First Raid [2]

Asher took his time standing while the rest of the students scrambled toward the armory.

Sinnett was still lying on the floor, staring up at Asher like it was the most comfortable position he had ever been in.

"Are you done? Or you want to remain there eating dust?" Asher asked, as he tucked his hands in his pockets.

Sinnett exhaled and pulled himself up. "I'll let it slide," he said, cracking his neck. "Only this time."

Tay and Emma were already making their way toward the outfitting station, so Asher followed, weaving through the groups of students crowding the entrance.

Inside, the hall, was lined with racks of armor and weapons, each section labeled according to combat specialties.

Instructors and blacksmiths moved between them, distributing equipment.

Once everyone was inside, an instructor stepped forward, a list in her hand and a pen in the other.

"When I call your name, please walk over to your designated station."

Names were rattled off, about fifty in total. The students moved in groups to their assigned areas. Asher and Sinnett separated from the larger crowd and were directed to the Outcasts Guild's station.

Unlike the others, which were orderly, professional, and even elegant, theirs had a more informal, post-apocalypse vibe.

The weapons were organized well enough, but their designs alone would make someone hesitate to touch them.

The attendant, assigned there looked bored, as she flipped through a notebook.

But when she spotted Asher and Sinnett walking over, she raised her head and scoffed.

"I didn't think there would be students from the academy in the guild," she said, eyeing Asher especially. Her brow arched, she was not in the slightest bit pleased with it.

"You must be the Necromancer everyone's been talking about?"

Asher frowned. Exactly what he had been trying to avoid since the moment he stepped foot in the academy.

Not only did he not appreciate the humiliation from the day before, but now everyone knew about him—and not in a good way.

He forced a smile before she could notice his displeasure and gestured at the mannequins and weapons. That got her springing up to her feet.

She rummaged through the shelves, the wardrobe, and the weapon racks, frequently holding up a thermometer-looking device to their heads each time.

Five minutes passed before she finally handed them their outfits, similar sets of black button-up shirts and pants, with the academy's logo on the breast pocket.

However, they weren't made of regular cotton but special threads. Threads crafted by Arcanist, specifically those who specialized in regular magic, Invokers to be precise.

They had woven mana into thread form, sewing multiple uniforms for the students, particularly first-years, with spares available in case one got damaged.

This mana wasn't the regular kind but a purified version stored within the academy. Unlike the usual blue, it was pure white and could be altered to any color the Invoker desired after weaving.

The primary source of this mana pool was at the center of the academy, where the inauguration ceremony had been held.

Since the academy itself was built on land rich in endless mana deposits, a result of the nearby mines and research industries.

Thus, Arcanists, excluding Necromancers, they helped transport mana to the pool by absorbing and transferring it.

The attendant then handed them folded coats, gauntlets, boots, and communicators.

The coats were long, with high collars that could be folded.

They were ankle-length, if not longer, with sleeves designed to fit the wearer perfectly. A silver hand-stitched embroidery of the guild's name was on the the collar, alongside their own names, signed beneath.

Asher was the first to take the coat from her. He ran his hand along the fabric and smiled, satisfied with the soft texture, before throwing it over his shoulder.

He took the gauntlets, more like regular black gloves, but after feeling their weight and tracing the rune designs embedded into the fabric, he sighed.

He packed up the other accessories and made his way to the dressing cubicle. Sinnett took the other and followed.

Another five minutes passed, and everyone was ready. The Outcast Guild's coat was undeniably perfect, despite its strange design.

Other guilds had either jackets, oddly designed sashes, overalls, or ponchos with hoods. His weapons were already in a safe place, a secret vault that had been created by the system.

His gauntlets had black runes shifting around his hands before finally fading, a sign that they had synchronized with his class.

Sinnett, on the other hand, took his time browsing the weapon rack. "Nothing here screams me," he muttered.

"Take something or leave with nothing," the attendant said, unimpressed and somehow disgusted.

He sighed dramatically before plucking a pair of short swords from the selection. He twirled them in his hands and sheathed them at his sides. "I suppose these will do."

Once outfitted, they joined the other students filing out onto the field.

However, Asher slipped into another corner unnoticed. Ensuring no one had followed him, he sighed.

Darius and Orin appeared before him, and Darius clutched a bag tightly, as if his life depended on it. They both dropped to one knee before Asher, waiting for permission to speak.

'So obedient,' he thought with a smile, "Okay, report."

"Thank you, Master," Orin said, and rose to his feet. "Your kin are safe. Mom woke up to take some medicine, She had four liquid bread that had been fried."

"Liquid bread?"

"Yes, Master. The materials one would use in the production of bread were made into a liquid and fried."

"You mean pancakes," Asher facepalmed, but Orin still looked confused.

"Forgive my disrespect, Master, but cakes cannot be made in a..."

"Never mind that. Continue."

"Okay. After Mom had the liquid... the pan... cake, she went back to sleep. Master's female kin headed to school and are safely behind protective barriers."

Orin concluded with a bow but then mumbled, "Oh, and Master, one of the female kin is a dragon. Do we need to slay her?"

Asher shook his head slowly. "She's one of us," he replied before turning to Darius. "And your report?"

Darius stood and held out the bag to Asher. "The merchant refused to give them to me, Master. She asked that I pay a random for them."

Asher just stared, raising a brow as he tried to process what had just been said. After a few seconds, he groaned.

'Need to teach them how modern stuff works,'he thought to himself and took the bag. "You kept it hot. Nice."

"Your satisfaction is my priority, Master."

Asher nodded until something hit him. "Darius, how did you pay the ransom, though?"

"A chunk of gold, Master."

"A what... Wait, where did you get it?"

"From my treasury, Master. Underneath the place where I was put to rest," Darius replied, and a system screen appeared before Asher.

[Information Updated: Soldiers being granted the ability to interact and communicate have also been granted the privilege to keep their valued items.]

Asher hummed in approval before shifting his gaze to Orin. "What's your valued possession?"

"My master's well-being is what I value the most," Orin replied with a bow. That brought a smile to Asher's face, but deep down, he cringed hard.

"What about Elena?"

"That rusty big slab of metal," Orin and Darius said in unison, he only nodded, even though he didn't seem to understand.

"Alright, I'll need you both to stay close, out of sight, and wait for orders. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Master." They bowed and faded, blending into the shadows.

As soon as they vanished, Asher let out another sigh. He dipped his hand into the bag to take out the food, but a red screen appeared before him.

[To unlock Sub-Class, the player is required to complete these tasks.]

Another screen opened up beside it.

---

According to Player's Records: Dungeon Raid Mission

Defeat five A-ranked, 4-meter-tall Bloodhounds: 0/5

Clear a wave of fifty Arachnids: 0/50

Defeat Dungeon Boss: Nul

---

Asher stared blankly at the screen, a lot of thoughts running through his mind.

He wanted to decline, but realizing that it would unlock the sealed parts of his abilities, he took a deep breath.

"Just one," he mumbled to himself as he made his way out of the corner and out of the hall. "This won't be that hard... I hope."