The birds chirped early the next morning, the calm waters of Grushia Park flowing down their streams while the wind gently blew across the skies. The trees rustled with the gentle breeze, their leaves coming undone off their branches and flowing to the ground.
Sang So-Yi tied her hair into a short ponytail, taking a deep breath and exhaling softly with a cool expression on her face. Jiahn, Hyeon Bae, and Kim Eun all prepared themselves for an early morning training with stretches and basic exercise, the St. Goken Meet arriving soon in two days.
So-Yi watched as one orange leaf flowed down to the ground, bracing herself as the leaf slowly fell onto the ground. "Go!"
Sang So-Yi took off like the wind, her form a militant perfection with each stride breaking through the wind currents with ease. Following closely behind was Kim Eun, each pant an attempt to steady her breath from the high speeds while Jiahn fell slightly behind.
Hyeon Bae huffed and puffed as she sprinted as fast as she could behind her friends, her steps uneven and out of pace due to her lacking stamina. "You'd think...after everything we've been through...I'd have more stamina!"
Jiahn glanced behind her to see Hyeon Bae falling behind then smiled at her, falling a bit behind to give Hyeon Bae a slight push forward. "C'mon, Hyeon Bae! Push those legs of yours!"
"It's so early though..!" Hyeon Bae whined, continuing to run forward with heavy pants.
Sang So-Yi and Kim Eun continued sprinting forward, the two racing each other down the path neck and neck. While So-Yi ran, her mind began to wonder about Tae and Woo-Chi, knowing they would be an issue in the long run of the Meet.
"Hey, So-Yi! Did you hear that Ms. Winters is going to be the Overseer for Grushia? She's going to be overseeing the entire Meet!" Kim Eun called out as she ran, panting in between strides to keep her breathing steady.
"I heard, and supposedly Mr. Nox is going to be there as well. I wonder what this Meet is being held for. Apparently, this Meet is going to see who's going to qualify to be in Classes S-4 to S-1," So-Yi answered, keeping her focus on her form as she glanced down at her feet.
"Class S? You mean Headmistress Kaguya made a Class Rank higher than A? Oh, 2X96 is going to be a fire year! It's time we're seen beyond the rest," Kim Eun said, her tone more excited than normal to try to qualify for Class S instead of going to St. Goken Academy.
The four girls continued their morning run, their quick steps picking up dirt and dust which began to dirty up their tracksuits. The sun began to rise higher in the sky, the rest of the birds waking up with their songs toward the sky and the warm rays kissing against the Earth.
Soon, the four managed to make it to Class 12-A, Kim Eun sliding the doors open with heavy pants which got everyone's attention. Luciel and Su-Yun looked over at them from the front of the class, noticing they were late and all dirtied up from their early morning activities.
"Damn! Why are y'all so dirty?" Ko'rai asked, looking at them with a light laugh. "Did y'all get in a fight with some pigs?"
"We were training for the St. Goken Meet, you heavy headed drake. Something you all ought to do if you wanna win, capeesh?" Kim Eun said in full English, pushing Ko'rai's head to the side as she sat down in her seat.
"Oh, God...I can barely walk anymore..." Hyeon Bae groaned, falling onto her knees and dragged Jiahn down with her by grabbing onto her bag.
"Whoa!" Jiahn exclaimed, falling to the floor with Hyeon Bae then groaned lightly. "C'mon, Hyeon..."
Sang So-Yi carefully stepped over the two of them, looking at the front of the class with all four of their tardy slips signed by Do Song Boon. "Sorry we're late...I heard Tae and Woo-Chi were training, so I wanted to train too."
Luciel smiled at the four and chuckled lightly, shaking her head with a sigh as she knew I had gotten her students riled up as well indirectly. "It's fine, my loves. Just take your seat."
The lesson continued about the upcoming St. Goken Meet where the Meet was only between Bulan and Grushia High School which acted as a Penta Crown Meet hosting five events. The top performers of the Meet would be scouted by either Kaguya, Luciel, me, and a fourth teacher for Class S, the highest level of Exzodian Education in St. Goken.
The class grew excited that everyone had an equal shot at being chosen for Class S, as many and all were called, but few would be chosen for such a role. The categories focused upon the attributes already used by the schools: Strength, Stamina, Speed, Grits, and Wits.
"Okay! And we're basically going against Bulan? It wouldn't be bad to meet up with Ramud once again for old time sake," Ko'rai said with a chuckle, crossing his arms with a wide grin.
"Ramud? Oh, you mean the big guy who's dating Tae? The girls and I met him at the Dongchon Meet, but...he wasn't as impressive as Tae and Woo-Chi," Kim Eun said, leaning forward against her desk. "Those two are the biggest problems right now, especially Woo-Chi..."
"Woo-Chi definitely is the biggest issue...and even with our abilities, she's been personally trained by Mr. Nox so she has techniques we don't even understand. No offense, Ms. Winters and Ms. Sa Nu Rim," So-Yi said, glancing up at her teachers.
"None taken, I understand your concerns and I've seen and heard what Class A-12 is capable of. However, it isn't only going to be a competition between you two, but a collaboration. Students from both ends will be picked," Luciel explained, her gaze shifting to the doors as she noticed them opening.
The class looked at the front doors of the class, everyone's eyes widening as they noticed Ha-Rin standing at the doorstep, her hair now cut shorter at her shoulders. Nu So-Hee walked into the class after her, her hair done into a side ponytail and her blazer hanging off her shoulders.
"Ha-Rin..." Hyeon Bae said in a soft whisper, watching Ha-Rin's every step as she stopped in front of the class.
Ha-Rin looked at everyone in the class before bowing lowly toward the class, her eyes closing with deep sincerity. "Everyone, I'm sorry for everything I've done! I know an apology won't fix the wrong I've caused, but I want you all to know that I've completed left Manaport for good."
"I am sorry as well," Nu So-Hee said, bowing as well and closed her eyes. "Our actions were inexcusable, especially for what happened a couple months ago. We've spent some time with Mr. Nox...and now everything is clear somewhat."
The class was completely stunned by both girls' actions, their genuine apologies leaving everyone speechless without knowing what to say next. Luciel and Su-Yun both were surprised as well, but only Luciel was the first to act and walked over to them.
Luciel grabbed two bags of school supplies left from the New Years Party from two days ago, handing both of them a bag and gave both of them a hug. "Welcome back, my sheep...I've been waiting for you two to come back. I even left your seats open because I knew you'd be back at some point."
Both girls felt a warm, maternal feeling coming from Luciel which made them feel safe internally within. After being gone for so long, they expected to be greeted with sudden ridicule, but instead they were invited back with open arms, Luciel's care for them something they weren't expecting.
------------------------
Outside in the courtyard of the campus, Ha-Rin and Nu So-Hee sat outside on a bench with Sang So-Yi and Hyeon Bae in front of them. The two waited for Ha-Rin or Nu So-Hee to say something, even just a word, but they kept their eyes upon the ground and toward the other students passing by.
"Are you guys waiting for another apology..? We've said all we had to say already," Ha-Rin said, turning her gaze to So-Yi and met her eyes directly.
"Right? At this point, you two are just beating a dead horse. We already went through humiliation in Bulan and nearly died if it weren't for Mr. Nox protecting us. So go ahead, hit us with your worst," Nu So-Hee scoffed, leaning back against the bench and began scrolling on her phone, her free hand slipped into her pocket.
Hyeon Bae looked at the two with sympathy, only being able to wonder about what the two went through. She stepped forward, gaining both of their attentions. "It's not like that! Honestly...we were all worried about you two. We thought after the Grushia Meet...you two had left."
"Honestly, we wanted to," Ha-Rin said, looking up at the sky with a soft exhale.
"Why didn't you?" So-Yi asked, curious to know why the two had come back.
Ha-Rin stayed silent for a moment, closing her eyes with a deeper, expressive sigh. She took out the lighter from her pocket, staring at the soft glare of the sunlight upon the silver metal surface. She took a moment to collect her thoughts, the silence louder than the chatter between students in the distance.
"For my mother. Mr. Nox told me...to fight for her and honor her as much as I can while she is still alive. Manaport still has her...and if fighting in the Northern Gethsemane Meet will help me grow closer to saving her, I'll do anything to get there," Ha-Rin said, clutching the lighter tightly in her hands.
"But I can't do it alone... not until we get rid of Covet once and for all. The only way to get through to her is to beat her at the St. Goken Meet, and bring her back here to Battle Zone 4 so we can end the bad blood between us, the same blood...that aided in Mr. Nox losing his kingdom..." Ha-Rin finished, lifting her gaze to So-Yi.
"Sang So-Yi, Hyeon Bae, I know you two have a close relationship with Woo-Chi, but we beg...leave her to Ha-Rin, please. This is something she has to do," Nu So-Hee requested, looking up from her phone and averted her gaze with a soft grunt. "And sorry for bullying you all as well..."
Sang So-Yi stared at the two for a moment, her eyes gleaming a faint soft blue color as she processed everything they had said. "Alright."
'E..?! She answered so quickly! I didn't even fully process what she said!' Hyeon Bae thought to herself, glancing over at So-Yi with slightly wide eyes.
"However, if you're going to battle against Woo-Chi, you're going to need some special training, and better Materia for your Battlesuit. Woo-Chi's Special Air has S Rank Strength and Speed, accompanied with her S+ Rank Wits, she's not easy," So-Yi said, looking down at her phone and hummed softly.
"We were going to go to the local shopping mall during free period to prepare, if you want to come with us," So-Yi invited, putting her phone away and looking back at Ha-Rin.
Ha-Rin looked at So-Yi in slight awe then averted her gaze, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Sure...whatever. Just as long as we have time to train."
So-Yi nodded, turning around to walk off with Hyeon Bae following behind, wondering what they were going to do for Woo-Chi now since they were handing her off to Ha-Rin. Ha-Rin watched both girls, a small smile forming on her lips with a light sigh.
Meanwhile at the track and field area, Reene watched as a group of students ran along the track as a group while coaches kept watch. She let out a soft exhale, holding her teddy bear close to her chest and let out a soft whine.
"Reene!~" Song Jae-in called out, waving to her as she rode on her electric scooter.
Reene gasped as she heard Song Jae-in calling to her, quickly breaking out of her trance and glancing over at her. "S-Song Jae-in..!"
"Hey now, you don't have to be scared of me! It's just me, and I brought a friend!" Song Jae-in said, planting her foot on the ground to stop her scooter.
"Reene," Choko said, holding her arms under her chest.
"Eek..! C-Choko!" Reene squeaked, taking a surprised step backwards. "What do you two want?"
"We heard from Ko'rai that you don't want to attend the St. Goken Meet, but he said you didn't say why. Is there a reason you don't intend on joining?" Choko asked, her tone her usual stern sound.
Reene felt her heart drop after Choko had exposed her, her immediate response being to hug her teddy bear even tighter. "I-I uh...I—"
Song Jae-in noticed how nervous Reene had become then leaned over to Choko, using her hand to whisper to only Choko. "You've gotta do something to convince her to join the Meet. She'll definitely listen to you more than me, 'kay?"
"Got it, I'll use a technique that my father taught me as a young girl," Choko replied, nodding with approval of Song Jae-in's plan. "Reene!"
"A-Ahh, yes?" Reene gasped, her body jolting at Choko's sudden rise in tone.
Choko placed her hands upon her hips and took a deep breath before speaking. "Untie your panties from a bunch and grow some tough skin!"
Song Jae-in grunted heavily in shock, her face becoming as blue as Reene's from Choko's authoritarian tone. 'That is NOT what I meant!'
"Leave me alone, please!" Reene cried out, running off quickly at high speeds from her friends.
"That's strange, when my father says that to me it usually works," Choko said, looking at Song Jae-in with confusion.
"Nevermind that now, we have to catch her! Use this, I'll run!" Song Jae-in said, handing her scooter over to Choko.
With quick pants and a near perfect form, Reene sprinted down the halls in a hurry to get away from the whirring sounds of the electric scooter behind her then noticed Song Jae-in appear from around the corner to grab her. She dove under her legs, avoiding Song Jae-in's grab and got up quickly to continue running.
Choko and Song Jae-in continued chasing their surprisingly nimble and quick friend around the campus, Reene slipping through multiple other students to create some distance between her and her pursuers. After running another 3000m, Song Jae-in finally began to feel the fatigue, holding her hip as she ran beside Choko riding her scooter.
Suddenly, the battery of the electric scooter began to sputter and fail, causing Choko to become unbalanced on the ride. "Uh oh, I think the battery's dying."
"How...can...she...run...for...so... long...?" Song Jae-in said in between her heavy pants, sweat rolling down her face the longer she ran.
--------------------------
So-Yi and her friends arrived in front of a tall staircase, the very top holding a prestigious gym with two Power Angel Statues sitting at the top looking below. The group stood in front of one of my Facilities, a gym named The Absolute, a location where only those with faith as strong as their ambition could make it in.
"Oh, look at this list of all who made it in!" Jiahn said, looking at the wooden billboard with the names of all who reached the top of The Absolute.
Kim Eun walked over to the billboard and began reading the names aloud, using her finger to track each name. "Okay, let's see...Peter, Andrew, John, Matthew, James, Philip, Bar... Bartholomew? Okay..? Thomas...oh, another James, and Thaddeus, Simon, and...Judas?"
"Aren't those the names of Yesha's Disciples? How the heck were they here?" Nu So-Hee asked, raising a brow and tilting her head curiously.
"They aren't the same people. They are descendants, or at least echoes of His followers," Sang So-Yi said, her gaze returning to the massive staircase.
"Is there a reason why we are here specifically? There was another gym literally down the street named the 'Iron Dome'," Ha-Rin said, saying the gym's name in a dramatic tone.
"Well first...it isn't everyday you see a massive mountain in the middle of a city. We literally needed Hyeon Bae to see this construct. We probably look so crazy right now," Jiahn said, looking up at the large formation before her.
To the girls, they could see my Facility with full visibility, but to the others...they were staring at a pile of dirt that was made by construction workers. The girls looked around, noticing they were getting some strange looks from not only passerbys but the construction workers.
"Holy...How the hell do we scale this without looking like a bunch of addicts on the loose?" Nu So-Hee asked, placing a hand on her hip and looked over at Hyeon Bae.
Hyeon Bae let out a nervous laugh and rubbed the back of her head as she looked around. "They can see us..? I thought I shrouded us...wait, it's still daytime, I can only reveal the hidden locations. It's one of the rules.."
"Rules? Oh my God, we are starting with this Divine Monarch Butterfly crap again? Just cover us, I'm tired of looking like a sore thumb. 'AhAaA, prEeTtY pIlE oF dIrT,' that's what we look like right now," Kim Eun said with a dragged sigh, closing her eyes due to being slightly uncomfortable.
"I mean...I would if I could, but if you didn't know about the Road of the Border, it's literally hidden in plain sight. All I can do during the day time is..." Hyeon Bae began, closing her eyes as she began explaining all of the Laws of the Border once again.
Each girl groaned as they listened to Hyeon Bae yap and explain the rules, fireworks and blasts going off in each of their heads except So-Yi and Ha-Rin, yet the two would rather not listen to the explanation again. Suddenly, streams of Liminal Energy shrouded the girls, covering them and making them invisible while Hyeon Bae was still talking.
"Whoa, man! Did you just see that? They just vanished!" One construction worker gasped, running over to the other side of the dirt pile to look for them.
"Man, we've been working for 15 hours straight, we probably blinked and they left without us knowing. Kids are fast these days," The other worker said, adjusting his hardhat with a shuddering exhale, trying to rationalize what he witnessed.
"I guess..." The first worker said, scratching his arm and sighed as he began going back to working on the new roads.
Beginning the long climb forward after noticing no one could see them, the path to the top of the mountain was straight and narrow, yet other paths were seen along the way. Taking a detour along the way, they found themselves within a beautiful garden with a waterfall flowing down from a stream along the cliff.
After taking in the sights and playing with a few bunnies in the area, they left to return to the narrow path but a sign caught So-Yi's eye as everyone was leaving. The sign read 'First Passing Gardens: Flowing Bunnies'. The name stirred up questions in her mind, her gaze shifting to Hyeon Bae and saw the Rauch Hakodesh stigmata glowing brightly on her back.
After passing by more gardens, the puzzle in So-Yi's mind began to piece itself together. 'We are in Nox's Ten Passing Gardens...Bunnies, Eagles, Divine Dogs, the Helios Lion, the Peaceful Moose, Benevolent Reindeer, Flood Elephant, Aurora Serpent, Velocity Shark...but the last one...'
"Whoa! Everyone, look up there!" Hyeon Bae called out, pointing at the summit and gasped as she noticed an iridescent dragon hawking through the air.
Everyone looked up, seeing the speeding dragon flying across the skies with fluffy, wooly sheep leaping on the air behind it. There were a total of 99 Sheep with the dragon, everyone looking for the one sheep that was missing while they scaled to the top.
"Wow...this is so beautiful. I can't believe a place like this even exists in the Border. Ten Gardens on this mountain, each one with beautiful sights and different animals! Mmm! I wanted to take one of the dogs with me!" Nu So-Hee squealed, hugging herself as she was fanning out over the Divine Dogs, already missing their playfulness.
"Yeah, we've only been to Aetherpoint..so seeing this is wild. I do wonder though, I only counted 99 Sheep up there. Where's the last one?" Jiahn asked, looking around the other various paths for the seemingly lost sheep.
"Maybe they could be in one of these other pathways, but they don't have signs on them like the other ones did, and they look kinda scary," Ha-Rin answered, her careful eyes looking at the more broader and darker paths of the mountain.
The closer they got to the top, the more broad the off paths became and the louder the whispers of the forest became which made the girls realize why faith and ambition was needed for this road. The girls continued to push through the whispering noise, each whisper speaking of each of their deepest desires specifically.
After reaching the summit, each of the girls let out a groan as they collapsed on the cool ground, finally able to catch their breaths as their stamina was low. Ahead of them stood a large temple like structure, segmented into five different buildings with a guard standing in front of each of the doors.
"Finally... but I don't think I can go on anymore..." Hyeon Bae said weakly, holding her hand out toward the building before lowering her hand and face onto the ground.
"Yeah, I'm pooped out too..." Nu So-Hee agreed, her voice muffled from her face being in the group.
So-Yi and Ha-Rin looked at the girls then glanced at each other as they sat next to one another, both of them chuckling with each other. The six young Valkyrias decided to take a quick break, their legs tired from the steep climb and the detours they took.
So-Yi glanced over at the large temple, noticing a sign in front of it which read, 'Tenth Passing Gardens: Iridescent Wooly Feathers'. She let out a curious hum, wondering why this specific beast had a title instead of a name then glanced back up at the sky at the dragon and the sheep with it.
"Well, look at what we have here," I said, walking toward the girls with a soft chuckle. "Six Grushia High School Valkyrias."
"Mr. Nox!" Jiahn gasped, standing up quickly and hurrying over to me with a bow. "We didn't expect you to actually be here!"
"Hey, is there a reason you placed this mountain over a construction sight?! You made us look stupid!" Kim Eun groaned, lifting herself up from the ground to look up at me.
I chuckled softly at Kim Eun and shook my head, slipping my hands into my pockets. "I didn't make you do anything. You all came here on your own, I'm guessing to train for the St. Goken Meet?"
"Yes, that's why we're here. We heard you were training your class for the Meet, so we wanted in as well. What better place to train than one of these locations?" So-Yi answered, looking up at me with a determined smile, standing up on her feet.
"I see. Well, you're all welcome to train here if you wish. I have five areas for you all: Strength, Stamina, Speed, Grits, and Wits. Each Facility suited for optimal growth for Heroes and Valkyrias," I said, offering them a place at the temple gym.
"Yes! Let's do this!" Jiahn said, clapping her hands together and looking back at her friends.
Ha-Rin smiled and stood up as well, dusting herself off and looked up at the sky. "I have a question. This garden only has 99 Sheep here. Is that dragon searching for the last one?"
I looked up at the sky as well, my smile softening with a light hum. "No. He's not searching, he's playing with the sheep. The dragon you see before you is a Coatyl, a Feathered Dragon who's body is not of scales but covered with feathers as soft as a sheep's wool. He is the 100th Sheep."
"Wow... They are able to keep up with him so well. I can't imagine what it took for this to come to be...the entire location seems so unreal," Ha-Rin said, walking forward and looking around while holding her arms. "I could stay up here forever if I could.."
I smiled at Ha-Rin then turned around to walk back to the temples. "Everyone, follow me. I'm sure you're wondering if Woo-Chi is here as well, and she is. She is within the Speed Area."
Once the girls heard Woo-Chi was at The Absolute as well, they quickly fell onto step behind me to join me to the Speed Area. The guard in front of the gates pulled the gates open, allowing us inside the area then closed the gates to stand back on guard.
Inside the Speed Area was a large indoor track with other equipment used to enhance ones speed such as treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers, and leg and calf machines. Jiahn, Nu So-Hee, and Kim Eun decided to break from the group to try out the equipment while the others continued to follow me to the outside area of the Speed Area.
"She's out here," I said, holding the door open for So-Yi, Ha-Rin, and Hyeon Bae.
The three gasped as they admired the massive track and field below surrounded by mountain formations and large trees. Below stood a two facilities within the area named the Acceleration Battle Room and the Tailwind Facility, the wind currents boosting speed, velocity, and acceleration at once.
While looking down below at the field, the three noticed Woo-Chi, Tae, and Soel-na training together by running laps around the track, each of them trying to learn various rhythms and flows of God's Breath. So-Yi and Ha-Rin's gazes became hardened, more focused as they saw their respective rivals below.
"There's only two days left before the Meet begins. Do what you have to do, but remember...this Meet is being used to scout for more than capable people. You should be sensible as well. Go talk to them, while you have the time," I said, nudging the three forward gently.
The girls looked back at me with curious gazes, each of them seeing my nod of approval with a warm smile. They each nodded back and began treading down the path toward the three, planning to clear out the air as much as they could before the Meet.
Woo-Chi dashed along the track at high speeds, her silhouette slowly forming in front of her but fizzled out due to her still being out of rhythm then she stopped running. She leaned down with pants, placing her hands upon her knees.
"I'm still not getting it for some reason..." Woo-Chi said with slight frustration, looking up to see Soel-na effortlessly Fluttering even though it was messing and overcommitted. "Meanwhile, he's got it easy but has little to no pacing..."
"Damn, bro...this Fluttering thing is hard! I had it right there, you saw it right, Woo-Chi?" Tae groaned, looking over at Woo-Chi with frustration.
Woo-Chi looked over at Tae then stood up straight as she noticed So-Yi and the others approaching behind her. Tae noticed Woo-Chi was looking past her and waved her hand in her face before turning around, her heart skipping a beat as she locked eyes with Sang So-Yi.
"Ha...Hahaha! Sang So-Yi, we meet again at last and two days before the Meet!" Tae called out, her eyes glowing with excitement as blue lightning crackled around her body. "You came here too, wait! How did you get here?"
"I could ask you the same. Last time I checked, you didn't possess any Liminal Energy nor did anyone in Class A-12 have any, however my guess is that Mr. Nox brought you?" So-Yi asked, standing in front of Tae and stared into her eyes with a determined expression.
"Yeah, he led us here himself. Hmm, if I had to guess who brought you here...it would be..." Tae began, looking between Ha-Rin and Hyeon Bae then snapped her fingers. "The girl with the light blue backpack."
Hyeon Bae pointed at herself, her eyes becoming alert and surprised. "Mmm? How did you know?"
"When you have senses as strong as mine, you can sniff anyone out! I see you even have the exiled Valkyrian Princess with you. You think having her will help you? Foolish! With Woo-Chi, Class A-12 has never been hotter!" Tae exclaimed in a hyped tone, swiping her hand in front of So-Yi's face.
Ha-Rin glanced over at Woo-Chi, her arms crossed as she met gazes with her rival. She thought about their conversation from a month ago, exhaling softly and stepped forward. "Min Woo-Chi!"
Woo-Chi's gaze twitched as Ha-Rin called her name, the air becoming more tense between the two as the sparks began to fly from their clashing presences. "Kan Ha-Rin.."
"I know an apology won't fix the bad blood between us, but if there was a time to fix things between us...it would be now. As you see, I don't have Nu So-Hee with me so everything I'm saying is from me. I'm sorry for putting your life in danger for the last two years, and I want to start over with you...a new fresh start between us," Ha-Rin said, holding her hand out in front of Woo-Chi.
Woo-Chi glanced down at Ha-Rin's hand with her arms crossed, a soft scoff escaping from her nose as she met Ha-Rin's eyes. "We can have a fresh start...after I destroy you in the St. Goken Meet and be recruited into Class S-1. I've waited so long for this moment, and I'm not going to lose momentum now. I will not lose to you."
Tae's grin grew wider after Woo-Chi's response and she looked at So-Yi with a fierce wolf-like gaze. "And that goes for me as well to you, Sang So-Yi! You left Bulan, but now it's time to see what Grushia has truly taught you! Let's go, right here right now! Let's race!"
So-Yi stared at Tae, feeling a strange excitement coursing through her veins and looked down at her hand. "So you are aware that our classes will be uniting, but you still seek competition. Strange...I usually never fall for bait, but for some reason...I really want to beat you."
"Wait, wait!" Hyeon Bae and Soel-na said, separating the two duos as they felt the rising tensions.
"You can't waste too much of your energy, plus you haven't grasped Fluttering yet!" Soel-na said, trying to calm down both Tae and Woo-Chi.
"C'mon, girls! We are here to talk, not combat each other! What about what Mr. Nox said?" Hyeon Bae pled, waving her arms in the faces of So-Yi and Ha-Rin to block their sights from Tae and Woo-Chi.
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you, Soel-na..." Tae said with a grin, gently pushing him to the side then lunged toward So-Yi. "However, this is my chance to see how far she's come!"
So-Yi watched as Tae charged toward her then pushed Hyeon Bae out of the way, blocking Tae's claw strike then phased through her kick. Everyone else got out of the way as Tae and So-Yi began their duel, both girls racing across the field at high velocity.
So-Yi evaded Tae's kick then pushed her arm down as she launched a punch, a light blue silhouette appearing at Tae's side. She gasped as she noticed the silhouette, but couldn't avoid So-Yi's Flutter Strikes, two punches connecting across her jaw within a second.
Tae staggered to the side, holding her jaw and scoffed with surprise. "What the heck..? You know how to Flutter?"
So-Yi stomped her foot down, light blue and midnight essence flowing from her eyes as she began to excude immense pressure. Blue lightning crackled around her body due to the intense pressure, her focused gaze sending chills down Tae's spine.
'Whoa...this is some intense pressure. No wonder you're known as the Silver Mercenary. Yet, this only riles me up even more!' Tae thought to herself, grinning widely and began excluding her own pressure, both energies clashing with each other.
"Tae Chi-Won... I've learned more than to feel the rhythm of the flow, the beat of every pulse within the currents. I can see the rhythm...your rhythm. I won't be losing to you. I'll be headed to the Northern Gethsemane Meet, and win the official Penta Crown," So-Yi said, her blue eyes glowing as hot as a flame.
"Oho, now this is a look I haven't seen in a long time. The Silver Mercenary is back..." Tae said with a wide grin, the Crest of Atren shining brightly upon her shoulder. "I suppose it's time for Tae to finally be Chi-Won."
"What? What is she talking about?" Soel-na asked, looking over at Woo-Chi.
"Tae isn't her real name. That's her clan name, her actual name is Chi-Won, the winner of the Dual Crown in her junior year. Tae is just her cover-up to stay under the radar. She's actually a top ranking Valkyria," Woo-Chi explained, crossing her arms as she watched Tae's performance and wondered if it could compare to So-Yi.
"But who is the Silver Mercenary? This is the first I'm ever hearing about this side of Sang So-Yi," Ha-Rin asked, her gaze becoming more curious as she stared at So-Yi's focused expression.
"Seems like I'm not the only one here with a hidden identity. You transferred over to Grushia with a clear record? Pathetic. Sang So-Yi, the Silver Mercenary Valkyria, is the Winner of the Quad Crown during for three years, starting from middle school until she transferred," Tae explained, looking over at Ha-Rin and Hyeon Bae.
"Wait...the same Silver Mercenary that retired Dreamy Wave, Yoon Suga?! Sang So-Yi, you're the Beast of Valkyrias that was talked about two years ago?!" Ha-Rin asked with a gasp, not realizing who So-Yi truly was underneath her strong discipline.
Woo-Chi grunted softly as well, unaware of So-Yi's legacy that she left behind in Bulan. 'She's always been this strong..? How did the system deem her F Rank before Miss Kaguya took over?'
Woo-Chi took out her Valkyria System, Suru OS booting up on her screen and she held her device up to So-Yi to scan her essence. The reading came back seconds later, Woo-Chi scrolling through the results on the screen then grunted softly as she stopped at her Strength and Wits stats.
'No way...1,932 in Strength...and over 2000 in Wits..? She broke the current grading scale...she's S+ technically..!' Woo-Chi thought to herself, her hand shaking in slight distress and frustration. 'Why...was she hiding this type of power..?'
Hyeon Bae stared at So-Yi, noticing her Beshin-Keh flashing slowly in her right eye and felt the monstrous energy everyone was mentioning, the pressure hitting her last. 'It's so intense...her ambition is stronger than anyone else's here...!'
Tae chuckled at So-Yi and walked forward toward her, grabbing her wrist and holding her hand up to her face. "Remember this feeling, Sang So-Yi. Remember why you became a Valkyria in the first place, the reasoning you gave me."
So-Yi stared at Tae, her intensity calming down as she looked at her hand and began thinking about her mother and father. Tae let go of her wrist and pat her shoulder before walking off, slipping her hands into her hoodie pockets.
"My reasoning for being a Valkyria, if you remember...is to win the Tredeca Crown and win the Zodiac Cup for the Tae Clan. But, I won't participate...if you don't make it to Class S. Silver Mercenary, if you're still in there...let's go at it one more time," Tae said, stopping in her tracks and looked back at Sang So-Yi.
"The Zodiac Cup? You'd need to qualify for that when you win the Exzodian Quad Crown and the Eyican Septa Crown, and only the best enter that," Ha-Rin said, her curious eyes shifting to Tae as if to question her. "Not to rain on your parade, but even us Prodigies need time before taking on that cup."
"Ha-Rin's right! You'd need to be more than prepared as those Stakes are said to be nearly impossible to partake in without proper training! Sang So-Yi, I get your rivalry but this is crazy!"
Hyeon Bae fretted as she stepped forward to So-Yi.
Sang So-Yi looked over at Hyeon Bae and Ha-Rin then lowered her gaze back to her hand, looking up into the distance. "Why I became a Valkyria..."
Tae stared at So-Yi, the wind blowing gently against her hair and fur hoodie over her head. She smirked and closed her eyes with a sigh. "No wonder I find you so bothersome now...I'll admit that you're fast and you're strong. You might be the fastest, smartest, and strongest in your school...but that's all you'll ever be."
"You climbed to the peak of this mountain once and reached the top, and now you've forgotten what the view from above looks like. You don't have a goal anymore...you've become, complacent," Tae continued, opening her eyes and giving So-Yi a serious expression.
So-Yi turned around to face Tae, meeting her eyes with a focused expression. "I've completed my goal and I have one more in mind."
"It's not enough... Sang So-Yi, compete with me for the Quad and Septa Crowns! Take on the Tredeca Crown, and climb a higher peak with me. There is only one true rival for me...and I want to take anyone to the highest level with me, it will be you," Tae said, turning around and walking away to go back inside.
So-Yi watched Tae's retreating form with a soft exhale then noticed Woo-Chi and Soel-na following behind. She began to think about what Tae said, feeling a slight conviction hitting her and a wave of goosebumps riding along her arm, the same strange excitement hitting her again.
She held her hand up to the sky, looking up at it and closing her hand into a fist. 'It's been so long since I've thought about my reasoning...that I may have forgotten why I truly wanted to be a Valkyria...'
Ha-Rin and Hyeon Bae stood by as they watched So-Yi become lost in her own thoughts, the two of them never seeing the calm, analytical So-Yi become so thoughtful. Tae's words seemed to strike a part of So-Yi's heart that hadn't been touched in a long time, her words igniting a flame So-Yi thought the had fanned out long ago.
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Later during sunset, So-Yi jogged around Grushia Park alone while thinking about what Tae had told her earlier. Along her run, she saw a young girl and her mother playing on the slides, the two having fun while the unaware young Valkyria watched them. She clenched her fist then began sprinting off quickly, looking ahead with a focused expression.
Soon, she stopped by a bench and sat down with heavy pants and looked down at her watch to check her heart and lap times. She reach over for her water bottle, bringing it to her parched lips for a drink but noticed it was empty. She lowered the bottle and looked inside, seeing nothing within.
She sighed softly and leaned back against the bench, looking up at the golden sky above. "Have I really become complacent..? Did I really forget why I became a Valkyria..?"
As she questions spiralled in her mind, she began to hear the sounds of something being poured into her empty bottle. She looked over and saw someone pouring water into her cup, her eyes lifting to see me and her eyes slightly widened.
"Mr. Nox..." So-Yi began, watching as I walked around the bench and sat beside her.
"It's rare for you to be introspective, So-Yi. I can tell your ears have been ringing for a while now," I said, setting my jug of water beside my feet.
So-Yi looked back up at the sky, sighing softly and took a sip of water, feeling refreshed at last. She lowered her water bottle, exhaling softly and closed the lid. "Mr. Nox...is it really possible to forget your purpose? I mean...I understand the spiritual purpose but outside of that.."
"Where's this coming from?" I asked, looking at So-Yi and noticed her serious expression.
"Tae said that I had become complacent and I had forgotten what the view from the peak looked like. It's just...I couldn't stay the Silver Mercenary forever. The more I used Silver Mercenary, the more it hurts..." So-Yi said softly, placing her hand upon her heart and closed her eyes.
"What happened during your time with the Silver Mercenary?" I asked, curious to know about So-Yi's backstory.
So-Yi exhaled softly and opened her eyes, her gaze fixed upon the sky above. "Nothing bad...but I stood at the top. I can still hear my papa's cheering for me...I could feel my mother's presence when I wore it. Silver Mercenary was my mother's Battlesuit that she gifted to me before she passed away."
"I became a Valkyria to honor her because the Silver Mercenary is the only thing I have to remember her by...while I have nothing to remember my father by. The more I won...the more my heart hurt because I had no one in my corner..." So-Yi continued, her voice beginning to break with a few tears rolling down her cheeks.
My gaze softened as I listened to her story, understanding what it is like to lose both parents. I looked forward with a soft exhale, reaching over and wrapping my arm around her head and pulled her over to me. I listened as So-Yi began to softly cry against me, her silent cries hurting my own heart.
After a few moments, I looked down at So-Yi and saw she had finally calmed down. "So-Yi, you don't have to respond but I want you to hear this. While you didn't have anyone by you earlier, you have supportive people now who will cheer you on. Your mother gave you her treasure for a reason, knowing one day you'd live out her legacy..."
"Use Silver Mercenary to honor your mother and your father. Each time you use it, remember you became a Valkyria because of her. If it weren't for your mother's love and faith in you, you wouldn't have been able to see the peak to begin with..." I continued, gently brushing her hair with my hand.
"It was her dream to see me be a Valkyria...do you think she sees me?" So-Yi asked softly, closing her eyes slowly as the peacefulness began to draw her into a peaceful rest.
"She does, and I'm sure she's smiling proudly at what you've become. You've seen the summit and you've fallen back down...but the path back up and even higher is still there. They say the sky is the limit, but God says there's always somewhere even higher," I said, looking down at So-Yi and gently pat her shoulder as I noticed her drifting to sleep.
"Mmm..." So-Yi said softly, her head falling onto my lap as she fell asleep in peacefulness.
I smiled at her and rubbed her shoulder gently then planted a Sovereign Butterfly into her hair, silently warping her back to her dormitory then stood up from the bench. My gaze lifted to the sky with a warm smile. "This time...do not forget your why, Sang So-Yi..."