Chapter 13: Dark Pursuit

The training hall was shrouded by a deafening silence after Nicholas performed his teleportation ability. No one anticipated it from his co-s-rank students since he wasn't showing that ability in any of their training and even during their semester's battle.

Professor Vale clapped her hands after complimenting him. "When and how did you learn that?"

"My father taught me when I was in 3rd year," he answered, bowing his head.

"So basically, last year?"

"Yes."

"That's cool." She shifted her gaze to the other students, beckoning them to walk back to their position. "Now I'll explain how you'd perform it."

Joaquin and Thomas teased Nicholas while Hestia wasn't yet in her mood to talk. Her mind is preoccupied, contemplating how she'd apologize to Kaia. Levina on the other hand still couldn't believe that Nicholas could perform such a strong technique. If he has already mastered it, then why is he not using it during their battle? He has the upper hand to win every semester's battle by utilizing that.

"Okay, listen!" Professor Vale clapped her hands to get their attention. "Teleportation magic is an instant moving of a person from one place to another without physically traveling the distance between them. In order to perform it, you must know the exact place where you're going and how you'd get there. Why? Because you'll imagine yourself getting there in an instant. Imagine the exact place you want to go and pull yourself there. Do you understand?"

"Yes!"

"Who wants to try first?" she asked, gazing at them one by one.

Joaquin raised his hand. "I'll try." He stepped forward.

"Alright. Imagine yourself traveling to that place." She pointed to the door of the training hall. "Close your eyes to concentrate more."

"I understand." He nodded, closing his eyes.

The four waited, wondering if Joaquin could master it. Professor Vale, on the other hand, isn't expecting much for a first try, knowing that it's really hard to perform.

Joaquin clenched his fist, slowly losing his patience since nothing was happening to his body.

"You can do that!" Thomas shouted.

Frustratedly, Joaquin opened his eyes. He failed to teleport to the exact location his professor told him.

"Do you have any tips, Professor?"

"I don't know if it'll work for you, but I always imagine that I'm carrying myself to the exact location I'm about to travel," she answered.

Joaquin nodded and closed his eyes again, giving it another try. He imagined carrying himself to the door in an instant, but he still couldn't feel himself moving.

"Woah!" Thomas and Nicholas said in unison upon seeing Joaquin's body slowly becoming translucent, but it wasn't disappearing. Levina and Hestia just watched quietly, waiting to see if he could do it.

"Just a little more," Professor Vale uttered.

Joaquin gritted his teeth until his body disappeared from his position with a pop and appeared near the door. He opened his eyes immediately, looking around with a surprised expression on his face.

"Woah!" Thomas said.

"Nice!" Nicholas clapped his hands followed by the others.

Joaquin smiled, raising his fist proudly. "I did it."

"That was a good performance. Now, come back by teleporting, too," Professor Vale commanded, making him nod.

Levina glanced at her wristwatch. Even though she wanted to learn the teleportation magic, she needed to go to the Greenleaf town as soon as possible. She'll just learn it tomorrow. She looked around and when she noticed that they were all focused on Joaquin, she fell to her knees, pretending to be sick.

The three students mechanically swerved their gazes at her, especially Nicholas who was more concerned than anyone else. He went closer to her and tried to help her stand, but she refused.

"No, it's fine. I think I just need to rest," she lied, her limbs trembling purposely.

"What happened? Are you sick?" Nicholas asked and tried to check her temperature, but Levina slapped his hand. It won't be good if Nicholas finds out that she's just pretending.

Professor Vale shifted her gaze to Levina and dragged her feet closer to her. "What's going on? Are you alright?"

Levina had finally stood straight. "Miss, I think I need to go back to the dorm to rest. I'm not feeling well today."

Professor Vale nodded. "Do you want me to accompany you to your dorm? Or ask another professor to help you?"

"No need, Miss. I can take care of myself."

Joaquin opened his eyes, shifting his gaze to them. Professor Vale noticed him and said, "Don't get distracted. Just focus!"

"Are you sure? Let me accompany—"

"No, Nicholas. I'm fine," she cut his words.

"Take a rest now and we'll continue this training tomorrow until you've all mastered it." Professor Vale tapped Levina's shoulder.

"Thank you, Miss." Levina took her bag and proceeded to her dorm.

She placed her bag on her bed and took the small piece of paper and input it into her wristwatch. Their wristwatch has a lot of functions due to its advanced technology. It can be used to talk to someone, send messages, save notes, and open the online map.

Cautiously, she left the academy and proceeded to the train station to travel to the Greenleaf. It's much faster than running through the woods.

Little did she know, she was followed by Nicholas who also left the training. He was too worried for her and wanted to give her some food to help her feel better, but he didn't anticipate her leaving the academy and riding a train. He took a seat far from Levina, but close enough to see her. He bought a magazine from the station to cover his face.

Levina gazed out through the window as the train started to move. She checked the exact location of the barn on her wristwatch, checking if it was functioning well.

As the train arrived in Greenleaf, Levina stepped out of the train, dragging her feet into the station and feeling a peculiar presence behind her. She immediately gazed behind, but she only saw the people who walked out of the train. She felt that someone was following her, so she became more cautious and vigilant.

Levina proceeded out of the station and jumped through the tree branches, following the direction of the online map from her wristwatch.

'I hope they haven't gotten to that place.' she thought.

Nicholas didn't follow her by using the same route. Instead, he sprinted through the ground, gazing up at Levina to follow her. He couldn't afford to get seen by her, or else he'll be busted, or worse she'll be mad at him again.

Levina felt a presence again the same she felt earlier in the train station. She halted and gazed back, but found nothing. She's the only person in the forest and only the sounds of birds are resonating around.

'Weird,' she thought and continued. She glanced at her wristwatch and noticed that she was getting closer. She turned to the left side and found the light. She jumped off the tree branch and landed on the ground.

The barn is a few yards away from her, so she approached it warily, hiding behind an oak tree, watching the children outside. They're helping each other while planting and watering the plants while the old man is watching them in front of the door, arms crossed.

Levina turned off her wristwatch to focus on watching them. Nothing's wrong right now. They're just working silently with each other, but what she's wondering is why the old man wasn't helping them. He's just standing there like a statue, acting like a boss to the kids.

Nicholas halted when he found Levina eyeing the barn from a distance. He climbed the tree and stood on its branch to get a good view of what she was looking at.

Levina wasn't moving to her place and she thought that perhaps she was wrong. She misunderstood it to be an unofficial orphanage and they're just a big family. What if the Black Void isn't really planning to attack them—to attack this town? What if they planned to attack different towns instead of this one?

She clenched her fist and was about to leave, but a strong aura made her halt. Her eyes landed on the eight men wearing a black cloak. They appeared instantly beside the old man.

As soon as the children saw them, they stopped working and screamed, running away from them, but they were too fast to move due to their teleportation ability and their speed.

Levina cursed inside her mind. Her hunch was right. This barn and the old man were suspicious at all. The old man didn't help the kids, he just watched them get taken by the men.

Frustratedly, she drew her katana and sprinted towards them to save the children. One of the men pushed the kid and summoned her sword, parrying Levina's attack.

Her eyes widened upon seeing that. These men are different from the ones who barged into their town. They're much powerful than them. Their speed, ability, and even aura are enough to shake her.

Nicholas eyes widened upon seeing Levina attacked them by herself.

"What the—"

***