CHPT 127: Rodents.

October 26th, Friday Afternoon. 5 days until the Full Moon.

Claude spent another two days failing to grow the seed in his pot during his Aura/Elemental Affinities class, and traveling the Astral Realm in his sleep. Luckily he was more successful there than in class, spending the past two nights hunting and scaling a small mountain with the Phantom Wolves.

He now headed back from Predators Forest with Frosty jogging happily next to him seeming to understand that today was a day guaranteed to be filled with action and growth in power.

Once he reached Training, a good portion of students were already present on the field— preparing themselves for battle one way or another.

Samuel and Tai sparred wildly as usual near the University doors while a group of female students watched— flinching every time their weapons clashed loudly. All in all, they seemed to be back to their arrogant twisted selves. Probably because of the promised violence ahead.

Ursula and Isaac abandoned their usual heavyweight warm up and instead woke up their joints and muscles on a row of practice dummies.

"Claude's here!" Warren said to Ursula and Isaac from his spot near them against the wall of the University while they continued to wail away on the dummies for a few more combos.

Once they were done, they jogged over to him with looks of intense focus, fear and excitement. In fact, he could smell the students fear radiating out of them and spilling over the entire field like fog.

"Did you hear what's going to be inside the Tangent?" Ursula asked.

"No. Did you?" Claude replied in surprise as he assumed she did.

She nodded saying, "Ratmen." Warren shivered and pretended to throw up in disgust behind her.

"[Hm. That's new, this should be a nice learning experience.]" Arne interjected.

"Yes. Very interesting." Claude said as he scrubbed his brain for what he knew about the species.

Partway through the process, he noticed all three were still looking at him— including Frosty.

"What?" He said.

"Well you see. I may or may not have heard from a certain Monster Species Studies Professor that he has a particular tall dark haired, scowling student who has an uncanny interest in the Monster Species. By the way, how come you never told me you were into reading about them?" Ursula asked, her expression going from a knowing smile to a slightly hurt frown as she asked the last question.

"Ah. I don't know if I'd call it an interest. I just happen to be connected to it because my fa—....someone important to me had work relating to the subject that he used to talk with me about." Claude corrected.

"Ok well that means you read about them on your free time, right?" Warren asked with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"I haven't been able to— much other than in class, why?" Claude replied.

"We don't want to go in there unless we know everything we can about them." Ursula said as Isaac and Warren nodded in agreement.

"Students! I want to see you all sparring for at least 15 minutes before we leave for the Tangents. Warm up those muscles and do it fast!" Prof. Raizen yelled, interrupting Claude's conversation with them.

"Tell us on the way." Ursula said before she ran off to spar with Maris. Warren ran of to train with Isaac shortly after.

***

After Claude and Frosty got their blood pumping while they sparred with Chase, Prof. Raizen and Prof. Brennan called the students over to prepare them for the Tangent.

"Smells like wet dog." Samuel said while making a disgusted face behind the circle of students. Tai spit on the grass behind him in agreement.

"Assholes." Claude thought as he neared the huddle of students around the Professors.

"Ok everyone, listen up. I want you all to perform in teams— no more than 5 each and try to get a variety of classes. I don't want to see 5 Knights grouped up in there simply because it's ineffective. Also beware, as you know Ratmen live in nests and if you don't watch your step you'll fall in one. Lastly, if there's a boss and not just a horde, you share the loot with your team but no one else. Now get ready, we're moving in 5 minutes." Prof. Raizen said, igniting the flame of competitiveness in everyone.

The field was silent. Students strapped on their armor, sheathed their weapons and revved themselves up— all while having an internal storm of feelings rushing through their heads.

The new students who filled in for the ones who left initially weren't so scared, but the grave and fearful expressions on the faces of the students that survived the Deviant was enough to scare anyone.

The 5 minutes they were given were swallowed up immediately, concluding with Prof. Raizen calling for the students to follow him and begin their journey.

***

The class rounded the University until they were at the front and all silently stomping down the path towards the gates off the grounds.

Claude walked at the back of the line talking with his team about there upcoming enemy.

"Ok so, as Prof. Raizen said; Ratmen are nest dwelling creatures. The reason you don't want to fall inside is because the whole mischief is inside— including the dominant male and female who are quite a bit stronger than their children." He told the group.

"Mischief?" Warren said in confusion.

"A group of Ratmen is called a mischief— you know like regular rats and Dire Rats." Claude replied.

Warren and Ursula raised their eyebrows in surprise like they learned a new fact.

"Ok. How many are usually in a mischief of Ratmen?" Isaac asked.

"Please don't say anything with two digits." Warren whispered.

"Anywhere from 5 to 10 if I remember correctly. But I'm pretty sure if theirs multiple dominant males then there can be more."

"Shit. That's one each." Warren said shakily.

"What about the size?" Ursula asked.

Claude scratched his chin in thought before answering. "There the size of an average man.....yea that's right because Dire Rats are the shorter ones that weigh more."

The group went silent for a moment as the line entered the small patch of forest that surrounded the black gate around the University.

"What else can you tell us? Any weaknesses? Advantages you can give us?" Ursula asked.

"Hmmm. They're not smart, they live to fight fuck and eat. They have incredibly strong teeth and if there anything like regular rats— which they are....their vision sucks." Claude said, noticing his memory of his readings were coming back.

By the time he was finished speaking. Prof. Raizen who walked at the front of the line was talking to the guards as they opened the gates to let the class continue onto unclaimed land.

"Alright everyone! Let's pick up the pace!" Prof. Raizen said before starting a light jog.

Everyone left the grounds and descended into the untamed lands as the moon rose higher in the sky, giving rise to the nighttime predators and possibly things much worse.