Chapter 82 - Stagnation.

After the discussion with the old Lieutenant General, Yang Dao and his squad went back to rest. The rest of the week was bland, the usual routine. The joy came when on the final day of the training, Instructor victor told them about Sky Diving. The cadets were all young but it was inevitable to have someone afraid of heights. 

So they were all allowed to abstain on their own violation because a certain risk factor was always present in the end, only 50 cadets came forward. The rest were not scared of it, but they were influenced by those paranoid ones. These fifty students included fifteen of Yang Dao's squad, none of them retreated. 

Sasha dragged Kiya with herself. In the morning, 50 cadets were standing on the training field, which was now back to its usual form. Victor came to them with his usual smile. He said, "Lets's go, we take a bus to the airport, a plane will take you all to the ceiling height of 15000 feet in the sky. Come."

The Cadets nodded and followed him to the bus in the college parking. Orderly boarded the bus, only to find Instructor Lin sitting in the first sit. All their dreams of having fun were killed by her cold gaze. Yang Dao was in the back of the crowd and is so was the last person to board the bus. Victor was sitting next to the driver in the front. 

Just when he was looking around the bus he saw, that Lin was sitting alone. He turned to her and asked, "Madam, the rest of the seats are full. May I sit here?"

Lin nodded to him with a rare smile. Two days ago, in a personal spar, Yang Dao managed to defeat her, his impression of her was now stronger. Watching Yang Dao sit next to the iceberg Lin. The male cadets exchanged glances. Their gazes meant one thing, 'Student Yang Dao, peach blossom luck is very high. Even the iceberg melted for you.'

You need to know that Lin usually kick-ass with her gaze. Right now, she sat with Yang Dao with her eyes closed. The boy Felt a cold current radiating from her. He asked in a low voice, "Instructor Lin, you practice water element?"

Lin opened her eyes as she replied, "Yes." but in her eyes, a sense of bitterness flashed. Yang Dao said, "I apologize if my words caused you offense."

The lady shook her head and said, "It is not you. It is me." as she sighed.

Yang Dao glanced at her with a confused expression. the lady replied, "I have not been able to advance to the second realm for five years now. My strength came at a stagnation after I joined the forces. If not for General Bai, I might have been sent to the reserves already."

The boy nodded and said, "Why is it so?"

Lin knew that this boy was also an elementalist so she said, "To bend an element you need to understand what the element's essence is?"

Yang Dao asked, "What is the essence of water?" his calming tone, made Lin calm down as well.

She replied, "Calmness. Water is always calm." 

Yang Dao shook his head, he said, 'Pardon, but you are wrong, instructor." 

Lin asked, "How so?"

Yang Dao spoke with a smile, "If water was always calm, then it would not cause tides, floods. Calmness is what it brings to people but the essence is something bigger." he paused for a moment and he said, "Water, is balance. A balance between strength and submission. Water can give life and it can take it away too. It is impulsive, yet containable. It is shapeless yet can take shape of anything. It can be dirty yet cleaning others is still possible. So what is water? The essence of water is Life."

His words enlightened Yang Dao, she picked up where he dropped, "Just like how life has many forms, so does water. Just like how life never stops, so does water..." she kept on muttering until the cold she radiated vanished. 

Her eyes gained a shine. She made us seals with her hand and suddenly a blob of water formed in front of her. Yang Dao smiled, as he said, "Congratulation."

Lin closed her eyes, she placed her hand on his hand and said in a low voice, "Thank you."

Their moments and voice was only strong enough for them to hear. The lady did not notice that Yang Dao was flushed at the moment her soft hands were holding his palm. She let it go after a few minutes and said, "I will treat you to a meal someday."

Yang Dao nodded and then closed his, Lin let go of his hand after a few moments. After thirty minutes, the bus arrived at the airport. Though it did not stop near the parking but directly led the group to a runway where a behemoth was awaiting them.

The students walked off the bus. They were all shocked to watch the big plane in front of them. A big hatch door at the back of the plane was lowered. Victor spoke, "Boys and girls, the one one who can guess this plane will get to dive first."

A lot of people knew but kept quiet, diving first? Will they not be anxious? Yang Dao said, "Military transporter, HT25000 Gigantia. Four engine model, capable of carrying 500-ton weight. Used to deliver aid, ammunition, and armed forces to the fronts. Also known as AAA battery."

Victor nodded in satisfaction, "As usual Cadet Dao wins. So let's go guys adventure awaits. Also, those who are having second thoughts can stop here. I don't want to deal with your pukes in the sky." with that said, he walked to people to the hanger where they will get there equipment. Someone asked Lin at this moment, "Madam, what height will we be diving?"

Lin spat, "25000 feet." Her cold words made the people shiver. Except for Yang Dao's squad, Kiya, Icarus, and five other Squad leaders prevailed.