Chapter 491: Chosen one (1/2)
”Frost, Anna, Ila, Cole, Rena, Jen, Lampard, Leonard, and lastly Igna. These are the nine students from which you can choose from,” said Denver loudly. ”All excluding Igna and Frost will be ranked to Tier-9 Obsidian.”
”It's still early for them to be ranked up,” argued Fletcher, ”-they are nothing more than greenhorns.”
”My decision is final. Besides, you've seen their prowess, it will be fine. The ball is now in thy court, Lady Beth, who are you going to pick?”
”A five-man,” sighed she, ”-that's the most we can have for the raid. Babysitting anymore might come to harm our synergy.”
”Don't underestimate our students,” said Melisa, ”-Pegasus's raiding team will be fine. You have Lady Misna's party too.”
”Yeah, yeah, I guess,” her arms crossed and face sunk. A decision had to be made.
”We don't have all day,” voiced Denver, ”-there's the paperwork for their advancement to consider.”
”Fine, fine,” she shook her head, ”-let me think. I'll go for Frost, Anna, Rena, Lampard, and Jen.”
”Mind I know the reasoning behind?” wondered Lady Haru.
”Frost is a mage and fighter. Anna is the same, her conjurations are powerful. Rena is fast and capable of handling ambushes. Lampard is the spear, he'll break defenses and move forth. Lastly, Jen, her fire-power outmatches most of the archers I've seen. Giving her a Rare-type bow should garner interesting results.”
”Won't argue with that line of thought.” The room came to an understanding.
Igna breathed fresh air by a lonesome tree inside the unexplored park. Granted, there were trees around, just not in the immediate vicinity, the ground shadow under the foliage was deserted, almost deprived of 'life'. The mind wandered left to right, questions about what he is raised to the forefront. Never did the thought of being an awful being in the past cross his mind. Innocent as a babe; the reality of one's karma settled. In the battle, in the fight, controlling the pawns, pulling strings, planning, outsmarting the onlookers, it felt nostalgic, familiar, and homely. No amount of satisfaction from hard-work could honestly compare. Time went on to be 14:00. Those chosen by Beth were gathered at the cleaned arena.
'It's like nothing happened,” commented Rena, ”-a a few hours ago and it is a warzone.”
”I know,” nodded Jen, ”-very scary.”
Anna and Frost took their time to arrive. ”Hello, Lampard,” said Frost grabbing his shoulder.
”Get off me,” he shrugged, ”-didn't you pathetically give up earlier?”
”What you say?” he side-glanced, ”-you trying to pick a fight, huh, punk?” they butted heads.
”Calm it you two,” said Anna, ”-anymore close and you guys might kiss. Oh the memories…” referring to a particular incident, the duo jumped back.
”Whatever do you mean,” said Frost coyly.
”It was nothing,” gritted Lampard,”-no more talking of the past.”
”Jen and Rena,” said Anna, ”-you two are from Military-arts, right?”
”Yes,” they nodded, ”-we're part of Group C.”
”Cool,” she smiled, ”-I'm Anna and this here is Frost, we're from Group A.”
”You two did nicely during the battle,” praised Frost,” -and that other boy too, what's his name?”
”The mage yeah?” intervened Anna.
”Yeah, yeah.”
”Leonard,” fired Jen.
”Yes, the pretty boy,” laughed Frost, ”-obviously, not as pretty as I am.”
”Shut it,” mumbled Anna.
”Ok,” it sent shivers down his back.
*Clop, clop, clop,* two ladies entered from the eastern doorway. ”Are you who we nominated earlier?”
”Yes,” added Melisa walking from the opposite side, ”-these are the students thee called for.”
”Good,” she stopped with hands behind her back. ”-Anna, Frost, Lampard, Jen, and Rena. You were chosen out of nine other spectacular students to lead an expedition with Pegasus and Lady Misna's party,” to which the latter nodded in acknowledgment. ”We will part tomorrow. We've got the backing from the director as well as the instructors. Excluding Frost who's in an independent Guild, you four will be on display for interested parties. I'm certain I don't have to explain why it's so important.”
”Yes, ma'am,” the palpable severity of her body posture and mannerism let a pearl of cold sweat escape. The sky-lighting glimmered of Jen's bigger forehead.
”Lady Beth,” interjected Anna, ”-might I know of the other unchosen candidates?”
”Sure. Cole, Ila, Leonard, and Igna.” The look on the students didn't seem satisfactory, ”-I suppose I'll give my reasoning on why you were picked. Cole is good for sneak attacks and finishing monsters. He's very skilled and compliments Frost's fighting style. Though he's not perfect, he misses easily and does novice-like mistakes when alone. Rena's the better version of his skill-set, at this moment anyway. Ila, I didn't see much of her, she forces herself to not outshine Anna, it's a bad habit, and her strong personality might create team-work issues. Leonard is a mage, one who trained at the academy – he's very skilled but weak-willed. He won't do anything unless forced for has to save someone. He's no match to Anna's supportive arsenal of spells. Lastly, Igna, the boy belongs to the Trader's Guild. He showed good swordsmanship but not great. For an average joe focused on trading and day to day life, he'll manage to fend off bandits. I can't expect much from that frail a man.”
”Thank you, ma'am,” they bowed allowing the speakers to leave.
”Guild Lady Melisa,” whispered Anna, ”-is Ila's personality that bad?”
Chuckled, ”-no, no,” her head shook and her mouth kept on staying calm, ”-ok, I'm lying. Her possessiveness is a problem we all have to deal with. Anyway, get ready for tomorrow. It's going to be a long trip. Don't allow this chance to slip through, grab and forge thy future.”
Up inside the faculty office, Lady Haru wanted to question Denver's blatant misjudgment of Igna. Everyone was granted a tier increase while he remained Tier-10.
”Don't give me that look,” said he dropping his legs off the desk, ”-I can't overrule the Ardanian Guild's ranking. I'm sure you understand this matter fully.”
”Are you mad?” she smirked.
”Mad about what?” the supposed light-weight newspaper slammed onto the table.
”About me going behind your back and signing him to the Ardanian guild.”
”No.”
”If you say so,” she locked the plant-filled small office and skipped along the corridor. The seductively shorter-dress swayed to the point of showing what hid beneath. Needless to say, the office-workers were enchanted by the up and down. She did it purposefully, wanting to see men squirm and be reprimanded by the ladies. 'What should I do next?' she exited to see a truck bearing Phantom's crest. 'What are they doing here?' upon closer look, the cap-wearing deliverymen scanned the area senselessly.
'I must have dozed off,' yawed Igna climbing the stairs. Éclair rang an alarm so loud it deafened the left ear leaving a high-pitch buzzing. ”It sure was fast.”
”Transport from the capital to here is easy. They're waiting for you,” added Éclair.
”Excuse me,” asked Lady Haru leaning forward, ”-what is Phantom doing here?”