The Legendary Class

A thin layer of ice cloaks Akira's feet, obscuring his movements as he strolls down a stone pathway in the dead forest, which is located behind Lightless, central in the stomach of the mountains.

He can sense 46 presence nearby. The buzzy aura was Czar, while the far away one not mingled in the group belonged to Vienna. Akira remembers Czar mentioning he was teaching the survival skills class for the freshmen this year.

That legendary class is brutal. It’s known as such because it strips cadets of their status and existence, making all they think about is survival.

First, they teach them the basics of surviving the wild with no divine powers. Starting fires, gathering food and water, learning poisonous herbs and their safe alternatives. Then, they camp out, facing attacks from wild animals, along with ambushes from the mentor, etc.

Because this class takes place in the dead forest, an area known as the first land to have been graced by divine presence, everything is a danger.

The air sometimes becomes murky, as if it’s melting and they’ll feel their lungs burn and collapse for ten seconds before dying. To prevent this as a first semester freshmen they use a haven tent, which cleanse the air inside its space.

At Lightless, usually every semester gets a new wave of freshmen. Akira was a part of the last batch of year 4075, which in the end had four students; Ishaan, Rune, and Manon, all who entered in the late 4074 and were a part of the first batch of freshmen.

This year was different, as instead of having a hundred take a heavenly trial and then another hundred later, thousands of people took it at once and that hasn’t happened in centuries, which meant there wouldn’t be any new freshmen.

Nature is an unpredictable force and in the dead forest, it’s hell on earth.

Any moment can lead to death, so Akira wasn’t surprised when under an hour since the class started, 8 dropped like moths.

To his relief, the intense boiling aura mingled in the group of freshmen was still there. For Ziven's sake, Akira prayed the girl was strong enough to make it through Lightless. Despite her aura being already powerful, it did not matter. You can be strong as god, yet gods still fall.

Ziven was strong as Ishaan, yet he died, and is mocked and ridiculed even after death.

Akira hands move with familiarity and ease as he pours light purple elixirs onto the dead planets within the abandoned garden. Tall jade green grasses and weeds sprawl around him, with barely visible footpaths under tangled foliage, unique colored insects crawling upon it like a street. The thick scent of decay and rot in the air is tinged with a pineapple smell wafting from the elixir glass curved bottles, which is known as Emerald Rebirth.

Potion brewing is a hobby of Akira. He finds himself safe whenever he fixes abandoned things, ranging from gardens, trees, clothes, animals, time-clocks, shoes, technology, etc.

Standing in the corner before a dead plant, Akira pulls the empty glass bottle back. Upon fully absorbing the glistening purple liquid, the barren and lifeless plant pulses with a deep energy. The gentle force causes the tendrils of unpleasant purple to stir, unravelling back to life, while the humid atmosphere grows thicker and richer with the odor of earth. Slowly, sprouts of lavish green piece the dry soil and flourish a now fresh surface.

Dark pink concentrated eyes watch the process intently, as if looking away would burn him. Suddenly, his perception flares and he senses a dreamy aura that makes his heart tremble violently, as if struggling to stay in sync with his breathing. Her ghostly presence of raw energy was indomitable, no one could escape it unless she allowed it.

‘Did she not have any control? Or does she not care if people die?’ Akira calms himself and tilts his head coolly to the side. 

The circular garden was caged in a witch gazebo, with the once grand entrance rusted and covered in vines, the crumbing arch frame engraved with ancient language.

Vienna strides through it, her detached demeanor interweaved with a majestic vibe Akira only felt from his mother. Their eyes lock. She nods in greeting and attempts to bypass him.

“Why aren’t you concealing yourself?” he asks with a cursory look.

Vienna pauses. “This is the dead forest. I have no need to. Besides, if you die from an aura, you’re weak and have no business seeking divine power.”

Was she saying that out of arrogance or ignorance? Despite Akira's siren traits, he couldn’t tell. Aura’s are a status level, like one’s essence power outward. They can only be sensed by those who have some control over their divine paths, while on rare occasions ordinary people with good perception feel them.

If an ordinary person felt Vienna’s aura, they would have died in five seconds.

Aura‘s had nothing to do with divine energies, though to say there is no connection would be a poor explanation. There is an ancient rumor that those with an aura before training to achieve divine paths are already destined for it. 

Written in the fates, people would say.

As Akira stays silent, lost in thought, a gentle breeze of hesitant waves off Vienna. He blinks and then grins. ‘So, she isn’t a robot.’

“Is something wrong?” he asks with no genuine concern.

“Another death will occur tonight,” she whispers. “A student this time.”

“Divination?”

She nods slowly.

A ripple of a sensation akin to wind embraces Akira. ‘She’s lying. Why?’ Akira could sense she wasn’t lying about someone dying, but about the divination part. “Who?”

“I can’t see that much. The body was mangled into a pool of crystallized liquid.”

“They overdosed on Crystalline Rock?” Akira couldn’t suppress a deep frown. Evidence of the drug's usage is when a person's blood is crystallized.

“I can not say.” Vienna shrugs impassively. “I was trying to divine information on this.” She holds up an ancient knife with a phoenix flaming design. “But instead, I divined the future. It happens near midnight. The body will be found in the kitchen at the dorms in the morning. That’s all I know.”

‘She was bullshiting to the core, but…’ Akira can no longer feel her lying and was very confused because he’s 100% sure she was. “Why are you telling me this?” he asks, but wasn’t expecting an answer and would have to second guess it anyway. Akira knew of Vienna because of her past relationship with Rune, along with her being addressed as Child of Heaven, the first in earth’s history to possess two divine marks. She is an extraordinary talent the Four Holy Clans wished they birthed.

She had gotten offers to join their families, but she declined them all. He always wondered why, but they weren’t close enough, or if at all, to get a genuine response.

“Everyone knows who really runs Lightless and it's not the oldies.”

Akira's mouth curls into a smirk at her response. “Don’t worry, sweetheart, I’ll make sure your warning isn’t in vain.”

****

Kaltain's body aches all over despite her strong endurance. She realized she might have underestimated the academy, but then again, hunger clouded everything.

For breakfast, she ate fruit and for lunch, she had her go-to snack. All because she wanted to avoid people. She forgot the importance of healthy meals until Lightless.

Redoing her ponytail with lazy effort, Kaltain strides into the dorm building, her skin glistening with sweat. She heads towards the kitchen after taking off her boots. The brown tiled floor is cool and flat under her feet, which are covered in thin white socks.

A small silver chandelier hung from the high inward ceiling, casting a warm magical glow on the open large space. Dark green coffee pads mark the steel countertops lining the back of the creamy baby blue wall. A large sink was nestled between the refrigerator and stove, with a freezer left of the former and several cupboards filled with food next to the latter.

The space was tidy and clean. It was also empty at the moment, which was a bonus. This kitchen is rarely used by lowerclassmen. They believe it to be cooler to hang out in the cafeteria located on the highest floor of the main building.

Before she can grab something to eat, a rosy perfume scent fills the air in a heavy wave and she turns around in time to bump into someone.

“Shit, sorry! Are you okay?” A clear emotionless voice exclaims. The person grasps Kaltain's shoulders to prevent her from falling.

“Yeah.” Kaltain steps back and looks up to see a lovely fair woman about 1.7 meters tall. She was dressed in a white academy uniform, possessing prominent brows, curly shoulder-length chestnut hair, glossy lips, with black eyeliner accentuating cold green eyes. The women's breast pocket was covered with 14 achievements.

As their gazes collide, Kaltain notices the woman stiffening, her eyes blowing wide in a trance. “You have his eyes,” she breathes.

His. Kaltain didn’t really need to think as the answer came to her in a flood of loss. Her appetite vanishes like a shooting star. Hurriedly and gut wrenching. Her throat swells with bile and she forces herself to swallow.

“You are?” Kaltain speaks only when she finds the confidence not to sound broken. Her voice is a cool, usual indifference.

“I’m Iskra Misul. I am Ziven… I used to date him.”

“Oh.”

Kaltain hadn’t known her brother had a girlfriend. Then again, he possessed the talent to blab about personal things, but leave the conversation a mystery. With sad awareness, Kaltain realizes she might have not known her brother as much as she thought she did.

This fact somehow sickened her in a way that surpasses his death.

****

30 minutes later.

Ishaan did not anticipate an encounter with Ziven's little sister again. He planned to look after her if needed, but so far, she lacked the necessary need for his assistance.

He was returning from Universal Raider, Voyager Seeker’s spacecraft, having finished issuing new orders to all members for a sudden mission. Advancing towards the entrance of the dorm building, Ishaan senses her boiling presence seated upon the stone step.

Her aura was yet to be perfectly forged or a true danger, yet it was there, waving as intensely as any trained Ophanim.

“Is this how we’re going to keep on meeting each other?” He asks, a tease in his husky voice.

“You can keep walking.”

“Of course.” He sits down casually and stenches out his long legs. He maintains an arm's distance away, yet he can smell a strong sweet vanilla odor emitting from her, which causes him to go still for a moment. Then, he asks gently, “How are you, Miss Kaltain?”

“Huh?”

“How are you settling here at Lightless?”

“I’m doing all right.”

“That’s good.”

An awkward silence fills the space between them. Ishaan wonders why he sat down. It’s not like he couldn’t ask how she’s doing standing up and then leave. They weren’t friends and can hardly be called strangers. He wasn't peculiarly fond of her either, simply acting on a whim. 

“Are you blind?” Kaltain breaks the silence with a blunt question.

“No.”

“Can I see your eyes?”

“No.”

“I bet they’re ugly.”

“They are not. I’ll make you erupt without touching you.”

“Such man words.”

Ishaan chokes on his saliva, heat rising to his neck and face. “What?!”

“Nothing.”

He shakes his head, bemusedly smiling. “You and your nothings.”

Kaltain lips twitch in amusement. She leans forward, arms resting on her knees. “Why do you cover your eyes if you’re not blind?”

“Aren’t you full of questions?”

“I’ll stop.” Her tone is laced with a faint disappointment that causes Ishaan's stomach to tighten.

“Don’t.” He clears his throat and turns his head away from her. “It’s fine. I.. I don’t mind. Your voice is very soothing.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

Kaltain stares blankly at him. She heard him, but she wanted—needed to hear it again. The words made her belly flutter fiercely. She wanted to feel that again.

Instead, her stomach growls.

Ishaan burst into laughter, causing Kaltain's cheeks to grow hot in embarrassment.

“What’s your name?” she asks him, hoping to turn the conversation away from herself.

A playful smirk spreads across Ishaan's handsome features. “I’d prefer to be your mystery.”

“What will happen once I solve you?”

“Hmm.” He rises to his feet calmly. “I guess we’ll have to wait for that reality, sweet darling.”

Oh, dear, he’s a flirt. Kaltain watches him enter the building with sweaty palms and a racing heart. For some reason, she found the process of unravelling him to be more fun than anything else at Lightless.