CH. 34 - A New Home. The Academy Dorms!

With the sun lowering in the sky, Wolf and Phoenix make their way back to their dorm building. 

Wolf "I just don't understand why we have to take responsibility. It's not like we're the leaders or anything. And Nobody didn't even say anything about the teams!"

Phoenix "Wolfy, I think you're taking this far too personally. I get your frustration but there's nothing we can do about it. If anything, I thought you'd be honored being implied to be in charge and all. I certainly don't want to be."

She says as they step up to the main doors of the building.

Wolf "That's because you're a little bottom who doesn't like telling people what to do."

Wolf teases smugly. Phoenix's vein pops on her head as a loud thud is heard from inside the building. Killian looks at the door surprised for a moment before smiling softly.

Killian "Guess they finally made it back."

Moshiro "Took them long enough."

Alston "What did they even have to do? Find one dude?"

They both say with irritated tones due to their upset moods. Phoenix opens the doors as Wolf crouches on the ground in pain with a big bump on her head. 

Phoenix "Sorry we're so late guys."

Dante "Yoo Phoenix, how'd the mission failure go?"

He says from a couch in the community space. Phoenix sweats a bit with an awkward smile.

Phoenix "Yeah, well the mission went great but… since yours didn't go so well, it seems we all failed."

Wolf rubs her head as she steps inside.

Wolf "Yeah, we probably all failed because of that dead eyed bald headed mufucker over there."

She points to Cole who was minding his own. He gets a comically large vein pop over his head.

Cole "Why must you always call me bald?! I am not bald, you damn pup!"

Wolf "You don't get to give me lip! I actually passed my mission, unlike you!"

She shouts back as they get in each other's face.

Cole "Yet here we are, all not passed."

Wolf "Yeah, cause of you! What kind of argument is that??"

Alston "Shut up, both of you. You're making my headache worse."

She groans as she lays her head back over the couch next to Dante.

Dante "Failure headache, I get that."

She just looks at him with a blank stare.

Yoko "I don't know about y'all but I didn't fail anything. I'm in fact the greatest success in dragon history… I think."

They say while holding a large stack of chips and snacks.

Tadashi "What are you talking about?"

He says with a bewildered look.

Phoenix "Where did you get all those snacks?"

Yoko pops their head out from behind the snacks.

Yoko "I found them."

Moshiro sighs as Dante sweats a little.

Dante "Someone please tell me there's a grocery store or something around here…"

Yoko puts it down on the large table and licks their lips excitedly. Wolf looks over then gets a shocked look when she notices the pile of bags and luggage in the community space.

Wolf "What the Hell??"

She rushes over and looks through the stuff, finding her bag and pulling it out.

Wolf "What is this?? Someone emptied our rooms?"

Cole "Yeah, no shit, detective dog."

Wolf glares at Cole. Yoko looks over and gets an offended look before rushing to her side.

Yoko "The disrespect! How could any human dare disrespect a dragon like that! All my stuff is on the ground!"

Wolf sweats a bit and looks at them.

Wolf "I don't think you had any stuff to begin with.."

Yoko "Well I'm noticing that nowww."

They say defiantly as Tadashi speaks.

Tadashi "Our partners have been assigned. The temp rooms are no longer available and we'll be given our permanent rooms tonight."

Wolf sweats a bit.

Wolf "Guess I should've paid closer attention to the schedule. I would've at least packed up some of my dirty clothes…"

Killian giggles a bit.

Killian "Dirty dirty Wolfy."

Wolf blushes with an angry look.

Wolf "I am not!"

She shouts as a knock is heard at the door. Saika looks over and approaches the door. He opens it only to see no one. He looks confused for a moment before getting startled by a voice.

Mia "H-hello!"

Her shy but cheerful voice speaks, waving a gloved hand and now noticeable shirt. Saika jumps back a bit like a cat on edge but only for a moment.

Mia "Ah! I'm so s-sorry! I didn't mean to startle you! I-I'm just here with a letter from the office. I-it's your room assignment and something else. I didn't check cause I didn't want to be rude…"

She says softly while lifting the two envelopes towards them as Wolf, Cole and Killian step behind Saika. Killian takes the papers gently with a warm smile. 

Killian "Thank you Ms. Mia. Oh, also, sorry for bumping into you on my first day. I've been meaning to apologize."

Mia freaks out, a little embarrassed by his words.

Mia "Ah, oh no, don't worry about it! It happens all the time! I just tend to let it go hehe…"

They look at her or the lack of her as she gets more embarrassed.

Mia "O-okay anyway, I'll be going now! Enjoy your night!"

She shouts while rushing away. 

Wolf "What a silly lady."

Cole "Shut up."

Wolf "What?? I wasn't even talking to you!"

Killian looks at the papers and pulls out the second one first.

Saika "What's that?"

Killian "It's a letter from the professor."

He opens it and begins reading.

Killian "He says, 'Due to the overall performance of your first assigned missions, Nazuna and I have motioned to Southpaw for an extra remedial lesson. He has confirmed our requests so this next week, your team will be sent out for extra training. Be ready.' They certainly move fast, don't they?"

He says with a smile to Saika as he groans.

Saika "Extra training?.."

Yoko licks their lips satisfied after having eaten all the snacks on the table but perks up upon hearing their words.

Yoko "Extra training??"

They dash over with excitement on their face before jumping onto Wolf's back.

Yoko "I want to try some extra training! You think teacher somebody will let me fight him??"

They ask excitedly as Wolf struggles to stay standing.

Cole "It's what we earned. We all failed so now we need to work extra hard to make up for it."

He says while walking away.

Killian "That is true. For now, let's focus on getting to our new rooms. I've been itching to see what they look like!"

He says as the small group heads back to the center with the rest of them.

Phoenix "Think they'll be small and cozy like college dorms?"

Tadashi shakes his head and smirks.

Tadashi "You'll see."

Dante "I haven't been here before so I actually don't remember what they look like."

Alston looks at him with a confused look.

Alston "You're one weird dude."

Dante "Thanks!"

He says with a smile. Alston chuckles a bit as she gets up. 

The group soon gathers up their things and gets with their new partners, finding their way to their rooms after Killian reads the message.

Killian "'The Vanguard-Hunter system was created to provide students and agents alike safety and strength in a team but above all else, it was made to help two Souls grow and develop off of one another.'"

He reads out loud as Yoko and Moshiro open a door to their new home. Yoko smiles a big happy smile and rushes inside.

Killian "'A strong bond between two Souls is far more valuable than the strength of a dozen alone. To help forge and strengthen those bonds, we developed an environment to do just that.'"

Tadashi and Dante smirk while fist bumping each other and stepping inside. Saika smiles with big eyes before jumping onto Killian, hugging him tightly. Cole stands in the doorway, seemingly frozen and hesitant to take the next step forward with a look of disbelief and anticipation. Alston notices and elbows him with a warm smile before stepping inside.

Killian "'Now go on and step forward into your new lives with confidence.'"

Wolf and Phoenix stop just before their door as Wolf grabs the handle with a smile.

Wolf "What do you think's inside? A ghost? Maybe two??"

She plays as Phoenix sweats a bit, slightly anxious.

Phoenix "Don't say that!"

She says with a smile as Wolf giggles before opening the door and looking inside. She smiles wide as she steps inside with Phoenix right behind her. They look around in a small living room with an attached kitchen and a hall connecting to a bathroom and two bedrooms.

Phoenix "It's… a whole apartment!"

Wolf blushes a little as her eyes shine brightly.

Wolf "Woah…"

Phoenix giggles as she drops her bags and spins excitedly, taking in the new home around her.

Phoenix "This is… amazing.. There's a kitchen and everything! It's like we actually moved out on our own! I'm living a fantasy!"

She says happily as she turns to Wolf who's busy taking everything in too. Phoenix blushes a little as she stares at Wolf. 

Phoenix "A… fantasy…"

She whispers as Wolf looks at her and smiles, a small blush on her cheeks as well. 

Wolf "It's really like we're in a fanfic, huh? Hehehe!"

She giggles. Phoenix nods happily as Wolf walks past her to one of the rooms.

Wolf "I call this one."

She says grabbing the handle of the door to one of the bedrooms. Phoenix gets a surprised look.

Phoenix "Hey, wait, why do you get the first pick?"

Wolf "Cause you took too long, sucker."

Phoenix "Wolfy…"

She says with a dark, angry tone as Wolf opens the door to the room on the left of the hall. Wolf looks at her and sweats a bit before loud pummeling is heard throughout the building. Wolf is then tossed in the other room with red bumps on her head as Phoenix huffs proudly.

Phoenix "Hmph. I always get the first pick, remember?"

Wolf "Right… My bad…"

She says weakly. Phoenix then smiles softly, the blush not leaving her face before turning around and entering her new room. All of the new students of the academy begin to unpack their belongings and settle into their new home with smiles on their faces and excitement in their hearts.

In the South Range, Teach approaches as Southpaw stares off into the valley.

Teach "I got news from Nazuna that team 1 finally made it back."

Southpaw "Mmm."

He hums in response. 

Teach "Although she didn't seem to be entirely excited about it. I hope nothing went wrong."

Southpaw "Well…"

Teach "I knew it. Wolf just couldn't follow the simplest of orders. I should've-"

Southpaw turns around with a shocked look.

Southpaw "Woah! Hey, it's alright! Wolf wasn't even one of the ones who failed."

Teach composes himself, a bit of sweat in embarrassment.

Teach "Ahem, sorry. I got a little ahead of myself- wait, what did you say?"

Southpaw "Yeahhh, unfortunately, the entire team failed excluding Wolf and her partner Phoenix. Although I did have to fail them too cause, ya know."

Teach looks to be in shock as he exhales softly, lowering his whole body.

Teach "What did I do wrong?.."

He mopes as Southpaw pats him on the back.

Southpaw "Don't look so glum, they'll be alright. We decided to move forward with some… extra lessons."

Teach looks at him.

Teach "You mean the kind of lessons they give to the… troubled students…"

Southpaw "Yep!"

Teach sighs and takes a seat with his head in his hands.

Teach "To think my students would need extra lessons this soon…"

He spins in the chair and looks at Southpaw with an accepting look.

Teach "Alright, I'll whip up some plans and let the kids know."

Southpaw "We've already got it all handled."

Teach looks confused.

Teach "Who exactly is we?"

Southpaw "Professor Nobody."

A vein pops on Teach's head before he bolts up to his feet.

Teach "Sir, you cannot let that, that, punk take the kids for extra lessons!"

Southpaw "Why not?"

Teach "Because he's a childish know-it-all who doesn't take anything seriously! Just this morning he pranked my coffee machine! Again!"

He shouts as Southpaw laughs at the thought of Teach spitting out his coffee angrily due to it being the wrong brand.

Southpaw "Haha! Well, not to worry! Both you and Nazuna will be accompanying him on these extra lessons. Does that make it better?"

Teach mopes a bit.

Teach "I suppose that's a bit better…"

Southpaw "Good. I suggest you go make peace with him sooner than later since you both will be working closely with the new students. Especially during this lesson in the woods."

Teach takes a step towards the entrance but stops.

Teach "Woods? Don't tell me he.."

Southpaw "Yep. The Okar Woods."

Teach "With all due respect, isn't that place a bit dangerous for Tier 1 students?.."

Southpaw "Perhaps but these kids need the push."

His tone drops a little as his face sharpens subtly.

Southpaw "The world they're growing up in is filled with threats they have only begun to encounter."

Teach takes a deep sigh and accepts it.

Teach "Understood. I'll make sure they're ready."

He turns to walk away when Southpaw calls to him.

Southpaw "I need you to do another thing for me."

Teach turns to face him.

Southpaw "Call the other Directors."

Teach looks a little surprised. 

Teach "How many?"

Southpaw "All of them."

He says with an intense tone in his voice. Teach nods in response with a serious look on his face before leaving the South Range.