The Prize That Ignites the Fire
A dimly lit room with curtains drawn over the windows, illuminated only by a single flickering candle.
I sat there with a serious expression, fingers steepled, addressing the club executives(?).
"We've got a reason to win this club tournament now."
"We? You mean you, right?"
"That's not the point. Check this out."
-Heh, hehehehe…
Eodukshini, who'd been secretly feeding us intel, grinned slyly.
The executives looked puzzled as they checked the info.
Just like us, they widened their eyes at the sight of the stunning beach and massive hotel.
"Th-this is…!"
"That's the prize for winning the club showdown at the summer festival."
Scraaaape!
Ash leaped up, shoving her chair back roughly, her eyes sparkling.
"Vacation! A date with Eugene!"
"Date! Vacation!"
"Sun! Beach! Tan lines!"
Jenella and Adria were just as hyped, each shouting their own fantasies.
I watched them with a satisfied smile.
Yeah. So you all wanted this too, huh?
"But Eugene."
"?"
"No matter who wins, if it's tickets for 3-4 people, couldn't any of us just take whoever?"
"Huh?"
Wait, what? Adria?
"And with how many members the club has, you think we can perfectly pair up into groups of 3-4?"
"Uh… I dunno either…"
"So even if we win, it'll probably be the top 3-4 contributors who go, or maybe a majority vote… something like that."
"Doesn't matter."
"?"
"Strength conquers all!"
"What era do you think this is, the age of swords?"
"Ahem."
Adria shot me a pitiful look before slyly snatching the materials.
"Anyway, let's make a bet."
"?"
"Whoever leads the club to victory basically gets to take us all, right? So that person becomes the boss!"
Adria's silver eyes sparkled mischievously.
"On that day, we grant the winner's wish! How's that?"
Ooh, nice. I pictured Adria in some ridiculous costume or mask.
Perfect.
I'll make her wear a mascot head in the midsummer heat. Heh heh.
"…But will this school really let us go?"
Jenella suddenly piped up.
"Huh?"
"If they're giving this out, exams will probably be over by then. You think Sky Academy will just let us goof off after exams…?"
"…"
The mood chilled instantly. The candle flickered out with a pfft.
I flicked on the light right next to me.
Adria, unnerved by Jenella's words, tried to cling to hope.
"…Even this academy won't cram us during break time. They couldn't send us otherwise… right…?"
"…What if it's restricted to 'summer break only'?"
Chills!
I felt goosebumps ripple across my skin.
Nah, no way.
No school would pull that, right?
If they have any conscience!
Wednesday lunch, club time.
"Alright, you scrubs. Everyone here?"
I lounged in the chair Mosik had fetched, bokken slung over my shoulder.
Normally, no one would show (except the slackers), but today, full attendance.
I patted the arm of the student standing beside me.
"Good work."
"Th-thank you…"
The kid's legs were trembling.
Not scared of me—just finished working out with Mosik minutes, seconds ago.
The club members watched in disbelief. The burliest second-year stepped forward.
"Ha… Who the hell are you? I was resting—why'd you call me out, you cocky—"
Thwack!
I smashed the bokken right into his head. Name? Uh… whatever.
Doesn't matter.
My rod of justice doesn't care about status.
"Listen up. Anyone who opens their mouth without my permission gets smacked. Got it?"
"You cocky—"
Thwack!
"You rude—"
Thwack!!
"Any more challengers?"
"…"
The second-years who'd charged me were all sprawled out, bokken dents in their skulls.
I grinned at the students shivering like sea anemones.
"No more?"
"…"
"Starting today, special training. Heard you're all such devoted sons?"
I lit up with fervor.
"I'll light a real fire under you."
"…"
"No response?"
Thwack!
I demonstrated on a kid stirring back to life.
Oof, second-year senior.
What a plump head~
"Y-you said not to answer…!"
"I permit it now. Or did I not? Read the room and respond appropriately."
'…That bastard.'
"Whisperers get wrecked if I catch 'em."
I slung the bokken back over my shoulder, swaggering like a thug.
"We're winning this."
"What win…?"
"No arguments."
Adria's mascot head. I'm seeing it.
"We're winning."
"No, but what are we even—"
"Mosik!"
"Yes!"
"Training starts!"
"Roger! Squats, everyone! I'll fix your form personally if needed. No complaints."
Mosik flung a stack of papers dramatically.
"Already got pledges from your parents."
"…"
"Begin!!"
"B-begin…"
"Louder!! Begin!!!"
"B-begin!!"
"Louder!!!"
"Begin!!!"
"1,500 reps! One per beat!"
Oh man, this is fun. Someone else's misery is my joy.
"Oh yeah."
"?"
"Don't unwrap those bandages. It's ugly."
"But breathing's hard…"
Thud!
"Form!"
"F-form!!"
I nodded, smiling contentedly.
All classes ramped up hard.
History? Don't even. I'd lose my mind. If Sky Academy touched weekends, I'd be dead from overwork already.
'Actually, weekends might help…'
Every assignment hits the week you do it, so no relaxed free time.
Some classes were bearable, though.
"Today, we'll spend time bonding with new divine beasts!"
Divine beast studies mostly involved communing with beasts or animals, so it wasn't too intense.
Often straight-up healing.
Woof woof!
"Aww, yeah yeah. Missed me? I missed you too~"
The wolf that got smacked by Ash early on for ignoring her now obeyed perfectly.
It rolled over on its own, tongue out. Ash petted its belly while feeding it treats.
The wolf chomped happily like a big dog, but averted its eyes if it met mine.
"Hey. Why you avoiding me?"
Woof.
"Ash, it's scared of me?"
"Tsk tsk. Can't have that. No treats? Looking a bit chubby, huh?"
Whine…
I snickered at the wolf whining and licking her hand over the weight comment.
Big dogs like that were cute. Wild instincts made 'em know the pecking order.
The little ones were the real troublemakers.
"I said no biting."
Woof woof!
The tiny pup gnawing and dragging my priest robe barked.
Ugh, annoying.
That sneaky mutt! Plays innocent when the prof approaches, goes feral the second she leaves.
"Tch. Hey, Eodukshini. You handle it. You swiped meat from it yesterday, right?"
-Hey now!
Eodukshini, similar in size, stepped up. And got bit.
-Kyaaak! Hot! Ow ow!! Teeth marks on me! Spit smell!
Grrrrr!
"Sigh, what an idiot."
Can't even handle one puppy?
I clicked my tongue.
The pup, gnawing Eodukshini, suddenly looked up.
Woof woof!
"Okay, everyone, stop and return."
At the prof's command—its owner—it released and trotted back obediently.
She sent it back with special magic, smiling warmly.
"Looks like you've all bonded well. Right?"
"Yes!!"
"Yeah!"
-No… not really…
"Aw, that slime buddy looks hurt. Come by later for treats."
-!!!
"Alright, today we'll learn about spirits."
Spirits!
The chatter died instantly. The prof chanted an odd incantation amid the hush.
"Môi bị nứt nên không ăn cơm được!"
⟨ Spirit Summon ⟩
Pong!
A deflating sound, and something appeared in her palm.
A hazy form. But the moment I saw it, a weird "hot" sensation hit me.
'That's a spirit?'
Expected a kid-like figure or something. Nope. Animal-ish?
"Can you all see it?"
"Huh? No."
"Anyone who can, raise your hand?"
I raised mine. Ash did too. Eodukshini sneakily followed.
What? Just me and Ash?
But the prof smiled like it was normal.
"You two have incredibly high spirit affinity! Finding a contract spirit would be easy. Prime spirit mage material."
-I can see it too…
"Divine beasts are supposed to see them."
-Whine.
Ignoring the deflated Eodukshini, the prof chanted again.
"Hôm nay mình không ăn được bít tết."
⟨ Spirit Manifest ⟩
The hazy spirit sharpened.
Ooh, clearer now.
Ghost? Nah, copyright. Straight-up the "cute ghost" image.
Adorable.
"Whoa!"
"I see it!"
"Yes!!"
"Does this one look friendly?"
"Yes!!"
"Really? Anyone wanna come touch it?"
"Me!!"
As students surged forward, the prof raised a hand lightly.
"One at a time, orderly."
"Yes!"
They actually listened for once.
The front kid, cheeks flushed, reached out.
The spirit stared, then gaped wide.
Fwooooosh!
A massive breath blast blackened the kid's hand and face like ink.
The prof chuckled at the charred students.
"How's that?"
"Wh-what…"
"First time seeing humans, so it gets defensive. Even friendly ones draw the line."
She gently stroked its head.
Unlike the student, it purred happily, no resistance.
"Why not me…?"
"Spirits are pricey friends. Took me ages to bond. If it weren't tame, you'd have burns."
The kid paled.
Reality bites, newbie.
She sent everyone back, floating the spirit overhead with a smile.
"Spirits are like divine beasts. Born from Divine Power and mana, but essentially from 'energy.' Crucial world forces, so super sensitive."
"Yes…"
"But with me here, bonding won't be hard. Let's aim for that this semester?"
"P-professor?"
"Yes?"
"How do contracts and stuff work?"
"Usually head to spirit habitats, bond, contract the closest one. That's why spirit mages are rare—they're sensitive, more numerous than divine beasts, high risk. Gotta be self-sufficient."
I recalled history class spirit mages.
That's why they're all jacked.
"Hm."
I stared at the spirit. It stared back, sensing me.
It hesitated mid-tongue-stick-out.
Won't hear me, but I smirked and whispered.
"You little rascal too?"
Its eyes shook like it might cry.
"Na-dun-de." (No!)
Sniff! Whimper!
As it bawled, the prof panicked, soothing it.
I innocently looked away.
I did nothing! Why so scared!
-Heh heh, what's with this poor spirit?
Eodukshini approached the prof-soothed spirit, hands behind back, sage-like chuckle.
-Scared of my master? No need. Just a normal bad-tempered bast…
The spirit gaped at approaching Eodukshini.
Oh.
Dodge that…
Fwoooosh!
-Hot!! Ack! Ow ow!!
Sigh. If it weren't slime, it'd be toast.
Tsk tsk. When will it grow up?
-Gurgle…
RIP Eodukshini. Burned to death.