76 Academy Library

While everyone was calming down, Hurdo, Ania, and the other teachers all laughed. Ania stepped forward and shouted, "Since there are no more challenges, we'll dismiss the crowd and let the students report to either their classes or the library for their rewards."

Taking initiative, Oli hurried away with Yeter and Netra.

They quickly escaped the view of the crowd and slowed down. Yeter was all smiles as he looked to Oli. "Oli, that was amazing!"

"Nah, I'm just lucky that I made a breakthrough after the tournament. To be honest, I don't think Karos could beat him, at least I'm not a hundred percent sure," replied Oli, trying to act cool in front of his simple-minded friend.

"Don't lie!" Netra yelled, startling the two boys. "If you actually tried, it would've been over in seconds."

Understanding what she was hinting at, Oli shook his head. "That's enough, I don't want to talk about that jerk anymore."

"Oh, I know! How about we find out who can make it to the library first?" Without waiting for a response, Yeter took off into the distance.

Oli laughed and glanced at Netra, giving her a disappointed look. "I thought I told you not to talk about that?"

"Why not? It's a part of you but you hide it. Otherwise, my mother will never believe me…" She mumbled her last few words, barely letting Oli hear them.

"Is that what this is all about? Why is that such a big deal?"

Suddenly, Netra looked away, trying to hide her shyness. If her fur wasn't there, Oli would see her blushing.

"What? Is it really so serious?"

"You don't need to know. But if my mom doesn't learn about your dark essence then I'll be in trouble," replied Netra, still not looking back at Oli.

"Well, this needs to stay a secret or my clan could be in danger. So please, no more mentioning it around other people, okay?"

Finally, she met his gentle gaze and sighed, "... Fine…"

"Thank you. Now, lets hurry to the library before Yeter makes a mess that we have to clean up."

With a laugh, they both took off at top speed. Before long, the two of them found Yeter with Karos and some of the other students from the rankings. Though not everyone was there yet, most had already arrived.

In front of all the students was Vloz. He sat there quietly with his eyes closed. The world around him didn't affect his meditation at all, despite being around so many people and the noisy Yeter.

Not shutting up about how excited he was, Yeter rambled on about how he'd find a technique to rival Oli's Earthen Hammer art.

Both Oli and Netra pretended to listen, hoping that the other rankers would quickly show up.

Once the hour was up, everyone had finally reached the academy library. With all the rankers present, both novice and adept, it was time to receive their rewards.

Vloz's eyes opened, scanning the small crowd. "You all know what you've been offered. Step forward now to receive it. Ranker number eight from the novice class, step forward."

One by one everyone stepped in front of Vloz and explained what sort of cultivation technique or battle art they were after. He would then advise then where to find them on the first floor and let them pass.

Like clockwork, it soon became Yeter's turn, who anxiously bolted into the library, barely listening to Vloz.

Karos was next, but he was far more respectful to Vloz. He eagerly listened to Vloz's suggestions. Also, since he was ranked third out of the novices, he was told to go find his cultivation technique on the third floor.

"Next, Oli."

Coming before the Blood-spotted Leopard, the young gorilla smiled. Curious what Vloz would advise him to take, Oli asked, "You already know me, so what do you think would be best for me?"

"Thanks to your late father, you don't need a cultivation technique. Check the third floor for battle arts," explained Vloz. "While you're up there, help Netra find what she needs."

Catching the hint, Oli turned around to see Netra. "You heard him, let's head up to the third floor."

The young fox smiled and nodded. "Okay, I'll follow you."

Together, the pair entered the library and were in awe of the design. Though Oli helped make the designs, he had never seen the finished construction till now.

There were rows of bookshelves with small signs all over to indicate where to find certain things. More bookshelves filled with scrolls or books lined the walls, wrapping completely around the cylindrical room. The colors they had chosen were emerald green and bronze, letting the large room feel more extravagant than any other part of the town.

On the far side, Oli and Netra saw a staircase spiraling along the outside of the room. That was the entrance to the second floor.

Yeter quickly noticed Oli and Netra, but they were already on the staircase by the time he called out to them. He felt sad but more determined. If he could become stronger, then he would join them on the third floor someday.

Reaching the second floor, it was just as magnificent and marvelous as the first floor. The biggest difference was the level of techniques and arts found there.

The first floor was filled with novice level techniques and arts. On the second floor, only adept level techniques and arts were found. For that reason, Karos, Oli, and Netra were sent to the third floor. There, they would find the elder and perennial level techniques and arts.

Anxious to see it for themselves, the two ran through the second floor and up the stairs. Stepping into the third floor, they found it to be different than the other floors.

While there were still bookcases filled with scrolls and books, there weren't quite as many as the other two floors.

The biggest difference were the six small rooms along the walls. Each small room had an open door and a formation etched into the ground. One side of the room had three rooms labeled "Adept" and the other side had three rooms labeled "Novice."

"Do you understand what the rooms are for, Netra?" Oli asked the observant fox.

She got closer and stared at them. However, Netra soon shook her head. "What are they for, do you know, Oli?"

"Those are cultivation rooms reserved for the top three of each class. This means that including Karos, all three of us will get our own private room for cultivation," explained Oli. "You can use it whenever you want, so long as it's during school hours or one of the instructors gives you permission."

"Really, I get my own cultivation room?" Startled but happy, Netra smiled and nuzzled her head up against Oli.

"Hey, calm down, Netra," Oli laughed, hoping she would cut it out before the others came up and saw them.

"What, I'm just thanking you. You helped design this place, right? Without you, none of this would be possible."

"Why do you say that?"

"That's what my mother said. She said you're much more intelligent than most adult beasts," stated Netra. "But she said to keep that a secret because we're not supposed to know."

"So you decided to tell me anyway? Now I'm really afraid you'll share my secret." He was secretly scared of how well the foxes' information network was. Making a mental note, Oli was sure to keep things better hidden in public.

Netra blinked, showing Oli her puppy dog eyes. "Hey, that's not nice."

"I'm just kidding, don't worry, Netra." When Oli heard some footsteps from the stairs behind them, he added, "Come on, I'll help you look at the dark type cultivation techniques."

"But I already--"

Oli then grabbed one of her tails and pulled her toward the section labeled "Dark," but her sudden yelp startled him into letting go. He gave her a strange look, baffled that she pulled away from him.

Confused by Oli's actions, Netra was again blushing. "Don't grab my tails. They're… sensitive."

"S-sorry!" He bowed, trying to his best to apologize. "But we really should take a look here, that's what Vloz suggested."

She finally followed him to the dark section and whispered, "What are you looking for? I already got my technique from Vloz."

"I'm helping you find a battle art for me," joked Oli as he scanned through a number of scrolls. "Here, this should work perfectly!"

"That? But I thought you were hiding your dark essence?" questioned Netra.

He gave her a smile and nodded. "That's exactly why this battle art is perfect."

Opening it for her to see, they both read the title, "Shadow Movement Battle Art." It described how to move within the silence of the night and completely conceal one's aura. They both realized it was one of Vloz's own battle arts, possibly the one he had used while testing their perceptions that morning.

Happy with what he found, Oli stored it and left with Netra.

As they exited, Vloz was still outside the door. He told them the same thing he told each of the exiting students.

"The technique must be returned by the end of the month, that'll be enough time to commit it to memory. On each technique and art, there are spiritual imprints that tell us how many people have inspected it with there spirit. If you anyone other than yourselves tries to learn these, you and your clan will face the consequences."

"Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir!" Netra and Oli replied in unison.

"Good, now get to class. It'll start soon."

With that, they took off with Vloz's warning sounding out in Netra's mind.