Chapter 245 - The field trip (2) (1/2)

Mars looked over the papers once more to make sure there weren't any mistakes as he stood on the train platform and waited for the train

'Hmm... Everything looks to be in order now to check on the students, make sure they're all here... Looks like it...'

Mars gave a nod as the train arrived at the platform, gradually slowing down before it came to a stop

”Alright everyone gather around!”

Mars called the students that soon gathered then they boarded the train after Mars showed his papers to the personal onboard the train, they were quickly shown to a waggon which was reserved for their use and sat down and waited for the train to depart which it soon did, as the rhythmic sound of the train continued Mars had to struggle to stay awake as he had not slept (but meditated) in the last month, so instead of sitting down he stood up and walked around and chatted with the students for the entire 3 hour trip. Soon the train stopped and Mars along with the group of students got off the train as they had reached their destination, Mars stretched as soon as they stepped out of the train and stifled a yawn before he lead the group onwards out of the city (which name Mars didn't bother remembering).

As soon as they left the gates of the city, the group of students began quieting down as they knew that dangers lived outside the walls of the cities from which they had been raised, as all of them were students of the academy they were from rather well off families thus they had not left the protection of the city walls that often. Mars gave a chuckle at their nervousness, there was only one way to learn how to fare in the wilds and that was something which the academy had planned to teach them during the field trip, Mars tried to ease the tension on the way but had little success as the group of students still looked around looking rather frightened so Mars decided not to bother about it and simply followed the map he had been given towards the meeting point which they reached half an hour later

”And here we are, put down your luggage and relax for a bit”

Mars also put down his luggage and sat down on the grass as he closed his eyes and began meditating again, or at least he would have liked to as a teacher in charge of one of the other groups approached him

”Mars do you have some time now?”

Mars reluctantly opened his eyes and gave a nod before he followed the teacher a little ways away from the group of students and asked

”So what's up?”

”... Well we have found traces of the bandits already and so we are putting together a group of teachers that will be able to defend in case they attack us before we enter the forest”

Mars gave a nod

”Count me in, I always love a good fight”

”I see, well we're glad to have you, the signal is going to be 'marauders', if you hear this word it means that the bandits have been spotted”

”Okay, nice and simple... What about the students?”

”... As cruel as it sounds they will have to fend for themselves while we fight the bandits, but hopefully it won't get to that”

”It won't”

The teacher gave a wry smile at Mars' confidence before he also gave a nod

”You're right it won't get to that...”

Mars passed some time trying to sooth the students until it came, a yell in the distance

”Marauders!”

Mars stood up at once and grabbed his broadsword and began slowly and methodically unrolling the cloth that covered the blade, the group of students fell silent seeing this until one of them asked

”What are you doing teacher Mars?”