Academy days (Book 2 of IA)

[24] New support

As we gathered in our usual spot the next day, we heard the sound of heavy footsteps approaching. A new figure appeared before us. She was tall and muscular, her long red ponytail swinging behind her as she walked. Her presence seemed to fill the room with a fiery, bold, and strong energy.

"Hey, knuckle head! I heard you guys have been training for the summer games!" she exclaimed, her voice booming with excitement. She walked over to Rumble and punched him playfully on the shoulder, causing him to wince slightly.

"Ouch! Yeah, Sis, we have. Nice to see you too," Rumble replied, rubbing his shoulder and trying to hide his discomfort.

She paused for a moment before continuing, "Oh, right! I guess I got a bit carried away there. I forgot to introduce myself to all of you. I'm Kat, this knucklehead's older sister." She grinned as she drilled her fist into Rumble's head, causing him to let out a yelp of pain.

"Hey, easy on the head, sis!" Rumble exclaimed, rubbing the spot where Kat had hit him.

"Kat Ajkin, member of the Iron Justice, pilot of Scarlet Rain and former member of 300 Spartaz." Isa crossed her arms and commented.

"Bingo." Kat shot a finger gun at Isa. "And you must be Isa Seifi, also member of Iron Justice, pilot of Freelancer and former member of Knights of Pale. I didn't expect to see you in such a place." Kat said with a wide grin.

"Duty calls, that is all." Isa closed her eyes.

There seemed to be some unspoken understanding between the two women that seemed to fly by us, after a brief moment, Kat broke the silence:

"So, you guys are planning to win your way back into the IIMT, huh? Well, I'm here to help. I know a thing or two about teamwork and combat, and I'll make sure you guys are more than prepared for the games."

We all exchanged glances, each of us curious and interested in the prospect of having someone with experience on our side.

"That'd be great! We could use all the help we can get." I said enthusiastically.

Kat nodded, her grin widening. "You bet! I'll do everything I can to whip you guys into shape and help you reach the quarter finals."

Isa, ever the skeptic, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "And what's in it for you?"

Kat chuckled and shrugged nonchalantly. "Just the satisfaction of helping my little brother and his friends, of course. Plus, I wouldn't mind seeing some fresh faces in the tournament, shaking things up a bit."

Rumble grinned at his sister, clearly appreciating her support. "Thanks, sis. We really appreciate it."

"Thanks, Kat. We really appreciate your help," I said, speaking for the group.

"No problem, Kard," Kat replied, giving me a friendly pat on the back that nearly knocked me off my feet. "Now let's get down to business and start whipping you guys into shape!"

"But before that, I need to brief you all on something." Kat sat down on a tire in the center.

The rest of us sat in a circle around her, curious to hear what she will say next. Biggy the pingu waddled to the side, watching us curiously.

Rumble started the conversation. "So, Kat, since you've been in the tournaments before, what can you tell us about the student council team? They're supposed to be the strongest, right?"

Kat nodded seriously. "Yes, they are. They've won the tournament 27 consecutive years, and their members are handpicked from the most elite students in the school. They have incredible synergy, and each of them is a master of their element."

Kuro leaned in, curious. "What kind of strategies do they use? Is there a pattern to their tactics we can exploit?"

Kat thought for a moment. "Their strategies often vary depending on their opponents, but they're known for their adaptability and coordination. They're excellent at reading their opponents and adjusting their tactics on the fly. It's going to be tough to find a weakness to exploit."

Vic frowned. "So, how do we even stand a chance against them?"

"Well, to defeat your enemy, you must know your enemy." Kat crossed her legs. "Let's talk about the student council members we're going to face. Each of them is an expert in their element, and we need to be prepared for their individual strengths."

"First, there's Amare, the president of the student council. She's incredibly powerful, capable of wielding six elements. This makes her unpredictable and versatile in battle, so we'll need to be prepared for anything when facing her."

Rumble nodded, clearly impressed. "That sounds pretty intense. What about Veritas? She's the one we know best, so we should have a better idea of how to handle her."

Kat smirked. "Veritas, as you know, is a master of wind. She can create powerful gusts and even tornadoes with just a breath. But she's also very skilled in aerial combat, so don't underestimate her ability to control the battlefield."

Kuro raised an eyebrow. "What about Zeloto? I've heard he's a bit of a wild card."

Kat nodded. "Zeloto is a lightning elemental, and he's known for his shoulder blade weapons. His attacks are fast and powerful, so you'll need to be on your toes to avoid getting hit."

Vic chimed in, "And Wyndham? I've heard he's pretty impressive too."

Kat nodded again. "Wyndham is a wind elemental and wields a rapier. His precise and swift attacks, combined with his mastery of wind, make him a formidable opponent on the battlefield."

Finally, Isa asked, "What about Illyria? What's her specialty?"

Kat scratched her head. "Illyria is newcomer from what I heard, she is an ice elemental, and she wields a staff. Her control over ice is exceptional, allowing her to create a variety of ice structures and projectiles. She's also very strategic, so expect her to use her abilities in clever and unexpected ways."

As we listened to Kat's corrected descriptions of the student council members, it became clear that we were going to have our work cut out for us. But with Biggy the pingu by our side, offering an occasional encouraging squawk, we were more determined than ever to rise to the challenge and give it our all in the upcoming tournament.

As we continued our discussion, a knock on the door interrupted us. Biggy waddled over and opened it, revealing a courier holding a letter with an elegant seal. The courier handed the letter to Biggy, who then passed it to me.

I examined the seal and noticed it bore the emblem of the wind kingdom. Curious, I opened the letter and began to read aloud:

"Dear Kard, I hope this letter finds you well. I would like to extend an invitation to the academy's elemental dance ball. The dance will be held tomorrow evening at 7pm in main hall, and I look forward to sharing a pleasant meal and conversation with you. Sincerely, Veritas."

Rumble's face contorted with envy as I finished reading. "What the...? Kard gets to go to dinner with Veritas at some fancy elemental dance ball? That's not fair! Why doesn't anyone ever invite me to fancy dance ball?" he complained loudly, throwing his hands up in frustration.

"Maybe it's because you're too loud and boisterous for a refined establishment like that, Rumble." Kuro said with a slight irritation in her voice.

Kat playfully punched her brother's shoulder. "Don't be too jealous, little bro. Your time will come. Just be patient."

Vic chimed in, "Look on the bright side, Rumble. At least you don't have to worry about what to wear and how to act in a fancy dance ball."

I couldn't help but smile at their banter, but I was also feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness about the upcoming dinner with Veritas. A part of me wondered if this dinner invitation had a hidden agenda, or if it was simply a genuine gesture of friendship. There was only one way to find out.

Q: What would you wear for a dance party?