Professor Fauna was on an expedition to Paradise, so the Xenobiology class that was supposed to take place was suspended and we were given free time to enjoy!
But my mind kept drifting to Professor Vale's summons. Despite my unease, I was determined to face whatever awaited me.
So, I gathered my things and headed for Vale's office. Each step felt heavier than the last, memories of the "devil" stories echoing in my head.
The office matched Vale's reputation. Books lined every wall, their ancient spines adding to the room's oppressive atmosphere. Vale sat behind his desk, his sharp eyes following my every move.
"Levias Drake, sit." His voice carried an undertone I couldn't quite read.
I took the chair across from him, trying not to fidget under his gaze. The silence stretched uncomfortably long before he spoke again.
"Your actions today were... intriguing," Vale leaned forward, his eyes boring into mine. "Disarming an armed opponent barehanded, showing such composure... Unusual skills for a freshman."
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My heart stuttered. Was this praise? Or was he building up to something worse?
His expression remained unreadable, adding to my anxiety.
"However," Vale's voice hardened, "fighting within academy grounds is strictly forbidden. You understand you've broken this rule?"
Here it comes. I braced myself for whatever punishment The Smiling Serpent had planned.
"As punishment, you will join me for morning training before classes and evening training after classes. For one month."
"...?" I blinked, caught off guard.
Was that all? The notorious Professor Vale, whose punishments were legendary, was just assigning extra training?
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, Professor. I accept." I tried to keep the relief from my voice.
Actually, this might be an opportunity. Vale was a seven-star mage, after all. Training with him could be invaluable.
"Good. I'll see you at 3:00 AM tomorrow morning."
"What?" The word slipped out before I could stop it.
"You're dismissed."
I walked out in a daze. Three AM? When did that qualify as morning?
Little did I know, I'd just agreed to my own personal hell.
***
I stumbled out of Professor Vale's office in a daze.
When reality finally sank in, I felt like laughing at my own misfortune.
It could entangle opponents, block attacks, or strike from unexpected angles. More than that, if combined with the strength of my demonic transformation and Lunacy, I could literally turn into a grinder that could cut anything in my path!
Of course, the blade itself was below subpar - it was only a training weapon so that was understandable,
But there were also downsides to the weapon.
It demanded exceptional coordination and practice. One wrong move with the chain could leave you tangled instead of your opponent. The learning curve would be steep.
But something about it felt right.
The complexity of the weapon matched the nature of my abilities. Like Lunacy and Fractured Fate, it required finesse and careful control rather than brute force.
Plus, not many students chose chain weapons.
They preferred more straightforward options. That meant potential opponents wouldn't have much experience defending against it.
As one would rank up, it was these small things that would matter the most.
"The kusarigama," I murmured, spinning the chain experimentally. "A weapon that's as unpredictable as fate itself."
It would take months, maybe years, to master. But combined with my growing abilities and Vale's training (assuming I survived it), this could become a deadly combination.
I approached the weapon master's desk, kusarigama in hand.
"I'd like to register this as my primary melee weapon."
The gruff older man raised an eyebrow. "Interesting choice, kid. Not many have the patience to master chain weapons. You sure about this?"
I nodded, more certain with each passing moment. "Sometimes the hardest path is the right one."
That was a cool quote!
Anyway, the old man shrugged and recorded my selection. "Your funeral if you tangle yourself up in combat."
Did he have to say that?
Damn old man!
If it wasn't for the fact that I needed to register my primary weapon, I would not even come here. Well, the academy did not actually mandate the registration of primary weapons.
But there was actually an upside to registering a primary weapon.
That is, the academy would provide as many training weapons of that type as a student would need throughout the six years, provided that one had to give back the damaged one.
And to enjoy this, we needed to register out primary weapon - there was also an option to change the primary weapon, it was just that the procedure would get complicated.
Nevertheless, as I left the weapons hall, I couldn't help but smile. Between Professor Vale's brutal training schedule and my chosen weapon's learning curve, I was definitely making my life harder.
But then again, nothing worth achieving ever came easy. The path of the Favored Ones wasn't meant to be simple - it was meant to forge us into something extraordinary.
I just hoped I'd have enough energy left after Professor Vale's and Professor Valerious' dawn training sessions to practice with my new weapon.
---***---