Night quickly came upon them.
The warmth of the training ground had been completely erased. Replaced by the biting old of the nights' atmosphere.
The students all laid down on different parts of the platform, totally exhausted.
Zach sat on of the very edge gazing at the dark starry sky, removed the black gloves, starring at his palm.
The uniform he wore did well to cover the markings from showing.
If not he'd be laughed at and mocked, he's reached the curious stage and yet people who has even taken the frist step of awakening were more skilled than him.
'is it because of my injury'
The idea was plausible, maybe the wound inflicted on Zach by Zain actually barred a hole in his soul, disabling him from tapping into his full potential.
And there was another pressing matter, a part of the Aragoth's description that says ' To steal is to steal a piece of who they are, ', Zach now understood that phrase.
He could feel it, he has stolen two powers and his ideals were clashing.
He could feel Harukis self righteousness, he unwillingness to hurt those that oppress him, and at the same time he could feel Zain's relentless hatred, for weakness.
Honestly Zach was afraid.
Afraid that if he fight back against any opposing force he might do something he'll regret for the rest of his life.
'each piece must be taken through blood and death' the phrase crossed Zach's mind.
Zach had gotten his frost ability when Zain pir ced him in his chest, and the second, when the sea of flames entered his soul.
Soon enough, vendors arrived in the clearing, setting up stands dishes.
The heavenly scent of the meal wafted past Zach noses and his gaze shot at one of the nearby stalls.
"Once your name is called, it means you've earned your dish " All the students stood up anticipating.
Zach hadn't done anything for the rest of the day, he knew he hadn't but he just wished they called his name some how.
Names started flying, with names like Ray, Tom and the likes.
Arthur was called out, receiving a plate of pork broth that caught the envious gaze of some of the cadets.
Amy rushed up to him.. "He I knew being friends with you would pay off" she patted his shoulder.
"You're acting all jolly.. do you think I'll even let you have a taste of this...?" Arthur smirked.
"How cruel" Amy pouted.
Zach quietly watched the the two people argue as an unexpected sound rang out.
"Zachariah keal.." The vendor called out.
'huh..?'
Zach puzzled stepped down from the podium, carefully cradling the hot bowl of pork in his hands.
Secretly he was wary... he didn't do anything, what made him noticed by the masters, it may have just been a mistake.
'in that case ' Zach walked and sat on the edge, besides Arthur and Amy.
"What even Zach got food..?" Her bewilderment made Zach chuckled.
"Off course I'm not talentless trash like you " . Zach grinned.
"That's so harsh"
Arthur and Zach decided to give Amy some part of the broth, making sure their friend doesn't die of hunger.
"Arthur.." Zach spoke. He had to do this if he wanted to actually be somebody.
"Could you perhaps teach me the way of the sword" Zach used his index finger to rub his chin.
Arthur puzzled looked at Zach.
"I can't.. " he said.
"The technique was past down through my family, I can't just give an outsider because he asked for it." Arthur took another sip of the broth.
"And besides it take too long to teach someone, I'd rather focus on my progress"
"Oh.. um ok..".
Zach had to learn somehow, what if he offered the blonde something of equal value to the technique.
"Hmm, what if I give you something equally as valuable in return.. " Zach proposed.
"I'm listening.." Arthur took another sip.
Zach raised two fingers, "two months..." he paused
"I'll make you reach the stage of curiosity within two months, if I fail you walk away and never teach me anything" He continued.
"But if I do achieve that, you'll teach me all I need to know about sword fighting." Zach gestured.
Amy glanced at Zach as if she had just seen a ghost, eyes wide with shock while Arthur straight up gagged with the pork broth stuck in his throat.
Arthur regained his composure, clearing his throat.
"That's a bold claim.." He spoke.
"People train for years and don't even grasp the essence of what it means to be curious and you want to make me reach that level under a week ?" Arthur raised a brow.
The blonds cadets suspicious was quite reasonable since, truly entering a new stage of awakening require both mental and spiritual fortitude, exposing yourself to the concept of divinity. And Zach just offered to make it happen in two months.
"Yes.." Zach spoke confidently.
"I'm assuming you've reached the stage of curiosity yourself right...?" Arthur scanned Zach with a clearly mocking gaze.
Zach nervously chuckled " I know I might not looked like much but yeah" he scratched his head.
"I'll need some proof.. something to make me believe you.. I can't just put my faith in someone that just offer something as outrageous as that, I hope you'll understand. " Arthur paused.
"Your soul weapon .." Arthur gazed fell on Zach.
"Summon your soul weapon hear and now and we have a deal..." Arthur dropped the empty plate of pork broth on the concrete and sighed, looking at Zach.
"Umm... well you see I can't do that.." Zach shook his head making the duo raised their brows.
"Why.. " Amy asked frist but it seemed like Arthur away about to say the same thing.
"I actually got injured in a fight with a heavenly knight..." Zach sighed in defeat.
Amy and Arthur looked at each other, trembling, barely hold their muffled laughter.
"I'm serious.." Zach clarified but at this time the two had already burst out laughing.
"Wow.. Truly remarkable... not only has he awakened to curiosity, he has also faced a heavenly knight and came out alive" Arthur giggled uncontrollably, and Amy almost rolled on the floor.
Not that Zach thought about it, his story does seem a little unbelievable.