The next day was slow as well, with each of us not wanting to leave the comfortable pile that we had created on the bed, each of us basking in the warmth of the others.
However, leave that comfort we did, as the dawns early beams forced me to get up and get everything ready, whilst the others began to slowly crawl from the bed.
We didn't leave the house as early as we usually did, both due to my own late start and that each of us was still feeling drained from last night, but we did eventually reach the Academy, where we all sighed as we began our first of three classes.
Currently, Magic Theory was covering how to turn a sequence into a Ritual Circle, and how to better write the various runes to create said Ritual Circle.
It was moments like this in the class that made me realize just how gung-ho the Marquess and Countess had been with educating Jahi when she was still an actual child, as the rest of our class struggled with the nuances of magic; the only ones who didn't were either Nobles like Jahi or those more talented in magic amongst the commoners, but the numbers were low.
All four of us had easily and swiftly created and mapped out the Ritual Circle that Vice-Headmaster Bijilo wanted, and the older man smiled as he looked over each, nodding to himself.
After proving that we had all individually created the Ritual Circles on our own, he had us complete the assignment that we would have been doing as homework next, which made me relieved; I always preferred doing 'homework' at school, since the location was much less distracting then my home, where my books would call out to me, or my friends might ask to play a few games.
With the first class done, we all trudged along to History next, where we got to learn more about Lord Ter'Ran, the Ancient Earth Dragon that guards the remaining Southern Border of the Empire from the Labyrinthian.
As had been stated in our first few classes, Lord Ter'Ran was a reclusive Dragon, which is why the land around his mountains were left untouched and uninhabited, as per his request.
The relationship between him and the Empress was, by all accounts, one of good friends, and he was also something of a brother to Lady Igna and Duchess Klaki, the two other Dragons inhabiting the Empire.
With that, he was allowed his own land, but unlike Duchess Klaki he refused a title, preferring to remain in solitude and away from other mortals, content with his mountainous home.
His home had been christened Sanctus Petra, and each of its towering peaks was considered a treasure on its own, since his presence had allowed rare ores and rich Earth Mana to flow into the land, improving it by leaps and bounds.
Because of that, he had agreed to allow the Empress to send a group of miners to the mountains one month out of a year, every year, to harvest what they could.
Sanctus Petra was where the Empire had truly turned itself into an untouchable superpower, as the raw materials gathered were swiftly turned into incredibly powerful weapons for important, loyal people; the Knights of Cinder and the Ignacia Guard were outfitted with those metals, turning each into a moveable fortress with insane power.
Like always, the knowledge from the class was interesting, but the work tied to it was annoying; a three page paper on the importance of Lord Ter'Ran, as well as a two page paper on the mountains he resides in, Sanctus Petra.
Not immensely difficult, but they were due tomorrow, and I had better uses of my time...
Finally, we had Combat Class, which was slowly wearing away at Jahi and Anput, before the two women grew ecstatic as Professor Thorn decided to spar with them personally, dedicating half of the training grounds to their spar, leaving the rest of us a little more cramped then normal.
It started out normal enough for Leone and I, with both of us picking up our wooden weapons and sparring amongst ourselves, before I sparred with Greselda and Leone sparred with Countess Aurim, for intra weapon-class training.
The adventurer had improved over the long classes, and it was refreshing to not have to worry about ulterior motives with my sparring partner, be it the twisted words of Jillian or the honey laden, lust filled actions of Leone or the others.
Besides that, she fought with both power and finesse, offering quite a challenge as we crossed blades, and I gradually improved the style that I wished to fight with, copying her moves and tweaking them to fit my own frame and strength.
However, it was during our third spar that someone walked over towards us, someone I was familiar with.
Long, raven black hair, piercing green snake eyes, and a torn robe that displayed her snake tattooed arm and various runic tattoos; Arch Mage Kolia stood beside us, a small smile on her lips as she watched us finish.
Panting, I glanced over at her, the woman gesturing with her head that she wished to speak.
Alone.
Bowing to Gresleda, I slipped through the crowded training grounds and approached the woman, her back leaning against the wall as she stared at the fight between Anput, Jahi, and Professor Thorn.
Moving to stand beside her, I waited for the woman to speak as I also watched the incredible fight happening before us.
"You know... it really does feel like just yesterday that you both were little more then brats trying to learn magic. Now, both of you've grown so damn much..."
Raising a brow, I glanced at her melancholic eyes and said "Respectfully, it's been only what, two years Miss Kolia? Not ten or twenty."
Chuckling, she looked over at me and said "So? Two years is still a long time, Kat. For you especially, it's only been what, a fourth of your life?"
Nodding, I listened as she continued on, her nostalgic voice growing slightly distant.
"You really never know what can happen in two years, Kat. So much can change in the world, in people, in yourself. I mean, in two years you've went from the shy little puppy to a confident, but quiet Dogkin woman. Jahi also grew more confident and sure of herself, and the physical change is...well, you can see that. Hah, anyways, seeing you two just made me feel old."
I raised a brow again, looking at the youthful features of the woman beside me; I never did learn her specific race, but considering how long those with Cores lived, well...
"What, trying to think about my age? If I recall, I'm just reaching my forties? Maybe fifties... eh, I stopped counting a long time ago."
Seeing her mischievous smirk, I rolled my eyes as I asked "So why'd you call me over?"
Sighing, the woman's carefree expression vanished, replaced by something serious.
"Lady Chordeva sent me a letter explaining the situation, and I've... heard a few things around the city. The peace that we've been enjoying is going to shatter soon, and I worry for the people of the Empire. I'm sure the Empress has told you that she's incapable of doing anything on her own, but it's more complicated than that.
The Kameiel's are researching something... dark, and they brought it forwards to the Empress recently, claiming it was a way to strengthen the Empire as a whole. The problem is, their research is wholly legal and... well, with war on the horizon, many amongst the Empress' Court are willing to sanction and fund their research. The Empress herself has remained neutral during it all; it really is a era changing thing that they're researching, but the smarter amongst the Council know how twisted it can become.
They are looking for a way to mix mana together to create a stronger offspring; the majority of their research is looking at mixing water and fire, wind and earth; all the opposites in the elemental space to create an improved Core, one that can wield and house those opposites. Their research started with tying two people together and trying to connect their cores, much like that old, ancient Ritual Circle I told you about.
However, each instance has been a failure, but they're growing closer. Thing is, those blinded by the here and now can't see that doing this is an affront to nature; a true abomination would be born, because opposing mana cannot truly exist in the same person, not without extremely special, and extremely precise control; control that no mortal has.
Those blinded idiots outweigh those with foresight on the Council, and the Empress' neutrality is because she wishes for them to learn that not everything can be forced... if I had to guess. Sadly, with the war likely to break out with the Western Kingdoms, these fools believe that we can grow back stronger by aiding the Kameiel's... even with knowledge that they wish to usurp the Asmodia's position.
So Kat, please, be careful. Tell Jahi she needs to curb her impulsive behavior against Jillian and Ayla, and that we need to gather our strenght first; the Sariel's and Kameiel's are far stronger than people remember, and with the way this Empire is set up, the Asmodia's can't simply raze those they deem a threat. Tell that to Jahi, tell her she needs to remain quiet and endure for now; my guess is that Jillian and Ayla may become more... insufferable soon..."
Letting her words soak in, I nodded, glancing over at the blue Demoness that was grinning, her body moving fluidly as she sparred against Anput and Professor Thorn.
Taking a deep breath, I sighed as I realized that trouble was brewing far faster than I had anticipated, and I needed to get my lovers prepared and ready for the storm that was to be unleashed upon us.
I continued to chat with Arch Mage Kolia, discussing more about our 'enemies', asking about potential allies, and then turning the discussion towards improving my magic, getting pointers on what I needed to improve now before anything happened.
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