Chapter 16: Ancestral Dragon Lineage
"The man I said you were related to?"
Walking hand in hand a younger Riné looked up toward the ethereal figure leading him forward. The endless hall of darkness with pillars reaching the sky wasn't so dark with the two walking hand in hand.
"Have you heard of the Church of Mediation?"
Riné had heard mentions and tales of them from his mother's historical teaching of the world but besides their rise and fall from grace as the defining power of the world in the last five hundred years. Not anything besides that from his lessons as Rine nodded before continuing.
"My tutor told me they went through a collapse after they were in power for some time…"
Riné's master, upon hearing this, froze as he let go of Riné's hand, laughing, holding his face, not believing the news he had just heard.
"Of course they'd say that. The largest shame of the world's royalty was the Church of Mediation and its guardian. The Protector Vicar of the Church of Mediation made tyrants prostrate themselves in his presence, monsters hide in fear, and fulfilled the half-dragon prophecy. A pinnacle Emperor in strength and magic. "
Riné was awestruck as he listened to his master describe, his voice tinged with a mix of disdain and admiration.
"Thats who you're related to, the man I killed."
——
'Spatial magic is the absolute best magic I can obtain for my second core. If I'm able to replicate the magic combination of the Protector Vicar I'll be unparalleled.'
Riné's heart couldn't stop beating in excitement as he tried his best to control his emotions from leaking out. The allure of spatial magic was too great with it greatly sought over the method of obtaining it and any of its offshoots. Imagine a way to mass-produce mages capable of teleportation. Supply lines are maximized, and the instantaneous movement of soldiers is ensured. The possibilities would be endless for those who acquired it.
'Even if Master wanted me to find it, I can't help but desire it myself.'
By accepting Riné knew full and well the troubles of joining a group but the benefits outweighed it like a feather to an elephant. Upon hearing his acceptance the president clapped his hands together shutting his eyes and making an unsettling grin.
"That settles it! Welcome to Student Council Riné and get settled for your troubling first day tomorrow."
Standing up quickly and leaving a large bill of 100 dotes Alley left quickly while the waitress picked up his cup and asked Riné a question.
"Are you done with that sir?"
Riné was lulling over what to do next as he snapped out of his thoughts. He still had half a sundae left.
"Give me a second."
Lifting the plate high Riné began shoveling the sundae into his mouth before scooping it all down to the waitress's shock.
'Delicious! I'll be here again sometime.'
"Here."
The waitress, who was shocked quickly grabbed the plate and bill before returning to work as Riné hunched over in great pain at the table.
'My head! Is it the second core?'
Not aware of brain freeze it took a couple of seconds before it went away while Riné didn't understand the cause simply chalking it up as a side effect of the second core dooming himself to repeat the same mistake of consuming too much ice cream in the future. Shaking off the remainder of the headache he thought over the president's deal and his own predicament.
'This is promising but nothing is free, he clearly wants more than he lets on. If he has no power as student president why would he want to keep it? He has his motivations fine, but I won't let it get in the way of mine. The mausoleum of the Dunce Daemon has the key to obtaining spatial magic from what the master told me.'
Riné got up from the booth before leaving the cafe planning to grab his student schedule and dorm assignment at the student center. There were three main buildings he could see on the map he was given. The first, the main building, where all the classrooms and education facilities were held. The second was the student center where administration was held and teacher offices could be found. The third building was the student activity center where you could find the gym, club room, and battle arenas for student use and recreation. Overall Sophis was large in area with plenty of facilities for everyone to use to the point Riné wondered how exactly it was the academy declined.
"Should be over here…"
Looking up he saw a crowd of students building in line as teachers and staff rushed to give out information and deal with complaints. Noticeably, Riné spotted a few familiar faces in the crowd.
'Mime..Kairi?'
The two were busy in the middle of the crowd waiting for their assignment, when Riné moved toward the crowd a student staff member stepped up toward him.
"The student president said to deliver your schedule and assignment personally as congratulations for joining the student council."
Handing a piece of paper discreetly with his information the student staff member went back to work as no one seemed to notice the exchange with the suspicion that the president rather than rushing to instruct this student, had planned on their acceptance beforehand and had already planned this. Moving on to bigger matters placing it at the back of his mind for now Riné glanced at his schedule with curiosity.
-Name: Riné Verocai
Age:18
DOB: 23rd of Germinal
Year: Fourth
Course: Battle Research
1st Period: Intermediate Magic Theory-Greer
2nd Period: Intermediate Daelk History-James
3rd Period: Physical Education-Kenn
4th Period: Advisement
5th Period: Lunch
6th Period: Sword Development-Elias
7th: Intro to Daelk Literature-Jones
Dorm: 14U
'Ah. I'm screwed.'
Seeing the intermediate classes on theories and classes he did not know of, along with the annoyance of Instructor Kenn he wanted to immediately protest. If he managed to get his schedule changed he wouldn't have to deal with the headache that is the instructor with a vendetta and power to abuse. He knew for a fact he could beat the other in a straight fight but with his platform and power, he'd easily get suppressed even as a special admission student.
"Hey wait a second."
The student staff member froze before turning around confused if they had messed up the paper delivery.
"Could you grab me the students' Mime Valle and Kairi Relo papers?"
The student felt burdened wanting to reject before Riné added pressure.
"Thats a request from the student council."
The student nodded intimidated before moving on to it. Riné simply sat back against a wall, wondering if that was too much for the student. He was doing it for his friends, which should be fine and since the president is trying to use him he'll just use the others' authority.
Quickly returning with the schedules Riné couldn't help but peek. He and Mime had almost the exact same schedule except for differing sword development and field tactics theory. Kairi's schedule besides the history and theory classes, was different with them all being magician-centric classes however something popped out in his mind.
"Dorm fourteen-u, we're sharing a room that's nice."
Riné internally accepted this result finding a sweet coincidence. Living with Mime would be very entertaining but the other snored and Kairi was a very caring individual with a very helpful magic for Riné. Keth was too explosive and would make Riné deal with the outbursts so this was the best result.
'Now to deal with the scheduling issue.'
Riné entered the crowd and pulled Mime and Kairi by their shoulders out of the crowd as the duo was confused at first before realizing it was their azure-eyed friend and relaxing.
"Is something wrong?"
Kairi was concerned over what could have happened to cause Riné to pull them away while Mime was preoccupied with a different matter.
"What's that pin on your uniform about? We didn't get one…"
Mime moved closer toward Riné as the three glanced at Riné's outer suit collar where a daemon mask pin adorned in black and silver took a place without Riné's knowledge.
"When did this get o-"
'The student council president did something!'
Seeing as it manifested into his memento uniform it raised plenty of questions for Riné. The president wasn't capable of attaching it to him without the other noticing which means the suit has an automatic upgrade feature capable of delivering changes. There must be other functions Riné was not aware of that causing the dividend account in his soul storage to be three and not lower.
"Oh, I joined the student council but here."
Before the two could react with astonishment their attention was drawn to their schedules and dorm assignment as they flipped through them.
"Oh sweet I got a room with Keth!"
Mime saw his dorm assignment first beaming with glee before his expression dropped to be queasy as he saw the physical education teacher he had.
"Instructor Kenn? Riné, don't tell me you as well."
Riné nodded looking disappointed as his gaze sharper thinking of the instructor and his actions during the exam.
"I refuse to have his class."
Mime agreed but before he could get the topic toward the student council entrance he was cut off by Riné looking at Kairi with a nervous expression trying to meet their eyes.
"We're together!"
Kairi couldn't process the words for a second as he was left piecing together their meaning as Riné stumbled on his words and looked up toward him with an expression that made his lonely side excited at the prospect of someone enjoying being with him.
"Y-yes?!"
Mime however feigned jealousy as he pulled Riné's sleeve.
"Shifu please don't leave your first disciple for this water magician…"
Riné however responded by hiding from Mimes' grasp behind Kairi. He still didn't like being referred to as master as he retorted coldly.
"I'm guessing someone wants to enjoy Kenn's teachings."
"Riné I'm very sorry for playing."
Mime instantly prostrated in front of the two as an apology not wanting to be left in Kenn's class. Riné however sighed patting the begging mime's shoulder as acceptance, he couldn't stay upset at his new friends.
"There's still the bet so I'll whip you into shape to the point you wish you had Kenn.'
The tone Riné held made Mime surprised, the shy Riné who seemed hard-pressed to speak up was now speaking with absolute certainty and coldness? Mime felt a shiver down his spine almost regretting being taught by the drill sergeant. Kairi however cut the two off asking the question they had evaded.
"How'd you get on student council?"
Riné however shrugged his shoulders as he wasn't sure of the answer himself as he was just doing nothing.
"The president wanted me to join to help him against the Prince in his re-election efforts."
The two thought over this information from what they knew of the president so far.
'Sleazy, accompanied by Gizelle, and wanting Riné? Is he trying to get a harem?'
Mime and Kairi nodded toward each other coming to the same conclusion. Mime spoke with a protective tone while Kairi advised after Mime, supportive for Riné's sake.
"Riné if the president asks for something you dont find comfortable DON'T do it."
"Come to us if he does anything shifty"
Riné however scratched their chin confused unaware of the dirty thoughts in their imaginations.
'Are we thinking the same thing, I think I'm lost..?'