Chapter 98: Corrupt Lands
The mood in the academy was what you’d expect after such a major attack.
All the second year, class one students had various expressions on their faces ranging from solemn to blank.
Even Darius, the usually rowdy one, was silently sitting without saying a word even when Adrian was sitting right in front of him.
Professor Leon walked into the classroom, looking a bit tired, which was to be expected,
After all, he had been one of the few tasked with keeping citizens safe during the attack, and yet, there had still been casualties.
He scanned the faces of his students for a while, his eyes briefly stopping on Renelle before sighing.
"You all did well surviving," Leon finally said.
As much as most were protected within the barrier, a couple of stubborn ones had ventured into the capital.
But he wasn’t about to reprimand them, after all, it was only thanks to them that the casualties weren’t as severe as he thought.
"My condolences to all who lost someone during the attack," he continued, "but this attack should act as a reminder that beasts and corrupted spirits are not the only enemies you are to face."
The students silently looked at him as he continued.
"It should also act as a reminder that if you want to prevent any such losses in the future," he said, "then you must get stronger. Strong enough to keep those you care about safe."
Professor Leon looked at his students again, noticing a change in their expression at his words.
Leon finally turned slightly toward the board and tapped the magic tool on it.
"And starting today," he said, "we will begin preparing for your next phase of training."
On the board, two words appeared on it:
Corrupted Lands.
He turned to the students again before pointing towards the girl with glasses, Linda, and said, "tell me what you know about the corrupted lands, glasses."
Linda adjusted her glasses slightly before standing up, her expression turning serious.
"The corrupted lands are regions that have been completely overrun by beasts and corrupted spirits."
She paused for a moment before continuing.
"They are lands that make up a higher percentage of Avera," she added, "and they remain uncleared because of the beasts and corrupted that live in the deeper parts, most rumored to be as strong as an S-rank spirit mage."
With that, she sat back down.
"That is the general understanding," he said, "but what you need to know is far simpler."
He tapped on the words on the board.
"They are places where the strong survive... and the weak die."
"In there," he continued, "there’ll be no instructors holding your hand, and no guarantee that you’ll make it back if you act carelessly."
A brief pause followed.
"You will be entering the outer regions first," Leon added, "but don’t let that fool you into lowering your guard. Even the outer zones have claimed lives."
Some students started to whisper, most already aware of the dangers the corrupt lands posed.
So in other words, this was more than a normal training....well, it couldn’t be considered a training at all, rather, it was a survival trial.
One meant to weed out the strong from the weak and although this usually happened in their third year at the academy, the recent event forced it to be pushed forward quite a bit.
"You will be split into teams of three," professor Leon said again, "and each team will be assigned a designated zone within the outer region."
He paused briefly, letting that sink in.
"Your objective is simple," he added, "survive, adapt, and return."
"And one more thing," he added, his tone lowering slightly.
"If you encounter something beyond your level, " paused, "run."
Leon then stepped away from the board.
"Team assignments will be given tomorrow," he said. "You leave the day after."
"That will be all for today," he picked up his papers, but stopped just before exiting the door.
Without turning back, he added,
"The world outside is changing faster than any of us anticipated," he let out a sigh, "make sure you’re not left behind."
And with that, he walked out letting the door close behind him and leaving the class in silence once again.
Darius, who had been silent all this while, suddenly stood up and walked towards Adrian.
Unlike what most other students expect, he just calmly stood there fo a while before sighing and asking, "you said you’d help me awaken it, right?"
"Hmm," Adrian simply nodded looking directly at the red haired idiot.
"Then help me," Darius said again, "I’m willing to do anything you ask."
He might be a hot headed battle maniac, but even he was shaken by what he had seen during the attack.
Yes, he had managed to take down multiple corrupted humans, but it only took a small amount of pressure from the Spirit King, to render him immobile.
He and Conan had been the closest to the Prince and Saintess during their fight with the Spirit King, and they had experienced its overwhelming presence firsthand.
Darius clenched his fists slightly at his sides, the memory of how powerless he felt was clearly still fresh in his mind.
He then took a slow breath before speaking again.
"I don’t care what it takes," he said, his gaze locking onto Adrian’s, "if there’s a way for me to awaken it... then I’ll do it."
Adrian looked at him for a moment longer before turning forward and asking, "would my lady like to witness his awakening?"
Renelle who was sitting a bit ahead turned back and looked at Darius, who suddenly got a bit nervous.
Although Adrian had promised to help him awaken in exchange for his absolute loyalty, he had a feeling, no, he was certain that if Renelle said no, then his chance would be completely gone.
Fortunately for him, Renelle simply said, "fine."
The single word was enough to make Darius release a breath he didn’t even realize he had been holding.
"Then let’s go," Adrian said, extending a hand towards Renelle and she calmly took it before standing up.
With that, the trio walked out the classroom, the prince’s eyes on Renelle’s back as she stepped out.
Of course he knew about their visit to the royal palace which indirectly caused the death of the Grand Duchess of the North, but he chose to say nothing.
Not that he had anything to say in the first place.
The Saintess by his side had similar thoughts, but she intended to give her condolences in person since Duke Boreas hadn’t allowed anyone that wasn’t from the North attend the funeral.
She just needed the right timing.
Preferably when her scary butler wasn’t around.
***
Renelle, on the other hand, refused to let go of Adrian’s hand as they continued down the Academy’s hallway.
Her eyes weren’t as blank as they were during the funeral, but there was still coldness within.
Adrian, on the other hand, didn’t mind that she was holding his hand.
Hell, he even preferred the fact that she was slowly becoming clingy towards him, though it was only because she was scared of losing him again.
Darius, a step behind the two, was a bit awkward.
He knew that they were supposed to be a lady and her butler, so their actions confused him.
As far as he knew, no servant should be this close with their Master. Still, he wisely chose to stay silent and focus on the fact that he might be getting a chance to awaken it.
"Where are we going?" Darius finally broke the silence after they walked for a while.
"A training room," Adrian simply answered as he continued walking forward.
"I see," Darius nodded and silently continued behind the two.
"Can you truly get him to awaken it?" Renelle suddenly asked as they continued walking.
"Does my lady not trust that I can?" Adrian asked with a small grin on his face as he looked at her.
Renelle looked at his grin for a while before sighing and shaking her head, "I trust you."
Of course she did, after all, she could just check his thoughts at any given moment thanks to the bracelets on their wrists.
Even without that, the fact that she had once experienced all his obsession towards her was more than enough to place complete trust in him.
Her grip on his hand tightened as they walked towards the direction of the training room.
***
It took a few minutes, but the three soon found themselves in one of the empty training rooms.
Renelle was sitting on the observer’s stand with both of Adrian’s gloves on her lap as she looked forward
Adrian, on the other hand, stood across a visibly half nervous, half excited Darius on an elevated platform before saying, "let’s begin."