Chapter 35: A Secret

In the West Branch, dozens of beautiful women danced and celebrated the recent victory as rain fell from the sky, covering their wounds from the recent battle.

However, a few miles away, in a large cavern, the four guardians sat in front of a large stone carving, analyzing a plan with great scrutiny. Tomorrow morning, the Exland Empire might face a crushing but simple defeat.

"Reece, Howard needs to go to the surface," Annibell said, impatiently tapping her finger with crossed arms trying to drive away her numerous worries constantly surfacing in her mind. "Necrolith likely won't talk to the other Night Lords. However, if another one of them attacks we're all dead!" Annibell slammed her hand into the plastic table, causing a large dent to spread outward. "I-I didn't know Howard would be noticed by them… Sorry Barabin."

"It's okay," Barabin laughed, rubbing at the gigantic gash in his chest. His body looked like someone tore it open, leaving a cavity of darkness as he lifted up a cup. "My wife is taking good care of me now. Stella, you look so pretty when you're not mad."

"I-I want to stitch up your mouth, but your chest is more important," Stella looked at the torn stitches breaking apart and pulled out a needle and thread. "You-you should've gotten stronger in the last 100 years! Now you're barely in the A rank!"

"He-he just needs blood right," Howard said with a smile, raising his arm. "Uhm, teachers, can I give him some blood as a thank you?"

"No, he's afraid of turning insane," Sally's hand gently rose before the needle flew the air, and stitched up his body in just seconds. "Howard, do you know who used to be the strongest of us four?"

"Uhm, I don't want to choose." Howard looked up at Reslin, who even sitting down could crush him in an instant, and shook his head. His large brown beard folded down his chest as his broad cheekbones puffed open his face. "Heh, I wish I could be as strong as you all."

"That's a long way off, kid," Annibell smiled at him, seeing him staring up at her. "Anyways, Reece, go on. You're sure now that portal goes to the surface right?"

"Yes, Blake created a Ki Restraint Device. It lasted for 24 hours before reappearing back in the cavern." Reece had never felt Blake, but felt a sense of admiration in her heart. "It's a shame I can't thank him in person."

"He needs a girlfriend," Howard said with a smile, "Since I can only have Monica right now, why don't you date Blake?"

"I-I never met him!" Reece suddenly tensed, turning flushed in an instant. "You-you're lucky you're all bandaged up! I-I should hit you for even suggesting it!"

"Anyways," Annibell said, laughing and stretching up her arms. "I think if Howard goes to the surface, the Night Lords will lose track of him just long enough that we can create a device to mask his energy. After that, that time of year will be arising."

"You mean when the Furnace opens?" Kellen said, nodding her head. "Man, has it already been a year? With little Howard here, we might be able to win some ground, woo hoo!"

"Hey, let's tell Howard about that once he gets back." Barabin interrupted, feeling at the stitches on his chest. "Before that, I think we'll have to make his training a little bit harder."

"You-you better not!" Howard said, shivering and looking for a path to escape. Even against the Necrolith, getting his body slammed into the floor wasn't as painful as the hours and hours of Ki Suppression. His muscles had grown much stronger, enough to pick up a small portion of the weight on the four guardians shoulders. However, just the thought of that training, made him want to run. His body almost instinctively darted to Monica's side, finding her smiling with blush on her cheeks.

"Heh, Howard, I won't be training you," Barabin said, pointing at his chest. "I'm-I'm going to be getting a blood infusion from Stella. She's-she's my wife, so I'll just be watching your training."

"It's going to be fun," Stella said with a smile. "It will take us an entire week to get his power back to normal. However, he'll be watching Reslan train you from the window. With the shades drawn, everything he does will be in my hands!"

"Sounds scary," Howard laughed, grabbing Monica's hand, "Monica, would you do the same for me?"

"I-I wouldn't," Monica gulped and trembled, causing the group to smile and laugh. "You-you did a good job… job-job last night with getting Kellen to sing! I-I'll do-do a lot for you, but I won't give you my blood!"

"I'm sure you would," Annibell laughed, "However, Howard, Reslin here is an even harder teacher than Barabin. He's also a fire user. Being around him, you should be able to train dozens of times faster."

"I'm a simple teacher," Reslin extended his fist for almost 3 meters and put it in front of Howard, "I'll challenge you until you die, and after you die I'll kill you a few more times to make sure the training sunk in!"

"Ugh, what about me!" Monica screamed out, slamming her hands into the ground, "When the Furnace opens, I want to be stronger than Howard! Who the hell is going to train me?"

"I'll train you right next to Howard," Annibell said, nodding her head. "Reslin, here, trained hard to have a date with me. I figure I can at least stay a hundred feet from him so he can stare at me. However, if he thinks he's getting a hug after ditching me for a 100 years, he's out of his mind!"

"You said don't contact you," Reslin pouted, suddenly seeming to shrink to a much smaller size. "How was I supposed to know you changed your mind? I had to run the East Branch!"

"And-and the training starts after we get back, right?" Howard said, fist bumping his teacher's giant hands. "However, before then, what about the surface? We're meeting someone right?"

"Yes," Reece said, opening a briefcase on the table. "His name is Indell. He's a descendent of Barabin if you can believe that." Reece coughed, ignoring Stella's fierce eyes. "After we find out what's happened on the surface, check for new students, we'll meet up with him."

"However," Kellen said, "The entire time people will be trying to take our heads! It's going to be awesome!"

"Anyways, Howard. Why don't you go to your room and spend some time with Monica. I'm sure she probably wants to thank you for that date last night, right?"

"I-I do not!" Monica slammed her foot into the floor. "I-I like him a lot! However, just because he did something nice doesn't mean I forgave him for running away yet."

"Monica,' Howard said with a smile, "I have a secret to tell you. Can we really go talk alone?"