Chapter - 20 [ Medical Knowledge ]

The first period in the morning was Combat Training, and every section had gathered at the vast open-air training ground.

The cool morning air carried a slight chill, but the students were already growing restless, some stretching, others talking among themselves in low murmurs.

However, before any physical training began, Sergey stood at the front, hands clasped behind his back, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd.

The moment his gaze swept over them, the idle chatter ceased, and a tense silence took over.

"Combat Training is the only subject required every year. Combat is the most important skill an Aura User must master," Sergey began, his voice firm and unwavering.

"No matter what role you choose—hunter, scout, or even support—everyone needs combat skills."

He paced slowly before the seated students, his boots pressing into the dirt with each deliberate step.

Some students sat cross-legged in clusters, whispering amongst themselves, while others sat alone, their faces determined and focused.

"Why do you need it?" he asked, pausing mid-step.

Hands shot up eagerly, the students vying for a chance to answer.

"You," Sergey pointed to a boy in the front row.

"We need combat skills to fight crawlers and mutated animals," the boy responded with conviction, his eyes shining with youthful enthusiasm.

Sergey nodded approvingly. "Correct. But it's not just to fight crawlers and mutated animals." His tone grew more somber, eyes narrowing. "You will also need to fight humans."

The declaration left a ripple of unease among the students, some exchanging worried glances.

"Your friend—the one you trust the most—might one day fall to radiation contamination and develop a twisted mind," Sergey continued, his voice dropping to a grim tone.

"He or she could turn on you. What if they start thinking of themselves as beasts and decide to attack humans?"

He let the question hang in the air, allowing the weight of his words to settle heavily upon them.

"There have been many cases of veterans losing their reasoning due to mutation. I knew one such person."

Sergey's eyes darkened, a shadow of old memories clouding his expression. He stood still for a moment, lost in thought.

"A good comrade, a brother in arms," he began slowly, the words thick with lingering pain. "One day, he looked at me with bloodshot eyes, his teeth bared. He tried to bite me. His mind was already gone."

The students remained silent, riveted by the tragic tale. Some sat with bated breath, while others clenched their hands into tight fists.

"And so, with my own hands… I freed him from his suffering."

His voice was almost a whisper now, the burden of his actions evident in every syllable.

Sergey straightened, drawing a deep breath to compose himself. "Remember— you don't fight just to kill or to protect yourself. You fight because you are an Aura User. And an Aura User fights for humanity's survival."

For the full two hours, Sergey continued, his words a blend of grim reality and unwavering resolve.

The students listened, some with eyes wide in fear, others with newfound determination hardening their gazes.

At the end of the session, he dismissed them. "That's it for today. Tomorrow, we'll continue with the benefits of Combat Skills. Now, return to your classes and prepare for the next subject."

Turning sharply, Sergey's tall, imposing figure strode away, his footsteps echoing as he entered the academy building and disappeared from view.

"So boring! I might not die in battle against a crawler, but I will die in tomorrow's lecture out of boredom!" one student groaned, stretching his arms skyward.

"God have mercy! Please don't let the other professors lecture the same way!" another chimed in, drawing chuckles from those nearby.

Emotions were mixed as they dispersed—some students' faces showed excitement for the challenges ahead, while others looked drained by the weight of the conversation.

---

As they walked back to their classrooms, Morgan leaned closer to Victor, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"Peter has joined the Phoenix faction," she informed him, eyes darting around to ensure no one overheard. "I heard from the hostel girls last night."

"I heard it too," Narmadi added softly, her hands clutching her books tightly. "And today, he didn't sit with us. Instead, he was with the prodigy twins of the Phoenix family."

Their eyes subtly followed Peter's figure as he walked with the Phoenix faction members, his posture more rigid, as if trying to match their confidence.

Victor's expression remained stoic, betraying nothing. "There's nothing we can do about it. It's his life, his choice."

Ariana hesitated, drawing in a shaky breath. "I… I'm going to join the Dusk faction."

Her words trembled slightly, and her gaze fixed on Victor, seeking any sign of disapproval or disappointment.

Jakal's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You too?" he blurted out. He exchanged a glance with Queer, who gave a small nod—they had also been considering the same move.

The Dusk faction was one of the top three factions in Heaven, rivaling the Phoenix faction and the Khan faction.

It was led by a fifth-year senior, Rudas Struid—renowned for his unparalleled strategic mind and hailed as one of the most brilliant students to emerge in a decade.

He ranked second in Heaven, excelling as a scout with a top Second-Tier Aura Grade.

The Phoenix faction was commanded by the second son of the Phoenix family head, born to the first wife. Known for his tactical prowess and indomitable will, he ranked first in Heaven.

Meanwhile, the Khan faction was under the leadership of the third daughter of Emperor Khan.

Despite being ranked fourth, her true strength was whispered to be on par with the top leaders, her prowess an intimidating force within the academy.

Tension brewed among the group as they walked on, the bustling corridors filled with chatter and hurried footsteps.

Ariana continued to glance nervously at Victor, searching for any hint of his thoughts.

Yet, as always, his expression remained a mask, revealing nothing of the plans swirling within his mind.

---

The medical hall, designed to accommodate at least 150 students, felt oddly empty with only 60 present.

The high ceiling and pristine white walls gave the room a sterile and imposing atmosphere.

Bright lights illuminated every desk, reflecting off the polished metallic surfaces of the medical tools neatly arranged in boxes on each table.

Each student had their own workstation, complete with a large desk and a reclining chair, the kind designed for long hours of focused work.

On every desk, multiple boxes were set, filled with various instruments—scissors, forceps, hemostats, retractors, and an assortment of other tools that gleamed under the lights.

Victor sat in the very first row, his hands resting on the cool surface of his desk.

He looked up and locked eyes with Professor Lucas, who stood confidently on the stage, his usual bright smile in place.

'Bastard made me sit in the first row.'

Victor sighed internally. He had always preferred sitting at the back, where he could quietly observe others without drawing attention to himself.

But when he had arrived at the medical hall—located in the second building next to the training ground—he had the misfortune of running into Lucas.

Before he could protest, he had been personally escorted to the very front, directly in line with the professor's gaze.

Lucas seemed extremely pleased with the seating arrangement, nodding in satisfaction before addressing the class.

Victor shifted slightly in his seat, his eyes scanning the room. 'As expected from the support role. Other than me, I don't see a single First-Tier Grade.'

None of the early 20 special students had chosen the support role, and it didn't surprise him.

Most saw support as secondary, something less prestigious compared to combat-oriented paths.

Suddenly, a sharp clap rang out.

"Attention, guys!"

Lucas clapped his hands twice, immediately drawing the focus of the students. Conversations halted, and all eyes turned to him.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Male and female! My name is Lucas Leo, and I will be your professor for the support role subjects. There are only five subjects in the first year, and I hope you all signed up for them."

He swept his gaze across the room, pausing briefly when his eyes landed on Victor. The look in Lucas's eyes was one of satisfaction, it was clear that he found Victor's presence oddly pleasing.

"For the next few days, we'll be covering medical tools and procedures," Lucas continued, pacing leisurely across the stage. "I don't want you all cutting into human bodies just yet."

He grinned as he said it, clearly enjoying the way some students tensed at the mention of dissection.

"Oh, but don't worry! We'll get there," he added with a playful tone. "Not just human bodies… but crawlers and mutated animals as well."

A few students visibly stiffened, shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Others exchanged uneasy glances, clearly wondering what they had signed up for.

"But for today, open the boxes on your tables," Lucas instructed, nodding toward the metal cases.

The students hesitated for a brief moment before obeying. The sound of clasps being undone and lids lifting filled the room.

Inside, rows of neatly arranged tools rested on cushioned linings, each designed for precise medical procedures.

The metallic sheen of the instruments reflected the overhead lighting, adding an almost intimidating aura to them.

Lucas leaned forward, resting his hands on the podium. "Now, let's go over each tool one by one."

And so it began.

Lucas explained every tool in painstaking detail, from the simplest scissors to the more intricate forceps and retractors.

He didn't just describe their names and functions; he delved into their history, variations, and specialized uses in the field.

Some tools had more than ten different applications, and he made sure the students understood every single one.

Time dragged on. The lecture, though informative, was relentless.

Victor remained calm, absorbing the information, but many students were struggling. Some leaned back in their chairs, rubbing their temples. Others scribbled notes furiously, desperate to keep up.

Two hours passed.

When Lucas finally dismissed the class, the relief in the room was almost tangible.

"That's it for now! After the lunch break, we'll have another class, so make sure you're here on time. I won't wait more than five minutes!"

With a bright smile, he waved and walked off, his cheerful energy a stark contrast to the exhausted expressions on his students' faces.

The moment he was gone, the hall erupted into murmurs.

Some students sat frozen, staring blankly at their desks as if their brains had shut down from information overload. Others leaned toward their classmates, whispering their grievances.

"I learned ten different uses for scissors," one student groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Ten! Who the hell even comes up with that many?"

"Right?" another complained. "And do I really need forceps to pull out my ass hair? Why not just shave them?"

A round of laughter and groans followed, some students covering their ears in exaggerated horror.

Victor smirked but said nothing. Even he had been surprised at the depth of Lucas's explanations, though he wasn't nearly as overwhelmed as the others.

"Uck!"

Narmadi wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Why do they have to be so vulgar?"

"You'll get used to it," Victor replied, glancing at her with amusement. Though even he found some of the remarks distasteful, he had already learned to tune them out.

Narmadi exhaled deeply, regaining her composure. "I still need to eat lunch."

Adjusting her posture, she followed Victor out of the hall, blending into the crowd of students spilling into the corridor.

After a few moments of silence, she turned to him, hesitating slightly before speaking.

"Victor, can I ask you a question?"

He didn't even pause. "Why not?"

"Why did you really choose the support role?"

Her tone was quieter, almost uncertain. She stepped in front of him, stopping his stride. Her eyes searched his face, filled with curiosity and something else—perhaps confusion.

Narmadi had always been shy, someone who hesitated before speaking. But today, she was pushing herself to voice her thoughts.

She was gradually finding the courage to express herself among her friends, which Victor noted as a positive change.

Victor met her gaze and answered without hesitation. "The dimensional rifts. I chose the support role because, without being part of the MAD, I wouldn't be able to get close to them."

There was no reason to hide his true motive. Even if someone else overheard, it wouldn't matter.

Narmadi blinked, processing his words before narrowing her eyes slightly.

"Let me guess the other reason," she said, tilting her head. "You're scared to fight?"

Victor's lips curled into a smirk. "Bingo."

Narmadi studied him for a moment, then let out a small chuckle.

"Well, shall we head to the cafeteria?" Victor asked, already stepping forward. "I'm starving."

"Mm."

The two walked side by side, stepping out of the medical building and into the campus courtyard.

The fresh air greeted them, accompanied by the distant chatter of other students scattered across the open space.

With lunch break just beginning, the academy buzzed with activity.

The midday sun cast soft shadows on the ground, and the sound of chattering students filled the air.

The academy bustled with activity as groups of students moved toward the cafeteria or lounged under the shade of tall, neatly arranged trees.

Near the campus gate, a familiar group stood waiting for them. Morgan, Ariana, Jakal, and Queer leaned casually against the fence, their eyes scanning the crowd before spotting Victor and Narmadi.

Morgan waved them over. "So, what kind of medical knowledge did you learn today?" she asked as they all boarded the academy's shuttle bus.

Victor and Narmadi took their seats, settling in as the vehicle began its slow drive toward the cafeteria area.

"Ack! Please! Don't ask me that!" Narmadi groaned, immediately covering her ears and shutting her eyes as if trying to erase a traumatic memory.

Morgan raised an eyebrow at her exaggerated reaction, then turned to Victor with a puzzled look. "What happened to her?"

Victor leaned back, crossing his arms with a satisfied nod. "Did you know that plucking can cause damage to hair follicles, leading to hair growth problems? And that using forceps to pluck ass hair can actually help stop their growth?"

Silence.

The moment the words left his mouth, an invisible wave of disgust rippled through the group.

Morgan's face twisted in horror. Ariana visibly recoiled, her fingers twitching as if she wanted to strangle him.

Jakal clenched his jaw, while Queer just blinked, looking like he was trying to process whether he had heard correctly.

Then, chaos erupted.

"Chi! What the hell is wrong with you?! Disgusting!" Morgan shouted, visibly cringing.

"We are about to eat lunch, you bastard!" Jakal barked, his expression filled with betrayal.

Ariana covered her mouth, her face pale, as if she were fighting off nausea. Even Queer, usually unbothered, shook his head in disbelief.

Victor grinned, feeling an odd sense of satisfaction at their reactions. It wasn't often he got to startle them like this.

Narmadi, still shielding her ears, peeked through her fingers and let out a weak whimper. "You see what I had to deal with? Two whole hours of this!"

Morgan groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Victor… there are things you just don't say out loud."

Victor simply shrugged. "Medical knowledge is important."

"No, no, no, not like that!" Ariana hissed.

The shuttle bus rumbled forward, carrying the traumatized group toward the cafeteria, where they could hopefully erase the cursed knowledge from their minds with a good meal—assuming they still had the appetite for it.