness?"
"He is Professor for the Third Years Fillion Drake he just recently returned too the Academy the other day. He specializes in poison magic. His magic gives him the power to cure illnesses and diseases using his own neurotoxin that he created."
The three of us turn to give each other a look.
"Don't worry we already checked him he was legitimately sick.Thankfully he recovered after "that" incident occured"
"What incident is that?" Erielle asks.
"Yeah I wanna know too." Ezekiel adds.
"We spent too long in here. I shall inform you all later."
CLANK
She taps her heels.
As we return back to our original setting.
"See you all later in homeroom" Celeste Carmen walks away putting on a face mask.
Ms.Carmen walks away.
"That was her magic," Ezekiel says.
"A pocket space," Erielle says.
"Teleportation?" i ask.
"Phantom Order, this sickness, a mysterious professor that suddenly returns after all this transpired." Erielle says as she collects her thoughts.
"Cmon guys it most likely wont be that serious its just probrealy just a common cold nothing to be worried about. ACHOO" Ezekiel comments as he sneezes.
Me and Erielle step back a few feet from Ezekiel.
"Its just one sneeze guys cmon."
"You didnt cover your mouth." Erielle says in shock.
"Did you know sneezes can last up to 10 minutes in the air." I add. "Watching the health channel and paying attetion in health class did pay off." I chuckle to myself.
"What are you laughing at Valerus?"
"Nothing just something funny that I remembered."
"Come on you two lets head to class." Erielle says as we both walk a little farther away from Ezekiel.
"Why are you guys walking so far away?" he asks.
"Really?" Erielle says with a irritated face.
"Do we have to spell it out man?" I said.
"Right dont wanna get that illness got it?" Ezekiel says.
We head to class and then homeroom.
Eyes jolt in our direction when the three of us enter the room. We arrive at our seats.
COUGH COUGH
A couple students seem to feel under the weather.
"Its only the second day of school and people are already getting sick?" Erielle says as she covers her mouth.
"I need a face mask." I said.
"How the heck is everyone getting sick!" Ezekiel says loudly.
Celeste Carmen walks in wearing a face mask.
"All right students it seems a sickness is spreading all over Oriana. I advise everyone to stay hydrated, keep healthy, stay away from others who are sick. With that being said."
CLANK
Celeste creates separate pocket spaces for those who are sick.
"Now if your feeling not well at all please let me know so we can send you too the infirmary. Please dont be embarrassed to go as some students were all sent there for treatment."
"Wow this is a serious thing." Erielle says.
"Out of the blue too." I said.
"Am just not tryna not to get sick" Ezekiel says.
"Moving on the Magus Exam will be held soon there will be some changes please expect the unexpected as all professors will recite this too you in all your classes." Celeste adds.
We sat at the same table arrangement but Albeck sat by himself. With Rose Providence sitting with her group staring at us but mostly toward Albeck. Did something happen between them? I didn't see them interact yesterday.
"This illness out of all things. ACHOO" Luna says as she sneezes into her arm.
"Bless you." Axel says.
"Luna are you alright I think you should go and see the nurse." Faith says.
"Am fine." Luna responds with her watery eyes and stuffy nose.
"I know when I see a sick person. I can take you Luna you dont gotta put up this tough act" Axel says.
"Listen too the President Luna." Issac comments.
"Okay okay I'll be back too get checked on." Luna says as she stands up from the table.
Axel walking besides her as they walk too the infirmary.
"She'll be okay." Caesar comments.
"Well guys hows the second day going so far?" Faith asks.
"Great plenty of competio and ways to get stronger." Ezekiel says.
"Unexpected things keep happening. I dont know how you guys do it." Erielle comments.
"Trust me Luna and Axel have been working vigosily about informing the second years and the rest of the student bodies by creating health adviossers." Issac says.
"Am still learning who the notable people are."
"Notable people. Notable people." Faith looks around the cafeteria hall. "Oop that's the Dragonclad" Faith points out.
"Him?"
"The dude that cushioned my fall," Ezekiel says.
"Oh is he mad?" Erielle asks.
"We saw the whole interaction with you guys in the morning From the view from our room. He yelled something out loud then he tried to speak with Rose and her friends. It was hilarious." Faith says with laughing."
"I must give it too them it was entertaining" Issac says.
"He's coming this way," Ceaser says with his short phrases.
STEP STEP
"Valerus Marina," Jericho says.
"Jericho Pearson its good too meet you" Valerus says.
"As too you hope you enjoyed your lunch" he says in courtly manner.
"I wish to fight you" he speaks.
A brief pause.
Everyone at the table stops what they're doing and looks at me waiting for my response.
"Val you dont wanna do this."I wouldn't wanna cause anymore trouble for them."" Erielle says.
I took a minute to think of the consequences of doing this. Will things repeat from yesterday? I finally came up with my response after running it through my head a bit.
"No"
"....."
"No?" Jericho says with a disappointed expression.
"Can we save it for the Magus Exam?" I ask.
"Fine, I shall meet you then. Other than that good day to you. Just letting you know that I will be the one to win" Jericho says as he waves his hands and walks off.
"Dragonclad imma look forward to meeting him in the Exam," Ezekiel says as he chuckles.
"The dragonclad from the Pearson family. Not only do you have him but Albeck, Rose along with her group, and Bianca are participating in the Magus Exam in a few days. " Faith adds on.
"Is it possible to give us any tips on it?" Erielle asks.
"Like I said before The first stage tests your knowledge. How well do you know your magic? And the second stage could be any of these scavenger hunt, hide and seek, or tag. I suggest you work on conserving your mana, especially during the second stage. The first and second stages happen on the same day while the final stage happens a day after. " Faith adds.
"From our experience, myself and Ceaser here passed the 1st stage with ease but the second stage can be tricky," Issac says.
"Very tricky" Ceaser spoke.
"How so?" Erielle questions.
"It's the fact that you won't know what kind of stage it is until you arrive," Issac answers.
Issac casts his hands out and creates a diorama of the layout of the second stage.
"Interesting" Erielle says.
"The second stage is usually in a big wide area so we can roam freely. This space gives you enough time to plan out your strategies with your partner."
"So what about fighting?" Ezekiel asks.
"Stage one is a test from the second stage and on you can fully display your fighting capabilities to everyone," Faith says.
"Partner?" I ask.
"I forgot to mention before stage two begins you will be assigned a partner," Faith says.
"Are they predetermined or do you get to choose?" Erielle asks.
"At random," Ceaser spoke.
"You and your partner will then work together to defeat other teams as the final 8 teams remaining will be put in the tournament then the winner of those matchups will be the team for the Aiz Magnificant Magic Games. With the winner of the of those being the winner of the Magus Exam being granted S Ranking and Captain of the team for the Magic Games," Faith says for me I was partnered with Axel last year," Issac speaks.
"I was with Ceaser," Issac says.
"As for me, I was with Alekzander the winner of the Magus Exam," Faith says.
"What happened to him?" I asked.
"Currently right now he decided to go join The Federation. As may know the winners of the Magus Exam are labeled S Rank mages and the majority of them became Captain in the Federation. But with this new luitenenat role in the Federation Alekzander is currently the lieutenant of Squad 4 under his Captain Percival Caldwell the other known Dragonclad in Aiz. This is of course after our dominant performance in the Aiz Magnificent Magic Games."Faith says
"I see," I said aloud. That is my goal right now to win the Magus Exam join the Federation and show everyone am not just some irregular with no magic. I said to myself.
"I have a question so what are the plans for the third years?" Erielle asks.
" Yeah, I haven't really seen any besides our first day at the opening ceremony" I add to her question.
"Pretty much got their own thing going for them," Issac says as he points up.
There was a flight of staircases leading to another floor of the lunch area.
"That floor up there is designated for third years only no 2nd or 1st years are allowed. They're pretty lax as they dont really start drama unless something happens," he states. "Third years are free to do whatever they want once they graduate from the academy." he continues.
"Are they strong?" Ezekiel asks.
"They are pretty good in my eyes. From what we saw there are three that are distinguished from the other. The Trifecta Three. We'll cross paths eventually most likely at the Magus Exam" Issac says.
"There the former student council" Faith speaks up. "The former president, vice president, and secretary.We beat them last year as they were 2nd years then while their Secretary and Historian graduated and are doing who knows what. Surely I believe there is no grudge but to lose their place to lower classmen must've made them feel some way" Faith responds.
"Speaking of the third years what do you guys know about Professor Fillion Drake."
Faith, Issac, and Ceaser show a look a uneasy.
"Basically."
"Faith. Are you really going to tell them?" Issac asks.
"I'll give you three the details as brief as you can. Five students got expelled from the Academy all former Students of Fillion Drake. There was this whole thing that eventually got handled at the Court of Mages. Where he was found not guilty but for the students."
"Woah they still let someone like that still teach?" Erielle asks.
"So he didnt go to jail?" Ezekiel asks.
Everyone shakes there head in disappointment.
"So thats his story. But why did they get expelled?" I questioned myself. "How did it get so big that it needed to be handled there? Where are these students now. Its like a video game talking to all these side characters not having enough persuasion points."
We carried on and our lunch.
-----------------------------------
Celeste Carmen overlooks the students at lunch from the 3rd floor classroom building.
"Hmm"
CLICK CLACK CLICK CLACK
A sound of a cane echos throughout the hallway.
"Ms.Carmen do you have a second" a voice calls out.
"Professor Kayneth how may I help you"
"Just about the infilitration meeting we had the other day."
"Go on"
"After all these years that I have been here no one has made it through Headmasters Barrier but this year it was simply done. Yet it has started this year with the introduction of the Twelve Stars here. Moreover Professor Drake's return"
"What are you suggesting professor?"
"There's just too many variables within this. All for what to get there hands on the children. Nonetheless enjoy the rest of your day."
"You as well professor." Celeste Carmen says as he walks away "Its almost every day that am getting interogated"
"Rough day huh?" a female voice calls out.
"Ariana" Celeste says.
"Getting interogated too?" she asks.
Celeste remains silent.
"Dont sweat it its not just you me and Taz are also being questioned as well. They should be questioning Fillion but he's helping in the infirmary right now" Ariana states.
"Really even though you guys have been here longer that I have?" With a surprised voice Celeste questions.
"Yeah I guess the other professors impressions are that we are the homeroom teachers of the Twelve Stars and maybe we let the intruder in. Crazy for them too think like that huh"
"Yes very strange" with her eye aquinted with a thinking expression Celeste thinks.
"What are you looking at?" Ariana peaks over her shoulders.
"Making sure my students dont cause any trouble. As should you too." Celeste comments.
"Oops your right. Yeah yesterday. Was interesting. Having there exceptions being revoked."
"All we can do now is wait for there Magus Exam to begin.
"Did you hear about the headmaster might change this year?" Ariana says.
"What?"