The Tale of Our Love

Chapter 4: Mana Shield

CHAPTER 4:

The three of them got out of the VIP room and look around the dorm. As they walk at the hallway some students are going out to their room and chit-chatting at each other. One particular group caught Andrew attention.

“I wonder why but those guys keep on looking at us.” I said to the both of them while looking at those three dudes near the window.

“Maybe they have a crush on us or they just like to look at you Andrew.” Luke teasingly said to Andrew.

Andrew immediately smack the head of Luke and the other three students who keep on looking at them vanish.

“It hurts, Andrew. What will happen if I became dumb, how will you take responsibility about it.” Luke while scratching his own head as they walk away from their room.

“Welcome! My dear warriors.” A certain man standing in front of the platform while holding a mic, as the students are going inside the gym.

“What’s with the warriors?” Luke ask Andrew as he sat beside him but Andrew didn’t answer him.

“Now everyone of you must be shock and puzzled of why did those things happen to you..” The man was about to continue when another guy taps the shoulder of the man and then nodded.

“Right, before I forgot. I’ll introduced to you our officials.” He stops for a minute and then continue. “Let’s welcome Professor Ains. He shall be your martial arts teacher. Now let’s hear something from him.”

“Hello everyone. I’ll just make this short, all those who got the VIP pass at the dorms will have the most hellish training while the others shall not be comfortable cause I’ll make you cry and make you wish you never come here. Our class shall be held here. That’s all.” After he said it all the students gulp especially the students who got the VIP pass except Andrew and his friends, while the other students felt a little bit of relief.

“Next will be Professor Dave, he shall be teaching you about Magic and how to use it.” The said professor stood up and get the microphone at the mc.

“I’m Prof. Dave and I hate late students the most. If you bring stuff not relatable to magic then don’t think to enter the room. It will be held at the Laboratory.” He then gave it to the MC. Just then all the students think that Prof. Dave is a very strict person and not to be mess with.

“Everyone, I’m Professor Lone. I will be your weaponry teacher, I have only one rule and that is don’t get killed.” He then gave the microphone to another man.

“I’m Professor Levy, your history and strategy teacher. We will have our class at the library and if you all want to ask or have trouble about your love life, then you can freely approach me.” After that he wink at us and wave like some kind of an artist.

“Andrew, why do you think Prof. Levy wink at us? And why does he need to act like some kind of a girl flirting with someone?” Luke ask me in whisper as he put his arm at my shoulder.

“Why don’t you ask yourself Luke. You might find the answer.” I sarcastically answered him while facing at the front.

“Solid burn Andrew. So solid.” He said while harshly patting my shoulder then face the stage.

“Now that everyone of our Professor introduce themselves. I shall introduce mine, I’m Jose the brother of Peter which is the guarding dog of the dormitory.” He said then bowed at us.

“Then I shall tell you the rules of the Academy. First, no unknown battle or unannounced fight inside the academy. If you want to fight, then you must pass a letter of challenge with a witness and the fight must be held at the arena. Second, no usage of powers inside, if the Professor didn’t tell you to use. Third, and the most important one, no one must get rid of their wristband. It’s an important device if you get rid of it, we will know and the punishment for it is DEATH.” He pauses for a bit then continue to speak.

“Those are the 3 major rules of the academy. Now, I shall explain to you what is the use of your wristband. First, it can help you heal the wounds fast but it depends on how deep the wounds in your body. Second, it can be your storage for future battle whether its inside or outside the campus. It can also store foods and necessities, if you store a food the wristband will stop it from decomposing so you can eat it anytime or any month. Third, it will help us locate you wherever you are, but after the training its locating device will be turned off. Fourth, it will help us to grade your performance and don’t even think of hacking it because you can’t do it. That’s all so any question?” Jose said to us then one student raises his hands.

“You, the one who raise his hand.” The guy stood up after Jose point him.

“What’s your name?” Jose ask him.

“Amory Andrew Cullen.” He answered then hold the mic that the staff gave him.

“Wait, your Amory Andrew Cullen as in the son of the famous General James Cullen?” Jose ask him with excitement in his tone.

The young lad just nodded his head, and all the students whose present at the gym looked at him with awe-inspiring. Which made the young lad feel awkward.

“What did you do dad to make you this famous?” Andrew whispered in his self.

“Wow! I never thought that I could see the son of General Cullen.” Jose said while looking at Andrew. “So, what was the question that you need to ask, Andrew?” he continued.

“It’s about the rules, what will happen if one of the students try to kill the other without the staff noticing. What will be the punishment of it?” Andrew ask him while looking at the certain spot where a bunch of students sat.

“Don’t worry about that kind of situation because we already have a solution for it. So, you can be at ease.” Jose answered Andrew “Any other question?” he said.

“Sir Jose, you didn’t answer all my question.” Andrew said to him

“Right, about the punishment. If anyone of you disobey the rules, you’ll be immediately kickout from the academy. You and your family will immediately be killed for not following the royal decree.” Jose said to the student with a straight face as if being killed is easy. A lot of student gulp so heavily.

“s**t. We’ll be killed if we disobey the rules, even our family will die because of us.” One of the students said to his friends.

All of the students panic and keep on talking randomly. Some of them stood up and rant at the professor and Jose.

“Me and my family didn’t sign up for this.”

“What the heck does being killed after expulsion means. We are still a citizen of this country. The King can’t immediately kill us.”

“The letter doesn’t include the words that you said Sir Jose.”

“I can’t believe this. Killing a few citizens just because their sons was kicked out from the academy. What the heck is that.”

“The hell with that rule. I’ll never agree to it.”

“We’ll never enroll here. I’m going to go out.”

These were the words that some students said at Sir Jose but he didn’t say anything. All of them keep quite while looking at the students.

Amidst of the situation Andrew sat down then Luke shrugged his shoulder. He looks at Luke with a poker face.

“Look what you did. Its total chaos.” Luke said while pointing at their surroundings.

“I’m just asking man. Its not my fault that they over reacted about the killing part, its not like it already happened. Its just a threat, all rulers do it to their kingdom so that the citizens will obey. After all fear can make people obey you.” Andrew said to Luke while looking at Prof. Ains.

“What do you mean about fear. Can’t you see what’s happening now. It’s a total chaos, sometimes fear doesn’t work. Its only make things worse.” Luke said to Andrew

“fear or not, it depends on how the person handle it. If the easily get angry without knowing the truth or the reason then they’re just a bunch of idiots. But if they just follow the decree, do you think they’ll be killed?” Jayce said to Luke while eating the popcorn.

“Yeah, your right.” Luke agreed to what Jayce said to him but something is bothering him. “Where the hell, did you buy or make that popcorn? And why didn’t you invite us to eat?” he added.

“I store it at the wristband. I didn’t know you like to eat popcorn; you want one?” Jayce said to him as he offers the popcorn in front of Andrew.

“The hell with your popcorn.” Luke say those words but still take a bite of the popcorn Jayce have. “I should have exchange seats with Andrew, If I knew you would bring food.”

“Get down!” Andrew said to them as he grabs both of their shoulders down. The popcorn scatter all over the floor.

“The heck is wrong with you, Andrew?” Luke angrily yells at Andrew.

 “Cover your ears.” Andrew said to them and they obey it.

A loud roar echoed at the gym, all the students pass out because of the roar except Andrew and his friends. Jayce looked at the students beside him their eardrum is bleeding.

“That kind of roar can kill us even if we cover our ears, so why didn’t we pass out?” Jayce ask them while still covering his ears.

“I activate my mana shield and share it with you, when I grab your shoulder. This shield can’t last long the roar is to powerful.” Andrew said to them while the roar is still on roaring.

“Heck with this, how long do they need to roar. It taking a toll on my hands.” Luke keeps on complaining.

“You shouldn’t be the one to complain Luke, it should be Andrew because he’s using his mana to protect us. Its already taking a toll on him, its been 10 mins since the first roar.” Jayce said as he looks at the sweating Andrew.

“Well, I’m amaze he can withstand the Lions roar this long. That Andrew really is a genius.” Prof. Dave said inside his mana shield while fanning himself.

“Can’t imagine that his mana is already in rank B considering this is the first time he knows how to use it.” Prof. Lone said to them with amusement.

“Well, monster gave birth to monster after all.” Prof. Ains said while holding the Lions roar at his palm.

“It’s been 15 mins. now should we finish it? They are the only one whose still awake.” Sir Jose asked the professors.

“No, lets wait until they pass out.” Prof. Ains. said to them while smiling. “Let’s me see how long can he last. After all his father lasted 30 mins. while sharing his mana shield to three people other than himself. Let’s see how his kiddo can endure.”

“What’s wrong with the professors, why didn’t they stop that thing.” Luke said as he squats and stop covering his ears. “Hey, I’m fine even though I didn’t cover my ears.” He said happily.

“Andrew how long can you still endure?” Jayce asks with a worried face. “It’s because of the mana shield, that’s why were still okay even if we don’t cover our ears.” Jayce explained to Luke.

Andrew stop covering his ears and sat comfortably at the ground with his sweats dripping from his shirt. It only shows how hard for him to maintain the shield.

“Those geezers.” Andrew said while panting heavily.

“What did you say, Andrew?” Jayce ask him

“They’re evaluating our endurance using mana shield but sadly I’m the only one who can use mana shield now. In short, that old geezer is toying me.” Andrew explained to them.

“Your sweating a lot Andrew. Don’t worry I’ll wipe it for you, my dear.” Luke said while wiping the sweats of Andrew.

“Now is not the time for teasing Luke.” Jayce said as he tapped the hand of Luke.

“I’m not teasing him. I just want to help him wipe his sweats, aren’t I sweet?” Luke said to Jayce while moving his eyebrows upward.

“No, and mind your manners you’re a PRINCE for goodness sake!” Andrew said to Luke has he push the hands of Luke back at him.

“Fine, your no fun.” Luke said and gave the handkerchief to Andrew.

“This is clearly not the time for fun, Luke.” Jayce said to Luke as he smacks its head.

 A minute later Andrew cough blood which shock the two of them. Andrew didn’t mind the blood he coughs; he just silently wipes it and look at the professors but what shock the young lad was the professors. Who is doing poker at the stage while the three of them are suffering and the other students are laying everywhere.

“I’ll endure and finish this after that, I swear to kick the butt of that geezer.” Andrew said to himself while coughing another blood. Andrew knew that him coughing blood means his reaching his limit, after all it’s not easy to maintain the shield for a three person.

“Why did you sneeze Prof. Ains?” Prof. Lone asked the old man while throwing his card.

“Someone is cursing me and I might know who is it.” Prof. Ains said with a smile.

“Professors, it’s been an hour are we not ending it?” Sir Jose asked the professor as he throw his card too. He wanted to end it because he can see that the three students are weakening, good thing that they all remove the students who pass out and built an illusion where the bodies are still there or else those students will surely die, aside from that he’s losing at the game. He’s afraid that if he loses, he might pay for the food that the professors will be bought.

“Really.” Prof. Ains look at the young Andrew and smile. “Can you still endure Andrew.” It’s not a question but rather it sounded as a command for the lad to endure the roar.

“Bring it on, geezer.” Andrew said to Prof. Ains which made the old man laugh so hard.

“You amaze me like your father.” He said then flew upfront of Andrew and his friend.

“Then young lad, amuse me more.” Prof. Ains whisper at Andrew, He then knock Luke and Jayce, and he took them away from him.

“I’ll take your friends back at the dorm, you shall stay here and let me see how long can you withstand the full power of the Lions roar.” Prof. Ains said as he rolled back it to the hard level 5, it was supposed to be in the medium level.

“Your father only endures at the hard level 3. I want to see if you can endure the level 5 which no one has ever endure it.” Prof. Ains said to himself and walkout of the gym.

All the professor follows Prof. Ains as they disappear the illusion that Prof. Dave use is disappearing slowly leaving Andrew all alone at the gym.

Andrew felt the pressure getting heavier as he keeps on coughing blood and his body is weakening; he pushes his self to walk towards the handkerchief that Luke gave him. It was drop when Prof. Ains took the two. Just a little step towards the handkerchief when Andrew collapse, he wanted to get up but his body is ignoring his command.

“I’ll seriously kick the butt of that geezer.” Andrew said to his self and roll over to face the ceiling of the gym. “Why do I even need to do this?”   he said to his self.

Andrew was wondering while Luke didn't know how to use mana shield, he as a prince should know about the use of mana. So why didn't he use it?

"That stupid prince must want to be pampered by me." He laughs at the thought of pampering Luke.

Andrew tried to lift his hands slowly but they keep on falling down. It because of the pressure that the Prof. Ains put at the Lions roar but Andrew will to kick his butt made him stand up and sat while his both legs are cross to each other. He then closes his eyes.

Meanwhile, in the room were all the students are being healed. Luke and Jayce can’t move their own body. As they keep on struggling to move Prof. Ains came close to them and sat in front of them.

“I need the both of you to stay here and be quiet. Don’t worry about Andrew, I won’t kill him now.” Prof. Ains tease them as he removes the tape at their mouth.

“So, you really plan to kill Andrew?” Luke said while wiping his mouth.

“Its up to you, how you interpret the words I said.” Prof. Ains said to them, then he walks out of the room.

“Prof. Ains like to walk out.” Luke said to Jayce as he grabs the lunch pack in front of them.

“I have never imagined myself that one day I shall eat in a pack lunch.” Luke said while looking at the pack.

“Royalty.” Jayce mumble.

“I didn’t discriminate this lunch but you know I’m still learning the outside world.” Luke said to Jayce but he just shrug.

“I just hope that Andrew is okay.” Luke said as he takes a bite at the food.

“It’s good to hear that you care for our friend. I know he’ll be alright.” Jayce said and pat the back of Luke lightly.

“Well of course I care about him after all he’s the son of my favorite General.” Luke said to him while looking at the window which you can see the closed gym.

"We know Andrew, he'll survive." Jayce said while peacefully eating the food.

"Yeah he will." Luke said as he sip the soup that the staff gave them. "Well this soup is delicious."

"I already finish mine a while ago. This is the third time." Jayce said to Luke.

Luke eyes widen when he heard what Jayce told him.

"Seriously the third time?" Luke ask him to confirm what he heard.

"Yup, the third time. Can't help it, it's delicious." Jayce answered to him.