Fragarach

Delay

He used that form in our duel. I remember that moment really well, his stance and the look in his face. He looks really irritate at that time.] Thomas thought as he cross his arms.

“Whoa is that the stance that Raven took when he and Thomas had a duel?” one of his friends said.

“It was that ridiculous stance that he made when he dueled with Thomas a while ago.” Kate said.

[I knew that he will use that sword stance with the physical test earlier. Almost every guy from his class is kind of sloppy, it’s a good idea for him to save everyone in his class from the humiliation but to use that sword stance is a bit. I am an elf but to think that a human can execute that stance better than an elf is a bit disappointing, if my father were to see this himself. He will no doubt bring this guy home to marry off one of my younger sisters.] Kai thought as he smile while breaking a sweat with a worried face.

Nash saw Kai wearing a worried face as he stare at Raven at the center of the testing grounds.

“That sword stance is awfully similar to yours, by any chance are the elves teaching humans their sword stance? You look awfully worried about something.” Nash said with a cold voice.

[This guy, he’s really observant in some things huh? Was he observing me that much as well?] Kai thought as he moved his eyes towards Nash. “You even know the similarities with our sword stance? I can’t tell you the details but there is something that you got wrong. We elves don’t give out our sword stances to the humans. I do not know how he got or learned that but it’s quite refreshing to see that a human has even the confidence to use our sword stance.” Kai said as he turned to his serious face. “I am pretty alright about it but if my father were to see this, I do not know what things he will do. He is pretty known for his stubbornness within our family you know.” He added as he returns to his casual expression.

[I knew it, so there is something mysterious about that guy? It was odd enough for something like an elven sword stance to be in the hands of a human but his incredible mana aura is pretty odd as well.] “I heard a little about it from my father.” Nash said as he glance at Kai.

“So you are talking with your family. I always thought about how you would talk with your family since you are that quiet and doesn’t always talk even with us that much. So I think that you are the type of guy that is just waking up not saying a thing and leave the house for the academy without a word.” Kai said while flashing a smile.

[What does this guy think I am, a statue that doesn’t have a mouth to speak?] he thought as he averted his eyes. “I have my needs as well.” He said with a cold tone.

Kai displays a smile as soon as he heard the words that left Nash’s mouth.

[I have my own needs huh? Well, we are all mortals I guess.] he told himself as he look at Raven.

At that time the other elves and Cassiopeia are looking at Raven with awe and confusion.

“Why is that human using an elven sword stance?” an elf said to the other elves beside him.

“I know right? Maybe he is just bluffing. No way he can execute that well.” Another one added.

[Why does Raven knows that sword stance? My people are the only ones who knew of this sword stance and it is only taught in the royal family. There are no news about elves teaching humans any sword stance, is it possible that he learns it from a different source?] Cassiopeia thought as she stare intensely at Raven’s back.

“Look at Cassiopeia, isn’t she staring at Raven for quite some time now?” one of Kate’s friend whispered to Kate and the others.

[What is going on in her head?] Kate thought as he glance at Cassiopeia.

[Should I really use this stance? This is the worst stance that I can use since I don’t really use it in a test unless there is a real target in front of me that is moving as well. And this sword stance is the least comfortable for me, Aranx told me that it is mainly used for slaying demons with a swift execution.] Raven thought as sweat ran down his chin.

[What is taking Raven so long?] Instructor Edward thought as he started to worry that something is wrong.

[Is something wrong? Why is the new student not moving? Is he used to hold a sword in front of an enemy? Was he trained that way?] Instructor Andrew thought as he swallow his spit.

“What is taking him so long?”

“It’s just a test and he can’t make up his mind?”

The other students are starting to get irritated by his long stall in the test.

[They are really impatient. They are taking this test lightly, given Raven’s situation based on Nyx’s investigation. He did not get to study just until recently so this guess is far-fetched but I think he is taking this test pretty seriously.] Caisein thought as he glance at the irritated students around him.

[What is holding the bearer back?] Nyx thought as he look at Raven with a worried expression.

[I knew it, this stance is not the appropriate one to use in this situation.] he thought as he return to his standing position and walks slowly at Instructor Edward.

“What is the problem? You feel uncomfortable?” Instructor Edward asked with a concerned face.

“No sir, I was just wondering if that dummy target over there is the only thing that I should hit. I was thinking if-“

Instructor Edward’s eye widen as he heard what Raven said and hurriedly ran towards instructor Andrew with sweat breaking out in his face.

[Is he serious about that?] he thought as approaches Instructor Andrew. “Instructor!” he shouts with a nervous voice.

“Instructor Edward, perfect timing. What is holding your student so long? The other students are getting impatient. I received a word that the family heads are watching now as well. We don’t want to make them impatient as well.” He said with an irritated face.

“That is the thing, the student was wondering if-“

Instructor Andrew’s eyes widen as Edward relays Raven’s request.

“Is he serious?” he asked with a nervous expression.

Instructor Edward nodded his head in answer to Instructor Andrew’s question. Immediately after seeing the response of instructor Edward, instructor Andrew walk towards the center of the testing grounds.

“What is Instructor Andrew doing there? Was there a mistake, a trouble maybe?”

“I think there is something wrong.”

The students murmured at each other after seeing the head instructor to step in the center of the testing grounds himself.

[What is this student thinking? To make a request like this, this is a first in all my years attending the academy.] he thought as he extends his hands.

“Summon: Sand Guardian of the Hundred blades.” He chants with a nervous tone.

*TSSSSSHHHHH!*

Instantly the ground shake as the sand on the floor rose and formed a figure with six and each holding a large blade.

The sand turned into a hard stone that glimmers in smoothness, a golem that is controlled by the user effective against mana manipulators.

[This is the strongest summon I can do as of the moment, I just can’t reveal my trump card this easily.] Instructor Andrew thought as he stares at Raven.

“Hmmmm, did the instructor decided to put a little difficulty for this year’s test? If I remember correctly that is the spell that is used by a certain family that specializes in summoning. That specific spell is the reason that their family survived three hundred years ago while protecting the civilians. To think that they would even think of using it in this kind of thing, for them to use that. They must think that we must show the family heads your progress.” Gilbert said with a stern expression.

“I thought so as well, my grandfather always talk about the golem in the stories from the war. He may not have lived in that time but the events passed down to generations still continues.” Rowan agrees with a smile in his face.

“We, humans are happy to know that you acknowledge the hard work of our ancestors.” Neon Quas said with a cold face.

The other family heads look at him with a blank expression.

[You don’t look that grateful though.] all of them thought as Neon noticed them glancing at him that made him look away from them.

[How am I supposed to react while saying those things? I was born with this face and voice! If you have any complaints tell those to my parents!] he cried internally.

“They decided to make this year’s test a little hard huh?” as student said with a smile in his face.

“The new student just have to be the first person to experience the fierce of that summon, I heard stories about it from my parents.” A student added.

“What are the instructors thinking?” Kai mumbled in confusion.

Nash glance at Kai after saying his thought then turns to the center of the testing grounds.

[Why indeed.] he thought as he observes the instructor walk away from the center.

“Why did instructor Andrew bring forth his summon at that caliber? Isn’t that an overkill? It doesn’t matter if that guy is very good at mana manipulation, this test is a test of physical abilities. A student is not allowed to use one’s mana manipulation abilities.” One of Thomas’ friends said out loud.

“It’s a pity, he just had to face that summon in his first time.” Kate’s friend said as she covers her mouth.

[What are the instructors thinking? No matter how you look at it summoning that thing is just too much.] Cassiopeia thought as she stare at Raven with a concerned face.

[I’m not sure what is happening but let’s try to hear what the glasses guy think.] Kate thought as she slowly walks near the student with the glasses.

“What do you think happened why Instructor Andrew decided to pull out his summon?” a demi-human student asks the student with the glasses.

The student with glasses is wearing his serious face when another student wants to hear what he thinks of the situation. Then suddenly his hand moves to touch his glasses and adjust it.

“This may be a hunch but I think Raven requested it from the instructor.” He said with a serious tone.

The other students were shocked when he said what is in his head.

“That’s impossible, no one in their right mind would ask an instructor to have a golem that is part of history for an opponent.” A student complained.

“He is right.” A student supported.

His answer cause an uproar and caught the attention of other students.

“It’s just a wild guess, I did not hear what he said to instructor Edward just like everyone of you. But if you put the time into account, the head instructor only summoned that golem the moment after raven said something to instructor Edward. When instructor Edward ran earlier, I caught a glimpse of his face. It was a face of someone terrified, even the head instructor had the same expression after instructor Edward said something to him. Raven was already in a sword stance earlier right? I think he is hesitating earlier since he thinks that the test dummy is not even alive and can only receive damage. I think he thinks that the dummy earlier is not even a challenge and wants a moving target. If I were in his shoes I would do the same thing. In a battle there is no enemy that will stand still in a battlefield, that only shows that he is earnest and not taking the lessons in the academy lightly like everyone else.” He said as the heat in his body started to cloud his glasses.

The other who is listening to him were blown away by his guess.

[His theory might be right, I find it odd as well. Why instructor Edward ran and the delay, there are some on point in his theory. But the only way to know what really happened is to wait for instructor Edward to tell us.] Kate thought as she covers her mouth and tries to figure out the situation.

“I know it’s absurd, but that is the only thing I can think of.” He said as he turns his head towards Raven.

The other students also turns their heads towards Raven as he walks in inside the center of the testing grounds.

[That purple head, is he insane? If that guy is the person who Kai meant then we could-] Blake Lenus thought as took a bite in his apple.

[The summon is a bit lacking in mobility and power. I think instructor Andrew did want to reveal his strongest summon to the public. I understand that bu-] Raven thought as he licks the corners of his lips and smiles ominously.

“Instructor Andrew.” He called out the instructors behind him.

“Yes?” Instructor Andrew asked.

“Can I do anything I want without using any mana manipulation?” he asked.

[What is this student planning?] “Of course. That is the whole point of the physical test.” He answered a whim.

“That’s a relief.” Raven said as he slightly turns his head towards the instructor.

*PSSSHHHHK!*