Chapter 26: Suggestion

An awkward mood was swirling around the office. The students just couldn't understand Rimbrad's sense of humor, it was unusual. Rimbrad was smiling, shaking his head here and there while giving everyone a look. It was creepy.

"Are you okay Principal Rimbrad?" Bastion asks with an unsure look on his face.

Rimbrad waved a hand over his face. "I am fine Bastion. Eliana I have found a way to pull you out from the usual training." He informed, his mood shifted as quick as a snap from a finger.

"What is it?" Eliana asks. The others were listening intently.

"As I recall your Assessment Ranking score is of the lowest. There has been a history of special training conducted by the Ethereal Seven to the other students. As of now you are the lowest of low in the Academy Eliana. That position alone can be a reason for you to receive such training from these young talents here." He pointed at the Seven.

Eliana scanned her eyes at them before replying to Rimbrad. "That works, when will it be effective?"

"Immediately, you can even train now if you want." Rimbrad chuckled, they all gave him a look making him stop. "But that can wait of course hahahaha! Mind you students, I expect you to take this training seriously. I shall need a teacher to help you Eliana one less person to tell will not hurt if it's for your improvement."

"Thank you." Eliana said.

"It is not necessary to be mentioned, I apologize for this dear." Rimbrad said he was truly apologetic about the troubles they've caused her.

The others nodded agreeing with Rimbrad. Emery just huffed when her eyes met with Eliana, she looked away but did not say anything. Eliana took it as a civil apology. Kylon smiled sheepishly at her. Zathur gave her a look of approval. The two cousins and Bastion smiled widely.

As Eliana took a good look at them, her eyes rested on the first ranker longer than it should have. He gave her a subtle nod making her smile a little from his almost unnoticeable gesture.

"Eliana, we can train later." Larsanel beamed. Her eyes sparkled, the excitement was oozing.

Eliana's eyes widened from her suggestion. "Oh, that could work." Her smile failed to hide her nervousness.

"That sounds great. I'll watch." Jett chimed.

"I'll be there as well." Bastion joined as well.

Eliana looked at the others. Their expressions were unreadable, though Emery was frowning. She mentally sighed in relief, it was good that only three were going to watch her train later.

"Sounds absolutely splendid my dear students." Rimbrad spoke. "Now you can all leave before I pull another all night work here in my office like the last time you all have visited."

Eliana smiled from the shade of Rimbrad's words. They seem to be human in a way alright. They all left before Rimbrad could give another sarcastic remark.

As they stood outside, none of them move to leave yet not even the higher rankers. They were quiet for a while standing idly along the empty hall way. Classes were already resuming, but they didn't seem to mind.

Eliana scanned her eyes around the Seven, even Larsanel was staring through an empty space. She thoughtfully shrugged to herself before approaching Jett who seemed to be more conscious than the rest.

"Jett, I'll go now. I'll see you later." She smiled.

Jett whipped his attention to Eliana, startled by her sudden approach. "I look forward to that Eliana." He replied smiling sheepishly while scratching the back of his head.

Eliana wasted no seconds and left the Seven lost in their own thoughts. Whatever they were thinking, it was none of her business. Her mind at the moment was filled with uneasiness about whatever is to happen later.

Soon enough, the time went by like a flash. As the day was almost nearing its end, Eliana grew wary as it does. By the time the rest of her classes ended, which were mostly more on introduction, she immediately left.

She changed into a more comfortable clothes, a white plain shirt and brown oversized pants. The fashion in Praediti is of that a Victorian style. She brought all the necessary things she could think at the top of her head. Towel, water, an extra shirt and a clean bandage all tucked in a small bag.

She was still new to this Knight training game. It would be an experience to her. And hopefully Larsanel would go easy on her, considering her as an amateur barely even close to lethal.

As she made her way down at the dorm lobby a couple of girls were swarming outside near the entrance. She ignored it at first, she wouldn't want to be late on her first day of training.

"Hey, Eliana."

She halted on her tracks when a random girl clutched her shoulders. Eliana looked over to her shoulders. The familiar face of the girl escalated quickly in Eliana's mind.

"Oh, Aura right?" She sounded unsure.

Aura smiled. "That's me. You're dress up rather too comfortably for an afternoon walk. Where are you going?"

Eliana gave herself a second look wondering what was wrong with the clothes she wore. "I'm heading off to train not an afternoon walk." She awkwardly laughed.

Aura didn't seem to ride her humor as the girl just gave her a blank look. After a few seconds, Aura smiled sweetly. "I see. I didn't think you were a hard working girl Eliana. When you first came in, you looked really frail. I wish you luck on your training." Her smile was wider after she said those words.

Eliana felt something unusual from Aura but she ignored it, she didn't want to judge a character after a few interactions.

Aura waved her goodbye without another word, smiling sweetly as she climbed up the stairs to her dorm room.

Eliana heaved out a sigh of relief. She was still nervous about revealing her training with the Seven. The Seven was obviously widely known in the school. Her plan was to keep things low and private, away from prying gossipers.

"Eliana! You're right on time." Larsanel greeted as soon as the door opened.

"That's great." Eliana mustered a smile hoping to conceal her nervousness.

Larsanel opened the door wider gesturing Eliana to come in. Eliana did so, as she walked inside she found the other Ethereals lounging around the living area. Jett was talking with Zathur on the couch and Emery was on the single couch wiping her dagger clean. Eliana stood inspecting the noticeably spacious room unlike the last time she came. Anzai, Kylon and Bastion were nowhere to be seen. Larsanel arrived at her side.

"Why are you standing here? Let's go at the back." Lars said.

"Bring her there, make her understand how this place is nothing close to her level." Emery said amidst her cleaning.

Eliana frowned a little. 'She didn't have to say it out loud.' She thought.

Jettam and Zathur finally notices her arrival. Jettam stood from his seat and walked forth towards the back door. Zathur stood as well. Jett looked over his shoulder meeting Eliana's eyes.

"Let's go Elliana." He smiled.

Eliana nodded. "Sure."

Jettam resumed walking with both of his hands behind his head. Zathur walked towards the side of the couch waiting for the two girls to pass by so he could match their speed together.

Larsanel huffed at Jett's retreating figure. She circled her arms around Eliana's and they walked.

Zathur stared at Emery who didn't care about their presence. "Are you not coming?" He asked.

Emery was silent for a second before releasing out an annoyed groan. She stood up leaving the towel she used to clean behind above the table. She played with the dagger in one hand spinning it in circles walking ahead to exit at the back door.

Shortly, Eliana and Larsanel caught up with Zathur along the way. Zathur matched with their pace.

"Where are the others?" Eliana couldn't help but ask.

"They are at the back, training." Zathur answered.

"I see." Eliana felt excitement. The possibility of seeing a few of the Seven in action was a sight she wanted to see.

Lars rapidly shook her head with an anxious expression on her face. "I hope they don't get too violent like the last time." She shivered.

Eliana stared at her in wonder. The first time she fought with Larsanel, Lars wasn't noticeably violent. In fact the girl didn't even break a sweat unlike her. The gap between Larsanel and hers was astonishingly large. Eliana couldn't help but feel anxious as well, Larsanel was contagious.

Zathur rubbed his forehead, sighing heavily. "Larsanel, fighting is violent. It is natural." He emphasized.

Lars pouted with a loud huff. "I just don't want them to get carried away with their pride." She crossed her arms making Eliana cringe at the sudden squeeze, her arms still circled around Larsanel's.

"It's inevitable. The sense of advancing is naturally instilled the moment we join the Ethereal Ranks. Aiming to defeat a higher rank and succeed to it can speak more about your ability." Zathur had a serious expression on his face.

Eliana gave him a short glance, he was thoughtfully engaged in the topic.

"Which means, if you successfully attain a rank above you, it would leave an impression of how powerful you are seeing you have successfully earned two ranks. Is that right?" Eliana said.

Zathur nodded. "Yes. This is why the Ethereals are not complacent, we train as much as we can if we have the chance. Any time, the position can be stripped away from us if we're not ready for a duel."

So even within The Ethereal Seven have this ability inferiority.

Eliana couldn't help but feel amazed by the Seven. It made her think how big of a deal power in Praediti must be. But then again, Praediti is a world of abilities and such, of course the root course of their hierarchy must be it.

"I don't want to say your wrong." Larsanel sighed. "You're right Zath! Just don't hurt yourselves in training. The least I want to see is a bloody ranker." She pouted. Larsanel was always the soft girl, albeit her demeanor is of all the good things- her skills in the battle field are quite the opposite. She is All Terra's wolfsbane.

Eliana smiled at her patting her arm as an assurance, Lars is such a good person.

As they already have passed through the door, they continued walking turning to a corner. The training garden was located at the side of their building. The place looked beautiful, a cottagecore with purple and white anemone flowers. Daisies scattered at the sides, circling the grassy middle of the garden.

Eliana found herself staring caught of guard at the two figures fighting inside the garden's center.

The second ranker and seventh ranker were fighting, intensely she might add.