The next day, I return to the clinic to let Doctor Ellyn does her regular check-up. This time, I am accompanied by Farris. He says he wants to tag along, learning how to tend wounds from the expert, and by expert he meant Doctor Ellyn. She is the Master of Alchemy in ASAC by the way, but she is more focused on tending the patients than teaching.
"I heard you're included in the spec ops. You must be talented in their eyes for choosing you to join," she says. I feel my face slightly reddened, but I suppress it.
"Ah, no. I also don't know exactly why I am chosen," I let out a nervous and sh laugh. I can see yFarris slightly chuckles at the corner, "Don't lie," he says with low voice.
"Oh, wait. Who do you mean by 'them"?" I try to change the topic.
"I'm referring to Sir Palladion and Lady Senna of course. They're the seconds-in-charge of ths school beside the principal himself," she further explains, "They've been handling the spec ops' members since the First Generation. Those people who stood behind Sir Palladion yesterday, are in fact the previous spec ops. Now they're mostly involved with the capital city's business, but yesterday they came to look at the chosen spec ops members, out of curiosity maybe."
"I see," I nods. That's some good information.
"Okay, you're done for today. Don't you two have a class to catch up this morning?"
"Yes, we'll be on our way now," Farris responds, "Thank you Doctor, for the 'exhibition"."
"You're welcome to watch and learn anytime," Doctor Ellyn replies with a warm smile.
Both of us leave the clinic and walk to our first class on that day. The special class is going to beheld in the evening once all the classes are over. But for this, Farris is not allowed to come since he is not chosen. I have a slight guilty feeling toward him though.
"Hope you'll do well on your special class later," Farris breaks the silence,
"Well, thanks. You too, hope you'll do well for the next Examination," I reply, "I heard that the next Examination will be held individually.. To ensure everyone are tested fairly,"
"That's seem to be the case. I wondered actually, whether there will actually be the chance for us to join the spec ops. I mean, hearing Doctor Ellyn just now left me questioned, there are only four spec ops members from the previous gen appeared yesterday. Then, where are the others?"
"You're right," I agree with him, "The rest did indeed might not be able to attend the ceremony yesterday, or... "
"Only four are chosen," Farris finishes, "Or they have died during a mission? Who knows,"
That's a nice argument. I think I should ask the others during the class later on.
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That evening, me and Farris go separate ways. He returns to his dorm, while I am waiting by the lecture hall for the so-called 'special' class. The rest of the chosen students have not yet to come. I decide to take a seat by a desk and to rest my eyes.
Around five minutes later, Richmond come into the hall, along with Roland.
"There he is," Roland exclaims while points at me, "Have activated the 'Master Mode', haven't we?"
"Let him alone, Roland. Don't you see? He is trying to sleep," Richmond whispers, "Oh, but he's awake now, I guess,"
"Hey there guys," I move to them and proceed to give a high-five, which they receive it.
"You've received quite a trashing in the last battle. Can't say I agree with that," Richmond speaks in a rather disappointed tone, "Anyway, if not for that, you wouldn't be here with us," and they proceed to have seats beside mine.
"Richmond is right. I'm afraid that, the last duel of yours... was a setup to awaken your Master Mode," Roland adds, "Tell me, what happened just before you activated it? Do you remember?"
They got a point. "Well, I got the thinking, that I don't want to lose and suddenly I felt my blood boils with anger.. Perhaps that is,"
"Rage," both of them concludes almost simultaneously.
As we are discussing, Castille comes along. Looks like he's not alone. He brings along Lunya, Jehanette, and Tess.
"Well, well, well. Bringing the girls all along, aren't you?" Roland jokes, and all of us bursts with a short chuckle, "Oh, shut up Roland. I just met them along the way, that's all," Castille looks annoyed.
Ten minutes later, the room is now filled with the ten students who are chosen to join the spec ops, waiting for their first 'special' class. Suddenly, a silhouette figure appear in the room, as if a shadow passed by. It's Lady Senna, the Master Wizard. The way he appeared remind me with how she did the same during the meeting at night last few months.
"I've told you that the previous Examination is a good way to awaken your potential. And it seems I'm right about the theory, and wrong in terms of the number," she speaks in a calm and refined demeanor as if a wizard and an instructor would be. I guess she might be referring about the additional students who managed to display their feats and therefore, included within the spec ops.
"But never mind that," she continues to ask, "Now, does anyone here know anything about the special operatives, or spec ops to be short?"
Dylan raises his hand, "The special operatives or spec ops, are a guild of higher ranked students who reports to a magic school. They receive special tasks or missions from the noblemen or the royal courts of Brighthollow and they bear the responsibility of representing their school during those missions,"
"And for that, every magic schools have their own spec ops," adds Lady Senna, "Well done, Mr. Longhorn," she looks pleased by his answer. To be honest, I haven't done any research about the spec ops until now.
"Some of you here has been meeting with me before to discuss about the red-eyes ability, now you known it as Master Mode. I've planned to meet up again with you, in the day after the Examination. But we have to wait until one of us to recover from his injuries, and so we hold the meeting today," She must be referring to me, and I'm right. She is looking at me now, and I can feel that the others' gaze are going towards me too.
"Yes, we've been waiting for you, Mr . Gregg," she declares, "Don't worry about that. The last duel was indeed a setup to ensure your Master Mode is awaken before the Exam ended,"
"Let's continue. Sir Palladion and I have been observing every battles with you in it. Our main concern is to find out who are able to activate the Master Mode, and here you are. We knew that a burst of emotion will trigger it," she collects her breath and continues, "If you recall, many of you here experienced an extreme emotion just a moment before it happened; anger, fear, sadness, despair, like that,"
"One of you, however, is different. Instead of emotion, you have a firm resolve in your skills, which enables you to activate that willingly, as all experienced users do. Isn't that right, Mr. Rallis?" All the eyes are now gazing towards Richmond. Activate it willingly, huh?
"Even more than that, some of you managed to show some evidences towards Advanced Master Mode in early stage," now she is grinning widely, "But you're going to know that later on. What matters now, is that you are going to have real lessons and training starting tomorrow. Prepare yourselves carefully. Class is dismissed."
And she vanishes into thin air, leaving no trace behind. That ends the first session of 'special' class.. We've been informed with the real meaning of spec ops, and the purpose behind the previous duels. But she didn't speak about not wanting to join, which only means that we have no choice but to comply. Everyone seems to be agree with the idea of power and fame gained from joining the spec ops though, and the idea of not joining doesn't seem to appear on anybody's mind.
