Chapter 14
2440 Words
"Thank the gods you managed to get through your immersion without any problems whatsoever!"
I looked around and saw our adviser heaving a sigh of absolute relief when she saw us arriving at the Zephyrant train station in the afternoon.
"Still pessimistic as ever, Ms Peregrin..."
Our young teacher looked behind her, and she saw Ms Lunalla standing besides Taurei and Lovely, who are double-checking their baggage.
"Well, you can blame me Ms Senella. These students, your children included, defeated a raging hydra, caused a cave-in and managed to get themselves in the past before getting back while the whole time, I thought they all just died off!"
Gala smiled carefully as she handed over a folder containing hers, Eonia and Syden's report for our immersion, "Technically speaking, it is Taurei who defeated that raging Hydra. It was already a gigantic smoking husk when we arrived. But who cares about details? After all, it is our class who did it all and some in the eyes of other classes and the rest of Gearth anyways."
"More like we got lost in some random frozen hinterlands for five whole days comically without finding our way back at all despite having the children of the god of lightning and the goddess of rabies with us. We are already as infamous as is so no use moaning about it, Gala," Eonia said as she patted the back of the daughter of Athena and looked at Syden to follow up their reports to our formidable adviser who is seriously reading the contents of the folder.
The son of Koalemos walked towards Ms Peregrine, but before he can say a single word, she already closed the folder and slammed it on his chest, "Too many details, evidence and follow-up reports. Reminds me of Ms Villiers' mind wrecking research papers. This will do, Mr Villier."
Syden just looked at our class leaders as they nodded and shrugged their shoulders while the daughter of Hebe let Ms Lunalla cling on her arm as they go to the direction where my cousin and I are standing.
"I still can't believe that you are a president now," Ms Peregrine said with utter disbelief that made our host sigh exasperatedly and inclined his head, "Are you that traumatized?"
"I guess you could say that I am. But please, Ms Peregrine. Let's not dig ourselves our graves any deeper if we continue talking about it."
"Good point, even I can't handle her wrath once she gets started," our adviser agreed as she looked at Morris and me, "Looks well fed and rested. Thankfully, your live televised appearance went smoothly, and I got a lot of commendations from the school administration on how you two carried yourself with class and dignity. Surviving that blast is also worthy of note. Carry on."
"Safe, Morris."
"Thankfully, Vivet."
We stepped back as she proceeds to Zenith and Avesa, helping their brother carry his bags full of souvenirs and Anoixian delicacies.
"I received a letter of recommendation from the newlyweds stating that they are impressed and satisfied with your handling of their ceremony. Good, because those two are the heirs of the most influential and old business dynasties in the republic," she reported to the High Priestess and her successor that made them sigh in relief as our teacher raised an eyebrow at her favourite student, "Have mercy on your bags, Mr Pavonius. They are already bursting at the seams. Anyways, you, Ms Regis and Ms Wilkins are being offered a full-time position in the Department of Luxury after graduation for the successful campaign that you have led on its behalf that saw more than a four-digit percentage increase in advanced bookings from would-be tourists worldwide."
She then nodded at Rebie who is casually sitting on her bulging bag that is close to exploding as Narcine is trying to preserve the flowers she has bought for our garden in one of the famous flower farms of Anoixi.
Finally, she arrived behind Vaski, Estelle and Asher who is talking to the smiling Secretary of the Department of Information giving them what seemed to be several pictures that made the three happy and in the case of Aphrodite's daughter, screamed in delight.
"No problems, I hope?"
The Secretary bowed respectfully at our adviser and shook his head, "Actually there is Ms Peregrine. They are already leaving, and that is the problem. Between His Highness' knack for governance, Mr Dwight's expertise in tracking and Ms Esmeralda's unconventional ways of getting normally impossible to get data, they will surely be missed by our department."
"Oh, I know what you mean. The Department of Luxury was saying the same thing when I received the call from your counterpart there."
"The way you divide them personally depending on their strengths is quite nostalgic as you did the same to our class during my time back at the Hellenic Citadel. Why, how many decades has it been? You are still as young as ever, Ms Peregrine."
Our adviser laughed happily as she waved the secretary goodbye and returned to where we were standing and looked around her quietly.
"Reminiscing, Ms Peregrine?"
"I am, Mr Axiopisto. This place, no, this country is where I fled when Mr Pavonius here ordered me to save myself with nothing but his annoying tone and a bag of gummy worms," she answered thoughtfully as we heard her voice soften as memories of the past flooded in her mind.
The president looked at my classmates and me and taking a deep breath, "To think that this class has travelled back at your time and managed to save you is quite a surprising revelation."
"It is. I hope you are not slacking with your work, Mr Axiopisto. We need all the help of the world leaders so there will be no take two of what happened to me back then. I am not going to flee for my life again, you hear?"
The President of the Republic of Anoixi nodded thoughtfully as we heard the announcement that the train bound for Aurapolis is going to arrive soon. Our adviser began herding us to prepare for departure.
"I don't even know how to start thanking you two for everything you have done for me..."
Morris and I looked back at the proud president as he messed our hairs fondly.
"You didn't teach my son civility, and you teach him how to be human. You teach him more than I can ever dare to do. If there is anything that I can do to assist you in the future, then don't hesitate to give a call to the Office of the President. Irene is damned, and I will be there should the need arises..."
My cousin smiled at him as he respectfully bowed at him and began walking away with our baggage, "I will certainly remember that Mr Atomo. I will also never forget the warm hospitality that you, Jeeves, Seola and Tina have shown us. See you, Your Excellency."
And with that, he proceeds to join our waiting classmates as I respectfully bow as well, "Ms Irene will hear nothing but praises when she asks me about my time here with you, Mr Atomo. Seola, Tina and Jeeves are just as welcoming as you are and I do hope in the future that Morris and I will have the chance to stay with you all again."
He nodded and smiled at me before waving me off goodbye.
I turned around and began walking away from him until I heard our host's voice.
"He is never good at goodbyes, Vivet. You heard him, right? Time is selfish. It is excruciating for it to let go what it considers it's own..."
I nodded and continued walking as I try to hold back my tears as I felt that I am leaving my heart behind in the Republic of Anoixi.
"Don't worry, Vivet. You two will meet again.
"I know, Morris. I know..."
-0-
"Thirty percent?!"
Our adviser nodded as she slammed her class record at her table in annoyance.
"Yes, Mr Pavonious, you heard that right. Thirty percent only more or less. We are still at the bottom of the class food chain and the way it is going if you all don't perform well during the coming Hellenic Elemental Cup then it is not only the class food chain that we will be at the bottom of but also of everyone's jokes."
Eonia heaved a disgruntled sigh as she closes her eyes in disbelief, "After all that we have done in the republic, and it only amounts to just thirty percent?"
"I was expecting at least a little more than fifty percent myself Eonia. Between Morris and Vivet's outstanding performance and Taurei, Rebie and Narcine's accomplishments at the Department of Luxury, I am quite sure that it is well over forty percent at the very least. It's just not adding up!" the daughter of Athena moaned, and Estelle nodded in agreement.
"Of course it is not adding up, Ms Alchimea because it's the advisers of other sections who are grading an accumulative performance percentage. Even if the Headmistress and Deputy-Headmaster gave your class a solid ninety percent apiece for your immersion at the republic, compared to the seventy on your last immersion back at the magistracy, it wouldn't do anything damn good if the other twelve advisers gave Auxiliary Class with twenty percent in the highest."
Asher roared in anger as he slammed his hand, angrily at his desk, "Hey! That's already cheating! No fair!"
"I have to agree with Asher here, that is cheating, but to do it out in the open is just something else," Rebie agreed as Narcine looks scandalized by what we just heard while Taurei is just shaking his head slowly in disbelief.
"And that's after I gave other sections with nothing lower than eighty even if they are not worth it just because I don't want to descend on their petty level, really!" our adviser griped as she just sat on her chair in exhaustion, "If we want to come up to the top, we have to finish first at the Hellenic Elemental Cup."
"That's a rather tall order since every student from other first-year sections is out to get us all," Syden said worriedly as Vaski nodded in agreement.
"True. That and I heard from other students that they wouldn't let our class even to win once. Not if they can help it."
Zenith looked at the son of Poseidon and furrowed his brows, "That sounds fishy. Are they planning to do something illegal to make sure we don't score even a notch?"
"Maybe it's like the entrance examination, Zen? Remember, don't get caught?" Taurei asked that made his twin sister raise an eyebrow.
"So basically they can all just gang up on us even before the Cup starts, and it doesn't matter if it's cheating already as long as no one from the school's administration gets wind of it?"
Morris nodded in agreement, "I have a feeling that that's the case, Avesa. Expect underhanded attacks and scheme coming our way. We have a powerhouse line-up, except Vivet, and they have all the reason to sabotage us all."
"Too true, Morris. They know that I am useless when it comes to a one on one battle, so I am pretty sure that I won't be a target of their attacks at all," I agreed as I looked at my friends with utmost worry, "However, I don't know about the rest of you."
Suddenly, Gala and Eonia called my attention, "Actually Vivet, since you won't be on the receiving end of their underhanded tactics, why don't you protect us all instead?"
"Wait. What?"
Gala nodded at Eonia's suggestion, "If I recall correctly during your battle against Vaski and Zenith, Morris here summoned hundreds upon hundreds of living statues that you somewhat endowed with your radiance."
"Ah, yes! I remembered that! Those creepy statues are so darn hard to destroy and need to be blasted to dust to make sure it is no longer moving, right, Zenith?"
"Annoying they are, Vaski. A single lightning strike is not enough to even scratch them. Not with those orbs of light protecting them. Wait a minute..."
Morris and I remembered exactly what they are all talking about back then. The translucent light barrier was surrounding the terracotta statues.
The daughter of Persephone grinned slyly as she looked at our adviser who is starting to get what is going on, "It is not exactly cheating if we defend ourselves, right?"
"No, Ms Regis..."
"And not cheating if our dear friend, Vivet, who also happened to be the daughter of the goddess of hope, love us so much she wants us protected "all" the time, right?"
"No, Mr Pavonious..."
Amphitrite's daughter looked at me and nodded pointedly, "You know what to do, Vivet."
I finally get what they are saying, so I stand up from my seat and face all of my dear friends who are looking up to me expectantly.
"Can you do it without summoning your wings, Vivet?"
"I think I can, Morris. Those three taught us how right?"
"Then light 'em up, cousin!"
I spread my arms and opened my hands as I summoned the mayflies of my mother from inside me, "Elpis: Gracious Pinion!"
The sacred animal of my mother engulfed my classmates. After a few seconds, they dispersed, leaving behind them an ethereal and translucent barrier of light that shined once before disappearing.
"Wow! I can't see it, but I know it is surrounding me, protecting me!" Estelle said excitedly as she hugged herself as if she never felt safe this way before.
"Right you are, Est! So this is the power of protection by the goddess of hope. Amazing," her boyfriend agreed as he gave me a thumbs up.
I nodded but left a dire warning to all of them before I retake my seat, "As you already well know, that barrier is not infallible. It can easily be breached if a powerful enough force hits it or a concentrated attack managed to overwhelm it. I insist that you don't think of it as an absolute defence but rather, an early warning device that can alert and shield you all against a sneak attack and give you all a chance to flee or defend yourself."
"Duly noted, Vivet," Avesa nodded as she looked around us after I took a seat, "So, during our immersion, we have made a line up on the succession of players that will represent our cup from start to finish. Shall we also talk about that now, everyone?"
Eonia and Gala stood up with the permission of our adviser who is starting to see a sliver of hope for us all, "You know what, Avesa? Lets. Gala, let's get make a few adjustments to our list. The cheating and scheming part is a gamechanger."
"Gamechanger indeed, Eonia. Let's get to it, Auxiliary Class!"
We all cheered as our class leaders step forward and take the help of our section once more.
- Writer
