8 Updating IDs Part 1

After the students had dispersed to their various stations the already sparse arena stands became even more vacant. A group of fifteen students had gathered around Centra, James, and DJ. This group was goofing off and chatting while waiting to have their ID's updated and weapons checked. As per tradition at Kondaira Academy, the lower grades would go first in alphabetical order.

Elsewhere in the stands, Liza was hiding at the edge of another group of students.

In contrast to Liza and the others, Kyrie was seated on his own. The nearby students glanced at him with looks that varied from adoration to unbridled hate and disgust.

Not far from where Kyrie sat, there was another small group of students. This group of five was harassing Jasper.

"Hey Broken, did ya fix yourself over the summer?" Caleb said as he shoved Jasper's head. Jasper glared at Caleb as he and his friends gathered around him.

"What? Can't talk? Guess he's still broken guys," Caleb said as he shrugged, with one leg up on the arena seat. As he leaned forward, he forced Jasper to lean back in a vain attempt to avoid him.

"Just leave him be," Kyrie called out.

Caleb grinned. "Yeah? And whatcha gonna do about it from over there ya shity hero," Caleb sneered. As he slowly reached for Jasper's shirt, a hand grabbed Caleb's just as his fingers brushed the blue fabric. "Wha…" Caleb glanced up in shock, to see Kyrie looming over him from the row above.

"Are you really going to keep that up?" Kyrie had long since grown dangerously comfortable with combat. A school bully was nothing to him.

Caleb glanced at Kyrie and said to Jasper as he stood up, "Don't think your little guard dog will always be there to save you." Messing with a monster was never a good idea. Caleb and his friends climbed further up the arena stands so they could sit and watch Jasper. And wait for their chance.

"I didn't need your help!" Jasper shouted. For once he was talking to a male stranger and not stuttering.

"Sorry?" Kyrie said as he looked at Jasper, then the boys climbing the stairs. He claimed the seat next to Jasper. After all, those twits'd come back if he left.

"Wha-what ar-are y-y-you doing?" Jasper stuttered with annoyance. Why did this scornful hero have to sit here?

"Sitting," Kyrie said.

Jasper looked at Kyrie then looked towards the floor of the arena where the non-major students were finishing their assessments. The non-major students would have several students completed their assessments at once. For the majored students this was a chance to show off their stats and abilities. As such the older students would have their IDs updated one or two people at a time.

Kyrie and Jasper sat in silence for a while. Eventually, a name Jasper recognized was called amongst the zero-year students. It was Corson, Centra's little bother of a brother.

Corson parted with his friends and made his way to where Headmaster Raven Clof stood on the arena floor. He was familiar with having his ID updated and placed his hand on the measuring tablet that Raven Clof held. The various monitors around the arena changed to display his now updated ID.

[ Corson Livence:

Aura: 110

Mission Rank: Apprentice Junior

Age: 15 / Rank: D

Ability: Metal Resonance ]

Aura is the energy all people possess that helps them absorb damage, deal damage, heal, and cast spells. Aura is also used in the protection of the human cities and reinforcement of their walls. This energy can regenerate over time or through the consumption of magical ingredients. Corson was slightly above average for the quantity of aura a zero-year's body can usually contain safely.

His Mission Rank of Apprentice Junior means he is enrolled as a prospective LegendSlayer student but is currently not qualified to go on missions without approval from a Headmaster. The other rank on his ID means that his ability is considered to be at a normal danger level should he lose control.

After having his ID updated, Corson handed off his daggers, two of which were attached to each other by an enchanted chain. The enchantment allows the chain to lengthen and shrink when someone infuses some of their aura into it. Corson's weapons were all well cared for and quickly returned to him, so he could demonstrate his ability.

Corson took one of his daggers, lightly tossed it into the air, and held it there until he'd thrown all seven. He then used his resonance to spin them around himself and weave them through the air. In the end, he carefully but quickly buried them into the sturdy arena floor until only the hilts were showing.

The Headmaster thanked him for his excellent demonstration and the diligent care of his equipment before dismissing him and calling the next student.

♢ ♢ ♢

One of the first students to be called from amongst the first-years was James. There was joking and teasing as James playfully bowed to his friends after he stepped onto the arena floor.

"I see you're still a showman James," Raven Clof said with a fond smile.

"Of course! There are ladies in crowd, Raven Clof," James replied with a wink as he placed his hand on the tablet.

[ James Collin:

Aura: 215

Mission Rank: Journeyman

Age: 17 / Rank: B

Ability: Plant Manipulation ]

James' aura level was in the normal range for first-year students, medium-low. The medium-low range is from 101-250. His Mission Rank is common amongst students from LegendSlayer clans like the one he and Kyrie grew up in.

A Journeyman mission rank means he can go on hunting missions with others of the same level or higher whenever he wants. Technically, James could go on missions alone but going off on your own is often considered stupid and suicidal. The danger Rank of B means that his ability is considered to be mid-high level when it comes to accidentally causing damage to others.

As for James' equipment he carried a wooden spear and several new pouches of seeds. Headmaster Raven Clof didn't bother with checking James' weapon. He was known for frequently losing things and manipulating the growth of nearby plants to recreate a weapon or use against his foes.

James created a 10-foot field of large flowers and vines, that he later used to create a statue of himself.

After James bowed to his friends, he killed off the plants. He helped them quickly wilt and wither into crisp brown husks. The plants were so devoid of life and structure that a simple gust of wind from Raven Clof's movements dispersed the plants into a cloud of dust.

♢ ♢ ♢

Several students later, Raven Clof called Liza to the floor. Just after her name was called, there was a rush of students scrambling to get away from the ice princess they'd found hiding in their midst. Liza hardly gave these students a glance as she made her way down the stands.

Once on the floor, she greeted her grandfather with a smile and immediately placed her hand on the tablet.

[ Liza Frost

Aura: 101

Mission Rank: Apprentice Senior

Age: 17 / Rank: F

Ability: Oblivious ]

Liza's Mission Rank of Apprentice Senior means that she can go on missions offered to the academy with her team and a supervisor. Her danger Rank reflects her ability to only damage herself. Since Liza's ability to make herself easily ignored by others cannot be applied to other people, she can only harm others intentionally. And intentionally she has.

Several years ago, some of the other students had been picking on her for having such a wimpy ability. In response, Liza used her ability after shoving the other girl. Then Liza immediately struck the girl from behind with the full force of her aura. This attack had easily destroyed the protection of the other girl's aura and left her in the infirmary with a punctured lung.

Liza handed her daggers and lockpicks over to her grandfather to have them checked.

"Liza remind me later that your lockpicks' roll needs to be replaced soon," Raven Clof said as he handed her equipment back to her.

"I was planning to replace it during the festival," Liza said. During the festival, many stores would sell their wares at a reduced price.

As Liza returned to the stands her grandfather called out, "Jasper Glyph."

Jasper stood from his spot next to Kyrie and made his way onto the floor of the arena. As Jasper was headed to the arena floor, Kyrie thought 'so that's his name. Is he as good as his older brother, Jason?' Jason was a great magician and LegendSlayer Kyrie'd worked with, in the past.

When Jasper reached the Headmaster, he didn't even attempt to speak. He simply placed his hand on the tablet.

[ Jasper Glyph

Aura: 200

Mission Rank: Apprentice Senior

Age: 17 / Rank: D

Ability: Magic ]

Jasper's ability of magic meant he could cast spells more efficiently than others. Along with the ability to cast spells of a greater complexity and learn new spells more easily. Jasper carried a dagger and a wand, as most magicians did. The wand and dagger would allow a magician to continue fighting even after they'd used up their aura.

Jasper's gear was given to him by his older brother when he first entered the LegendSlayer program. As such, Jasper always made sure to take good care of his equipment.

Jasper cast several spells for his demonstration. When he returned to the stands he sat down, slightly further from Kyrie then before he was called up.