Rood was in bed, exhausted. Everyone had wanted introduced themselves, but they wanted to talk more. It was hard enough to slip away, but Rood managed. Thinking back over what happened, Rood looks over to Lidusis who was already asleep.

What a crazy day. Rood thought. But hopefully small changes like today will be helpful..."

Just then, the door screeched open, revealing a figure. It was dressed in a black robe with a blue crystal aligned on its left shoulder. Its face was hidden with a hoodie. As it advanced, it hovered above the floor. It stood over LIdusis.

"It's not far off. So...Surrender and despair. Suffer." The figure spoke down upon Lidusis. "And thus-"

Rood brought the figure down with his bed spread. Grabbing it away from Lidusis and tumbling it down.

"Who are you?" Rood asks. Noticing the figure, Rood saw the figure had no face. "What?"

The figure deliquesced and vanished, leaving nothing but Rood's cover.

      The next day, Lidusis and Rood were headed to class, receiving HIs and greetings. 

"Lidusis. Last night...Do you..." Rood couldn't finish, seeing the bewildered look on Lidusis's face. "...No. Never mind.

They got to class, walking over to their seat at the back.

"It's Rood!" Dio greeted. Then seeing Lidusis, Dio froze. "Mo-Morning to you too, Artian."

Lidusis didn't respond.

"Where's your greeting?" Rood asks.

"Morning..." Lidusis forcefully said.

Classes began and professor Baise took the student's attention. "...And prepare yourselves for the upcoming practical training preparations."

Rood tuned in during the last sentence.

Classes were now over, but Rood, Lidusis, and Dio sat in class.

"From what I hear from experienced Iduns, It's a format where we're split into teams, and then we have to try and complete a mission the professor gives us." Dio explained. "Also, the practical training tend to have teams of five. So, it shouldn't be that difficult."

"Teams, huh." Rood muttered.

An Idun walked up to Rood and the rest."Uh..Um...Hi. I...Um."

"Lin Noa." Rood called.

"My name. You know it?"

"Did you reply to Ben?" Rood asked.

Lin's face lit up. "Like i though! You were the one that delivered the letters! The letters mentioned something about a 'Brother Rood' So i was wondering..." Lin brought up a smile. "But really...Thank you for the letters!"

"Don't mention it."

"What? You know each other?" Dio interrupted."Alright! Then you're the fourth!"

"Huh?" Lin was confused. "A-Anyway. Someone heard the professor talking about how the practical training will be in the tower this time...Which is why all the professors are busy lately. I hear they're making a teleportation circle."

"There's someone who can make such  a thing here?" Rood asks.

"Professor Baise is making it." The voice came from behind Rood.

Hearing it, Rood flinched.

"Rood Chrishi." Professor Rowell said.

"...Yes?" Rood spun around slowly.

"Follow me. For a bit."

Rood releases a nervous laugh and follows professor Rowell. Professor Rowell stops in a hall, with onlookers occupying the corners, waiting to see what happens.

"Here." Professor Rowell throws Rood a practice wood-made sword. Professor Rowell removes her trench coat pulles out her sword. "Let's play for a while."

"Huh?" Rood was bewildered.

"I'm curios about your ability."

"You...You're kidding right?"

Professor Rowell walks to Rood, helping him clutch his sword. "I won't go easy, so...You better not either."

She dashed at Rood, ready to slash. Rood-instinctively-Blocks her swing, causing the wood-made sword to shatter. Professor Rowell hands Rood another practice sword.

"Here. Use your mana. It won't break that way." Professor Rowel then readies herself. "Alright. Let's resume."

"Noo!" Rood threw the sword.

Professor Rowell gave Rood a cold stare.

"Well, come on. You can't do something like this without my concern." Rood eases his panicking. "And what was up with that force? My body freezes up when I'm surprised, or I get scared and can't move properly. I thought you were trying to kill me! I'm going to turn down this sparring session."

"But you were moving so well." Professor Rowell states.

"That's 'cuz I would've died if I didn't."

"Professor Rowell!" Lapis called. He stood in front of Rood, as if shielding him. "Please ignore this kid that refuses the honor of having a private lesson with you. Also...I would like to request a sparring lesson with you."

"Denied." Professor Rowell crosses her arms and gestures at Rood behind Lapis. "Rood Chrishi. Let's move to a place without disturbance. That should be better for you as well...Right?" Professor Rowell grabs Rood's hands without consent and begins to leave. She was stopped by a tug on Rood's shirt from behind. Dio, Lin, and even Lidusis, had grabbed hold of Rood's uniform shirt. "How cheeky. You-"

"Professor. Its time for your next class." Lidusis said.

"Ye-yeah! And...Um...Rood has a weak body. So if you're too rough on him...He'll faint!" Dio added.

No one said anything for a while. But Professor Rowell resumes. "Fine. We have...Time." With that, professor Rowell turns and leaves. As she leaves, Lin, Dio, and Rood turned their attention to Lidusis.

"You came out to help me?" Rood asks Lidusis.

Lidusis never responded, but instead turns to leave.

Rood grabs Lidusis's uniform shirt before he went any further. He holds his head and closes his eyes. "Anyways...I don't know what would've happened If I had followed her." Rood smiled. "Thanks for stopping her. Dio. Lin. Lidusis. Thanks.

Lidusis turns away and lets a smile escape. Lin, Rood, and Dio froze.

"He...smiled." Rood said.

"Artian smiled!" Dio added.

  The next day, Rood, Lidusis, and Dio were waiting with the rest of the Iduns. It was the day of their practical training. 

"Ah. Why isn't the practical training in teams?" Dio asks, disappointed. "I was looking forward to it too."

"My thoughts exactly. I even prepared for it quite a bit, too." Iel walked up to Rood.

"I-Iel!" Dio called.

"I looked at the information from past years. I thought practical training would definitely be in teams...But, seeing as how it isn't, they're probably planning something special, since the training is held in the tower." Iel looked up to Rood. "I was looking forward to making the strongest team with the strongest members. What a shame...Rood Chrishi. You were number one amongst the the people i wanted to recruit."

"Ah...Really? Well, thanks." Rood wasn't sure what to say.

Rood noticed Lidusis looking into the distance. There, were a couple of Hereis. Anna Dubrev, who had long orange hair and always stuck by Chevel's side. Apparently, he had known Chevel since childhood. Then, there was Cynthia Mars, who always wore a hood over her Hereis uniform, covering her face. With them were also Chevel and Lain.

"He-Hereis?" Dio stuttered.

"Looks like the rumor that some of the Hereis were coming along for the practical training...Was true..." Iel said.

"They're coming with us?" Dio said panicking.

Lidusis stared at Chevel, nervous. Noticing the worried look on Lidusis's face, Rood took the initiated.

"There's nothing to worry about. Lidusis." Rood smiled. "The professors are here too...What could possibly happen in the tower?"

Professor Khan strove for the  student's attention. "Everyone...Please listen up. Even if you are a Hereis. You are not allowed to act alone during this practical training at the tower. Especially...Chevel Phon Hadelio. Do not forget." Professor Khan called out to Chevel.

"Yeah, yeah. I got it." Chevel pocketed his hands.

"Chevel's such a problem child." Lain added, smiling.

Chevel just looked at Lain, not saying anything.

  Dio walked alongside Rood and Lidusis. Noticing professor Rowell staring towards their direction, Dio gasped. Dio turned to Rood to deliver the warning. "Rood! Professor Rowell is-"

Rood had already left, running away from the professor. Behind him, professor Rowell had already picked up her pace, chasing after Rood, all while carrying princess Yuti in her arm.

   Lapis stood, inspecting the overly sized teleportation circle. In the middle of the circle was a blue diamonf, floating over it. It produced white flares of mana, as if signaling it was ready. As deep in thought as Lapis was, he was shaken by a bump on his shoulder.

"What?" Lapis trying to see whoever bumped into him.

"Ah...Sorry." Rood apologized.

"You're..." Lapis pursed his lips, trying to remember where he'd seen him.

Rood, wanting to blend in as much as possible to avoid professor Rowell, decided to stick with Lapis. "So...Um...What have you got there?" Rood was trying to bring up a topic.

"Oh, this." Lapis's face lit up and he knelt down before the circle, Rood doing the same. "Well, this teleportation circle is the first ever to consist of pure mana energy. According to the theory of professor Morrelei, teleportation circles are activated when ten or less mana connection points are centered within the circle."

"That's true...But aren't there exceptions as well? Especially since many new magic circles are being created nowadays." Rood theorized with Lapis.

"Ho! Right. There's been a story about transforming magic cirsles in the recent debate." Lapis smiles at Rood. "You sure know your stuff." Lapis was happy to relate to someone. "So i..." Lapis noticed a shadow on the area of the circle Lapis was inspecting. Turning back, Lapis saw professor Rowell. "Professor Rowell?" Lapis asks standing up to meet with her.

Seeing professor Rowell, Rood slid behind Lapis, holding his left arm the way a child would when hiding away from strangers behind his mother. Lapis turned and looked at Rood, finally getting what was happening.

"Don't tell me...Could it be you're still chasing after this feeble bodied child?" Lapis asks professor Rowell.

"Move." Professor Rowell commanded.

"Wait! Why are you so intent on harassing him? Why don't you just take in a healthy student like-"

"I said move."

Rood, behind Lapis, stares at the circle once more. This magic circle seems weird. Thinks Rood.

Just then, Dio, Lidusis, and Lin walked up to Rood and the overworked professor.

"Rood!" Dio called.

But Rood seemed lost, so did professor Rowell. They all stared at the immense magic circle. Minutes later, a black swirl centers the magic circle, attracting attention from all.

"Yuti!" Professor Rowell calls, holding Yuti. "Stay here." She readies her sword.

In the center was the figure Rood had encountered . Dressed in a black robe, face covered, and the blue crystal covering its right shoulder.

"Lidusis!" Rood called.

Looking at Rood, Lidusis wasn't sure what was going on. 

"...No. All of you. Don't...Separate from me." Rood commanded.

The figure stood above the circle, yet below the diamond shaped magic stone. Then, touching the magic stone, the figure absorbed every inch of mana it was producing. Using the mana, it had combined it with its dark aura, releasing a newly reformed mana that contaminated the circle. Seconds later, the circle began producing dark liquids, spurring and bubbling out. In an area of four, a spiral case began. It resembled a tornado, but small enough not to hold strong winds. It was black, and the magic stone began glittering, causing black sparks everywhere.

"Could this...Be!" Did the practical training already start?" Dio said panicking.

"I don't think that's it..." Rood answered. Then noticing the liquid on the floor, Rood inspected it. Black water? Rood thinks.

   "Rood! Don't touch something like that!" Dio yelled.

   "Professor. What's going on?" Chevel asks professor Khan.

  "I think...Something's gone wrong. First. Please escape with the rest of the students!" Professor Khan warned, in panic.

Panic now rose everywhere, and students were now struggling to leave the tower. But as unfortunate as they were, the exits were blocked before they could reach. The figure still stood above, the center of it all.

  "...Yuti. Leave with that thing." Professor Rowell gestured at Lapis.

 "Um...Professor, excuse me. But how are we supposed to get out?" lapis asks, looking at the blocked exit.

"Break it and go." professor Rowell responded. Then she glanced at Rood.

Rood stared at her and finally spoke. "Fine. I'll try breaking it."

"What? You can?" lapis asks Rood.

Rood turned to give professor Rowell a heads up. "But...Professor. The black water coming out of the teleportation circle...I think it's-"

"Professor Rowell!" Professor Khan yelled. Behind him was the figure. It seemed to be chasing him. "P-Please help! You should know I'm no good at combat!"

As the figure inched, professor Rowell Took a slash at it.