Walking through the Pagna academy, it felt different for the students compared to the first time. There were still the shops, the local families that lived in the area just outside the main academy.
When looking at them continuing their lives, it was the first time where the students felt so apart from the rest of the world.
They had just been through torture, they had been through large amounts of loss, forced to fight against their own teammates, kids that were the same age as them, and everyone else was just living a normal life.
The life of a Pagna warrior was meant to be one of prestige, one of great honor. They could hold their head up high as they were the ones that had chosen it. Chosen this cruel path.
So why didn't they feel that way, rather than a part of the clans or a part of the upper world of the warriors, instead they felt like they were just tools that could be chucked to the side at any moment, it was just that they were useful ones right now.
As they entered the main academy, the students were now walking on the large courtyard that split the three headband group areas. It felt extremely empty compared to before, quiet.
Dame could feel the tense feeling in the air.
'The academy had to know the risks, and usually since there are so few that survive, they can treat them as the chosen ones, as the Heroes.'
'At the same time, they would feel as if they had been taken out of that hell by the academy and they were their saviors.'
'However, more had survived than they had expected for one. Those that knew they were weaker than others like Tinson and his group had managed to survive and they knew they weren't the strongest.'
'They didn't feel like the chosen ones, and the one that had saved them all in the end, was none other than Raze. For nearly all of those that had survived this assessment, their loyalty is more with Raze than the Academy. They had made a bad move, and they haven't even realized it yet.'
The ten students, still not having changed out of their clothes, most of them covered in blood, had finally reached the main building of the academy. They stood there looking straight ahead at the balcony, the same balcony when they had first arrived at the academy.
The sight was completely different compared to how it was before. For one, it felt like there were more teachers than students that were present.
For a second, Mada glanced at Raze.
'This is what you want to go up against Raze, I understand how you feel. I'm angry too, but it's impossible. Look at the academy, look at everything around us, we ten students can't do anything.'
Standing on the balcony, was the principal Murkel with his long black ponytail and silk-like clothing. By his side was Gunther and Pincer, the two of them who were there before.
Although not the head of their clans, both of them were considered the stars of their clans, and might even be stronger than the heads themselves. They were certainly more active.
"You ten here, are the chosen ones!" Murkel shouted. "You have managed to survive an assessment where there was a chance that there would be no survivors."
"You managed to reach the very top, which means that you are the leaders of the next generation. You are the ones that will shape the Dark Faction in the future, and we will treat you like so."
"You are not just the stars of those in your clan but the whole of the faction. There will be now a lot of weight on your shoulders, as we look forward to your future growth."
Everything so far was as expected by Dame, and the students stood there with the same expression as before. They were listening to his words, but they just felt a little empty.
"After the tough trial, all of you are permitted a week's break before the next test will begin."
The words that there would be a next test, it made everyone skip a beat for a moment. They were still in the academy, it wasn't over.
There was a new test every month, and this would go on for an entire year. Was this something they really wanted?
"Unfortunately, you will not be permitted to return to your clans, you must rest up here in the academy. Do as you wish, train, relax, or just close your eyes, knowing that you are the future, and the stars of the Dark Faction."
After the speech was completed, the teachers went on to lead the students back to the Red Headband base, all of them heading back to their rooms.
As for Amir, he walked ahead and was no longer with the students, when he reached the main building he jumped up from where he was and had landed on the balcony.
"It looks like there were some unexpected results," Murkel said.
"The assessment needed to end early," Amir answered. "Feebie from the Lethal Bite Clan got too involved. Rather than lose them all, I thought it was best that we keep them where we can see them."
Murkel nodded.
"It's expected, since she lost one of her own. About Ricktor and the White Dragon, their stages; do you have an idea what they managed to reach?"
"Yes, I got close enough to assess their power," Amir replied. "Ricktor seems to have reached the fifth stage, while many of the other students have reached the fourth stage."
"The result of the assessment has been better than we expected."
"And what about the White Dragon, it appears that you have avoided his name for a particular reason?"
Amir didn't answer immediately, instead he paused and waited and then asked a question of his own.
"You asked me to gather more students to have another entry for the academy. This has never been done before, are you planning to do the same again?"
Murkel didn't answer but his lack of an answer was an answer in Amir's eyes.
"How many sir, how many dead children's blood will be spilt on our hands?" Amir asked.
"As many as it takes," Murkel replied. "As many lives as it takes so we can protect everything we have, now my question."
There was a small flicker of intensity, of energy, that Amir felt for a second.
"The White Dragon, I believe he has managed to reach the 6th stage, but there was a problem. Feebie was unable to contain her anger and has damaged his throat. The Qi inside him ruptured more than that I think."
"He seems to have a problem with his breathing."
Immediately Murkel shook his head.
"Send the best physicians to see that he gets better. Feebie also needs to be punished for what she has done. We might have now just lost our golden star in all of this."
"I will sir," Amir said bowing down, but when he raised his head he had one more question to ask. "And if the physicians are unable to heal him, then what will you do with him?"
"We have no use for a cripple," Murkel answered. "We will just get rid of him."
