The yellow tiger growled and bared its fangs at Oscar's group, sinking its large claws into the ground and scraping off the dirt. Like its master, Samuel, it stared maliciously toward its prey.
"Infighting is forbidden, Samuel." Oscar put up his fists and peeked down at the ravine, eyeing the various caverns. The fires died a while ago, and the caves were smoke-free. An idea slowly formed in his head.
"It doesn't matter. Who would care if all of you are dead?" Samuel signaled his ...
2022-06-18 03:19:31 +0000 UTC
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A large pile of twigs and branches was gathered in front of Oscar, Frederick, and Emily. It was easy to find all the materials in this dense forest. It was not noon, so the Night Raptor was likely still sleeping, making it perfect.
"Each of us takes a part of the pile. There are five caves, so Frederick and Emily will take two while I take one." Oscar knew he was not as fast as Frederick when he used his 'Wind Steps' or Emily since she was a Middle Apprentice Exalt.
"Os! Be carefu...
2022-06-18 03:18:19 +0000 UTC
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In a certain room of the dorms, Samuel talked with the person who saw Oscar take a mission.
"Are you certain?" Samuel asked.
"Yes, they took on a mission to hunt a Night Raptor." The one talking was Samuel's roommate and subordinate, Greg, who decided to serve him. After all, Samuel was a noble and a Grade Six.
"Get ready to depart. I've been waiting for this moment." Samuel was gleeful as he envisioned Oscar and Frederick's horrified faces.
At the same time, Oscar and...
2022-06-18 03:17:10 +0000 UTC
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'To our beloved Oscar,
Your father and I received your letter and are glad you are doing well.
We cried so much when you said you became an Exalt. The entire town came by to congratulate us.
You've worked so hard. But make sure to take care of yourself. Your father and I worry about you all the time.
Visit us whenever you can, particularly with that friend Frederick you mentioned.
With our love,
Moth...
2022-06-18 03:15:31 +0000 UTC
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After the brief respite, Frank resumed the lecture. The image of the scroll was now at the forefront.
"How do Exalts fight? I've seen some of you continue meditating while others train in combat. That is all good. Every attack of an Exalt is infused with Ein and is deadlier than ordinary attacks. But that is just simple motions."
"An Exalt can flow the Ein in certain ways, to attack in a particular manner, and to twist the nature around them. Those are spells. Spells are technique...
2022-06-18 03:13:42 +0000 UTC
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One of the best features of the Outer Hall was the training area. It contained many private rooms for individual training to meditate for days, food reserves so a person could stay for a long time, and combat rooms where students sparred.
Within one of the combat rooms, Oscar and Frederick traded blows.
They reserved it for the entire day to hone their Lower Apprentice Exalt powers. Simply having the power was not enough. They needed to sharpen themselves and be versatile in utili...
2022-06-18 03:12:11 +0000 UTC
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Oscar snapped his eyes open; a glow of blue streaks in his pupils made him seem unearthly. A coat of blue Ein flowed out, encasing his entire body. He felt incredible power flowing through him.
"That's how you do it! Congratulations, Os!" Frederick was happy about Oscar's success. He was worried when Oscar started bleeding, but it all worked out.
"Here's a napkin," Frederick said.
Oscar did not notice the blood until Frederick mentioned it. There was blood on his clothes and...
2022-06-18 03:11:03 +0000 UTC
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Weeks passed since the Ein Amassing Elixirs were distributed. Although no one knew the reason, they could feel a sense of foreboding. As if this were a respite before a horrific event.
Knowing that these vials were early for a reason, all the new students had locked themselves into private meditation. Except for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, they all stayed inside to train.
Oscar was not an exception. He continually came down early morning to rest on the grass but cut his rest sho...
2022-06-18 03:09:23 +0000 UTC
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Dawn broke out over the Blue Ocean Pavilion. The two suns rose as their soft morning light beamed on the Halls of the Pavilion, followed by a breeze that tickled the blades of trees and swayed the tree branches.
None of the students were out yet, as they were still asleep. Only a few of the Pavilion staff and elders woke up to do their early morning duties.
However, there were two boys up and about outside their dorms. Oscar was lying on the wide plain, not minding the grass stain...
2022-06-18 03:08:03 +0000 UTC
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Exalts were powerful individuals who stood above all others.
From the moment a person is born, they are either blessed to have an Exolsia core that allows them to ascend into Exalts or not.
However, that is only possible by the great amount of Ein that permeates the world. Ein is the quintessential energy that is the basis of all things. The Exolsia core is the funnel that sucks in Ein and processes it to integrate with the person.
The more Ein it collects, the more the Exol...
2022-06-18 03:06:35 +0000 UTC
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The Palace of Receding Tide was one of the gigantic palaces Oscar observed from on top of the airship. Great spiral pillars surrounded its walls, supporting the great arches above. All around the walls were pedestals that held the statues of past Exalts.
They lined around the entire palace like eternal watchers eyeing the next generation of students. Oscar felt overwhelmed by the presence these statues emanated. These statues gave him the feeling they were alive.
"Fred. These stat...
2022-06-18 03:05:14 +0000 UTC
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Oscar and Frederick finally came up to the mountain. However, it was more like a very steep cliff. It reached high up and was full of small bumps and grooves that allowed people to climb.
"Are you sure about this?" Frederick looked up.
"Do you want to pass or not?" Oscar retorted.
Frederick scoffed at Oscar's words and scrutinized his gaze across the cliffside. Then his face lifted in delight as his finger pointed toward a particular spot midway up to the cliff. "There it is...
2022-06-18 03:03:35 +0000 UTC
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Robert Levitt was watching from the control room; several images floating around showed all the students undertaking the trial. Somehow, he could see all the images simultaneously, and after hours passed, his closed eyes perked slightly. He strode toward a particular image, showing Oscar being saved by Frederick and throwing his token at him.
"This boy is quite honest. He could have kept the token to himself but given it up based on his principles. The other also saved the boy, but from...
2022-06-18 03:02:23 +0000 UTC
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"Then let us begin." Robert's aged yet domineering voice echoed across the large courtyard.
The crowd tensed up at Robert's words. The Blue Ocean Pavilion was the holy land for all developing Exalts in the Brilliant Drake Empire. The heaven for those who were found worthy but hell for those who fell short.
What sort of trials were we walking into? How many people would even pass? These questions occupied their minds. If they failed here, then they might as well leave and give up a...
2022-06-18 02:59:08 +0000 UTC
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On his bed, Oscar was reading one of the books he had brought. Whenever he was down and needed encouragement, Oscar would delve into reading. Right now, he was bothered by the previous conversation with Lewis about Exolsia and Anima.
He did not put it down until Lewis opened his door.
"It's time. Get to the deck." Lewis did not linger and went away to inform Isabella.
Oscar stepped onto the deck, seeing Lewis and Isabella laughing while he felt isolated. He did not mind bein...
2022-06-18 02:57:23 +0000 UTC
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"You make sure to behave, alright?" Gwen wept as she hugged her son, Oscar, tightly.
"Mother, you're going to break my spine!" Oscar flailed his arms, trying to escape so he could breathe. But his mother squeezed harder in response.
Henry managed to separate his wife from Oscar before he could suffocate to death. Gwen's face was messy with tears. Henry held it together better than his wife, but his obsidian eyes were slightly wet.
"Don't worry, Mother, Father! I'll visit the...
2022-06-18 02:51:35 +0000 UTC
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Two bright suns started peering over the horizon, followed by the crowing of the roosters. The dawn brought forth a gentle breeze that swept over the fields of swaying grains.
On a hill overlooking the large fields of grain, young Oscar hummed a simple tune while flipping through an aged book. Its frail pages, yellowed by age, did not crumple or wrinkle under Oscar's delicate touch. His obsidian eyes followed the words on the pages.
"Oscar!"
Oscar heard his mother calling fo...
2022-06-18 02:32:07 +0000 UTC
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