Chapter 380 – Mixed Combat and Battle Strategy

Chapter 380 – Mixed Combat and Battle Strategy

“Hey…” Kai relaxed his defensive posture, looking between their grinning faces. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d be here?”

“I thought you knew.” Flynn opened his arms to gesture at the students streaming on the sandy floor of the domed arena. “Mixed Combat and Battle Strategy is a mandatory course for Martial Studies. With our rankings in the Trials, there was a good chance we’d end up in the same group.”

“I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.” Rain leaned on Flynn’s shoulder with a playful smile. “Also, Flynn told me not to say.”

“Huh? That’s unfounded slander! I remember no such conversation!” He scoffed, turning to deny him support. “How could I ever imagine that Matthew wouldn’t talk with people and make this simple deduction? Really, one might wonder how I learned he’d picked this elective in the first place. Not like I could see his draft schedule poking from his satchel in our shared dorm.”

“Yeah, who’d do that?” Rain said, stepping onto his foot. “And does it even matter when this is all a coincidence? Isn’t it great that we all get to take a course together?”

Kai regarded them both with a flat stare. After eight hours of classes, his brain was too wrung out to engage in a lost battle. Something different bothered him. “How did you manage to sneak up behind me?”

Since getting abducted into the Trials, he’d started paying careful attention to his surroundings. Hobbes’ taunting naturally played no part in his efforts. His eyes narrowed onto the siren—logic never applied to him.

Rain glanced back as if looking for the culprit behind him. “Hey, I just moved quietly. Ask him.” His thumb poked Flynn’s chest, who innocently blinked.

I’m gonna go mad.

“Well… if it were me. Hypothetically speaking. Could be I was feeling left out after watching you sneak around Raelion for weeks. You even asked Alden for tips and not me.” He folded his arms with a heavy harrumph. “I’m no mage prodigy, but I can make the affinities I do have count. Just so you know, I also take Shadow Magic as an elective, though we aren’t in class together. I checked that.”

“We take Merian Ascension and Wild Beasts and Mana Zones together.” Rain threw his arm around Flynn’s shoulder and grinned. “I asked to have Water Magic with you, but they insisted on putting me in the adept course.”

“Well, that’s probably better.” Kai broke the stare. Really, he should have paid more attention. Saying he’d been too busy made for a poor excuse when they attended the same academy. Even before the Trials, they only hung out when Rain called Flynn over to their dorm. “Oh, right. How’s the Lucenti kit? Do you need help looking after it? Researching its species? Or bond skills?”

“Nah, Valela and the librarian saddled me with enough books to last until next winter. The little noodle still eats like a glutton. He’s putting on weight and fur. It’s super soft. He should open his eyes soon too.” His voice bubbled with excitement, a silly, beaming smile on his lips. “You should come see him. I’m waiting to see his personality before picking the name. The academy has professionals to look after him during class. I wasn’t sure about leaving him. But Hobbes also watches over him.”

Am I… less responsible than… Hobbes?

Kai chewed his cheek as Flynn continued gushing like a giddy parent.

“Why don’t you come pick him up with me after class? Last time, he yipped as soon as I entered the room. You must see it!”

“It was adorable,” Rain vehemently nodded.

“I… yeah. I’ll come. And… sorry, I know I’ve not been much company lately.”

“Uh, what? It’s all good!” Flynn stopped his rambles and snuck in a quick poke to his ribs before pulling back his hand. “I know how single-minded you get when you have a goal. We should meet for sparring and swimming again, now that the break is over.”

“Yeah… that’s a good idea.” Kai nodded, following the chattering pair to the quieter edges of the pavilion. The last students trickled in. Altogether, they’d soon reach four hundred.

“What’s with the face? You really don’t need to feel guilty.” Flynn pulled his attention. “I know you’ve had a lot on your mind.”

“I… No, I’m sorry.” Kai rubbed his face and condensed an icecube to chew. The sun had set outside, but the crystals in the dome lit the arena to near day. “I just had a long day.”

Rain and Flynn shared a look, then stared at him knowingly. The latter spoke up. “How many electives did you take?”

“Uhm… A few.”

“As in… more than any sane person would?”

“I have many affinities. And there were a lot of interesting courses.”

“That means yes.” Rain cupped his mouth to stage-whisper.

“How many exactly?” Flynn asked.

“Why does the number matter? Did you bet on it?”

“Nope. Nice misdirection. But it’s not like I bet on everything.”

Kai looked at him with his eyebrows arched.

“Okay, okay.” Flynn raised his palms. “I might enjoy the occasional gamble. But this time I’m innocent. Truly. It’s no fun betting on something that obvious. What’s the number? Out with it. The bell’s not gonna save you.”

Dammit.

He sighed, bracing for the judging gazes. “Just nine.”

“Nine?” Rain blinked. “Is that allowed?”

Flynn stared blankly at him, head lolling as the siren shook his shoulder.

Ohh, c’mon. It’s not that many. I even dropped two!

The traitorous bell cut through the students’ chatter. All along the inner walls, the doors swung shut.

“Students, assemble in order!” A male voice bellowed across the arena, his figure hidden by the crowd.

Watching as the packed students sluggishly shuffled into order, Kai thought it wiser not to rush. His friends were still recovering from the apparent shock. “Enough of this now. It’s fine. I’m fine. I can handle the courses.”

Flynn hummed and bobbed his head as if waking from a catatonic state. He gave a squeeze to his shoulder, abandoning the dramatics for a more sincere look. “So you’re not feeling overwhelmed on the second day of classes?”

“I’m… I’m getting used to it.” Kai looked at the gathering mass. “We should move.”

“We will. But, Mat. Jokes aside, just don’t burn yourself out. I’ve seen you pull off a lot of crazy shit. But this is an academy. We’re under no imminent threat of death. I’m always here if you need a hand with anything. Tips on sneaking, spots to hang out, homework, sparkling conversation or urgent fashion advice.”

“Me too,” Rain echoed. “Teaching you is always fun.”

“Huh, thanks? Same to you. And I appreciate it. Though…” Kai looked down at himself. Without his winter coat, scarf and hat, the burgundy robe and slacks covered his clothes almost entirely, spotless aside from a few wrinkles. “What’s wrong with the way I dress? It’s the academy uniform.”

Flynn tilted his head up and down, giving him a once-over. “Nothing. You do look like every other first-year. At least you fill out your sleeves. Most mana dorks clearly never lifted more than a book in their lives. Though, isn’t that more reason to aim even higher? I could suggest a few tweaks if you wanted to get some girl’s attention.”

Kai turned his face away. “Who said I wanted that?”

“Absolutely nobody! Still, if you did, there’d be nothing wrong with it.” He leaned to pick at his shirt collar as another shout for order swept over the crowd. “Details make all the difference. A couple of neat accessories. Some cuff links or rings. Maybe a haircut that doesn’t look made by a blind barber with a dull blade.”

Kai ran a self-conscious hand through his hair. “Is it that bad? I cut it myself last week.”

“No, I think it looks fun,” Rain said.

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“Figures.” Flynn gave an exasperated sigh. “I told you to find a skilled barber months ago. Well, talk for later. Class is startin’. We gotta go.” He spun and dragged him toward the crowd. “Follow me. Professor Beltram’s patient with new students, but he only gives two chances.”

Beyond the chaotic mass at the back, most martial students had formed into orderly ranks that would turn Professor Valdibal green with envy. Each stood at an equal distance, shoulders squared and arms at their backs.

Kai trailed his tall friend, joining the forming lines and falling into position.

“Eyes up front,” Flynn whispered. His easygoing demeanor shifted into a steady seriousness. Impassive expression and earnest gaze. “It should be about… now.”