20 A *Bigger* Problem (1/2)

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”So, how do you like your new toys?” Raven teased after a rigorous day of training. It had to be known that he was asking them this while dragging them back to the house by their collars.

”My arms…they hurt…heavy…” Paul said whiningly, seemingly hallucinating. The arm that he used to hold the shield is visibly swelling from the training. The hand that held the spear on the other hand was trembling here and there, the webbing are slightly bleeding and swelling as well.

”I need to train my left arm, it can't hold the sword properly.” Mark said weakly, his right hand was fine but his left hand wasn't, it swelled like a sponge filled with water. It was also visibly trembling from time to time.

”Don't worry, we have time. You'll get used to it.” By the time he said this, he then threw both of them inside of the medicinal basin, he turned around to take off his clothes and jumped in himself. The two already passed out from exhaustion but he knew that they'll wake up in just a bit.

Unbeknownst to the two, this type of heavy training had already stretched their stamina over and over again. It won't take long before they are able to withstand an all day training without losing consciousness.

The bathroom was silent for about an hour before the two regained their consciousness, they hurriedly took off their clothes and absorbed the efficacy of the medicinal bath. The absorption lasted for thirty minutes before stopping.

”Oh right! We have classes tomorrow right? Man…” Paul said while stretching.

”Right, I almost don't want to go and just focus on training.” Mark sighed.

”Hoho…” Raven laughed mischievously which made the two look over his direction. ”Funny you say that…take a look at this.” He then tossed a token to Mark.

Paul and Mark looked closely at the token and suddenly, their eyes bulged in shock.

”Where the hell did you get this!!!” Both of them exclaimed. Raven placed a finger on his left ear and replied:

”I picked it up on the way home.” Paul and Mark's face darkened, how were they supposed to believe him?

The Heavenly Cloud Institute value all kinds of talent. The instructors know that the kids in their school wanted to be stronger so they will focus more heavily on training instead of theoretical studies and history. This is why they set the classes once a week only. However, there exists a way on how to allow them be exempted to classes entirely so that they could focus on their training alone.

And that is by applying for a Class Exemption Passes.

The applicant student will have to be tested by the instructors completely and if they passed, they will be allowed to be exempted in class, there are different kinds of passes: weekly, monthly and yearly. The Weekly Pass is in the form of a letter, the Monthly Pass is in the form a plate and finally, the Yearly Pass is in the form of a token.

Undoubtedly, what Raven passed to them is a Class Exemption Token.

Their shock is totally understandable, after all one had to basically answer a year's worth of theoretical studies and historical knowledge just to get this. It is rumored that only five of these tokens exists each school year. And now Raven was claiming that he picked it up on the street? How is that possible?

”Now, now.” Raven chuckled, ”This just shows that I, your handsome brother, am really capable right? Praise me mortals! Go ahead!” He laughed mischievously.

”Dude! This is no laughing matter! Not even I could save from expulsion if they knew you stole this!” Paul said solemnly.

”What do you mean stole?” Raven wore an offended expression, ”How rude of you! That was given to me by Old Lee.”

”Old Lee? Isn't that our instructor? How could he possibly have this with him?” Mark asked confused.

”He's not ordinary person. I'll say that much.” Raven said mysteriously, Paul and Mark was a bit stunned as they heard this. ”Anyways, I got it cleanly okay! I didn't steal it. You guys could relax and focus on the training. I'll be making more things that could make us stronger.”

With this the two was already convinced and went to their rooms to sleep.

***

Somewhere over the vast territory of the institute, a small and humble abode could be seen hidden behind a series of hills. This place was akin to an oasis in the middle of a raging dessert. The abode was simple yet carried a trace of elegance. It is surrounded by all sorts of flora and fauna which allowed the air to be fragrant and even sweet at the same time.