26 Just a feeling

The sound resonated from the Templars, the seven had. The blue gem was blinking as it emitted a faint blue coloured Qi. The group held their templars in their hand and replied to Riana with a 'Yes'.

"Okay, good. I know, I told you seven to just stay put tomorrow, but there's been a change of plans..." Riana stopped in her tracks as if she was contemplating something.

"Change of plans? What plans, professor Riana?" Sai inquired unable to maintain his urge to know what's going on.

"For some reason, I am not so sure if I should just keep you seven untrained. I just have a feeling that you are going to blow up some building if left alone."

"And?" Reeva impatiently butted in the conversation, trying to have Riana spill everything.

"Be ready to move out by nine in the morning. I am going to train you seven to control your Qi. Just stand at the entrance of your canteen and I will come to pick you seven up."

"Any questions?"

Everyone in the group replied with a 'No' except Sai, who kept silent. The other six and Riana were waiting for Sai to respond while Sai was lost deep in his thoughts.

"Professor Riana, we are unusual students aren't we?" Sai sounded serious as he asked.

"In a way, yes."

"Do you think we are going to be exceptional students who are going to be popular?!" Sai yelled out in excitement as he jumped up from his bed.

"..." Silence prevailed for a few seconds over which none uttered a sound.

"So, that means all of you are fine with it. Good night." Riana ended the conversation after wishing the seven. The blue flickering light slowly dissipated before which everyone except Sai replied with a 'Good night.'

"Hey! What about my-" Before Sai got to complete his sentence, the blue light disappeared entirely leaving an overly excited Sai hanging to his question.

"Why did she treat me like thin air, Ian?!" Sai turned to glance at Ian as he vented. But Ian only replied with a pitiful and meaningful gaze at Sai before rolling back onto his bed after turning off his side of the light.

"..."

Sai stared at Ian for a while before turning off the other light and going back to sleep. The dorms had no A/C's or table fans, but the quality and temperature of the air that made its way through the large windows in the rooms were just right for anyone to fall asleep in seconds. The two moons filled the night sky with their light as the kingdom fell asleep.

Like any other, with a constant and pleasant breeze of air being supplied, the seven were in deep sleep. It was quarter to eight when all the seven heard a buzzing sound in their head. The sound came from the Templar which shone with the same blue light as before.

"I am sure you seven are up by now. Aren't you?" It was Riana again, disturbing the seven who were in their bed.

"Yes, Mam." The seven except Erina shot up as soon as they heard Riana's voice and replied swiftly.

"I think I am missing one of the girls. Wake her up."

"Erina, get up. Eina, get up!" Reeva shook Erina who was clenching on to her pillow as she nudged deeper into it as she said, "Five more minutes..."

"Miss Reeva."

"Ye...Yes, Mam." Reeva stuttered as she responded.

"Kick her off the bed."Riana's tone seemed stern as she ordered Reeva. And just like that, without any hesitation, Reeva executed Riana's order by kicking Erina off her bed.

"Ouch! What was that for?!" Erina pouted as she rubbed her eyes and got up to see the other two girls.

"It was professor Riana's orders, don't look at me." Reeva defended herself as she crossed her hands.

"Just get dressed up and meet me at the canteen in an hour. I want you seven to be punctual. That is all." Riana hung up after she said those words. The seven expected this kind of behaviour from Riana as she emitted the aura of a workaholic and a strict office lady.

The boys and girls dorms had four levels each and were located near to each other at the southern corner of the academy with the canteen lying between the dorms. Tens of different arenas and creepy buildings were located all over the academy with the academy headquarters situated at the northern section of the academy ground.

The seven freshened up within thirty minutes and met up at the canteen but unlike the previous day, the academy was filled with students and professors who were performing rituals on the academy grounds, arenas, just simply any place possible. The ritual for the students only contained the circle with the same ancient symbols floating around them and the Qi that surrounded the students and the professors was relatively very dull.

"You seven are on time, good. Now, let's go." Riana appeared behind the seven out of nowhere with a red hood covering her head and a white mask concealing her cold face.

"I haven't shown you the entire academy yet, so let us start our class after I show you the entire academy. Okay?"

"Why do you have a hood? That is so cool though!" Sai yelled looking at Riana with excitement.

"Okay then, let's go." Riana turned around and led the group forward.

"Hey! Why are you-" Before Sai had the chance to complete his words, Ian patted Sai's shoulder and gave him the same look that he had flashed the previous night before advancing forward.

"Uh, whatever." Sai followed the others as he sighed.

"So, that is the main arena. All the final matches are held here." Riana stopped in her tracks and pointed her index at a building which was similar to a cricket stadium in size and appearance as she explained. A number of students were undergoing seal breaking rituals everywhere in the academy even around the group.

'And now to activate your Templar, you have to focus your Qi.' The professors around the ground were teaching how to control the Qi, enough to activate their Templars as the group continued with their work.

"So professor, the arena ground has water, nature and many other resources for the elementors to fight, yes?" Leo continued to sound his doubts trying to have a grasp on the basic layout of the academy.

'Okay professor, I am going to focus everything I got!' A cheerful voice made its way towards the group as they were listening intently.

"yes, there are dif-" Riana stopped in her tracks as she heard the cheerful voice. The group turned to look at the source of the voice and act immediately but they were too late.

'BOOM!'

In the place of a trimmed lawn lied a thirty centimetre hole with smoke covering the area.