Races: Online (VR Smartphone App)

"You get along with everyone, right?" Theodore said.

"Me?" Han raised his brows at the statement. He thought back on his own experiences during college and dismissed the idea.  "I don't think that's right, if we're talking about Mister Congeniality then I have to give that award to Sir Leon de Harrington."

"Not everyone can get along with Miss Ellynn here." Kai said. Somehow he quickly went along with Theodore's own statement as he nodded at the Half Elf beside him. "Is there any chance that you could join me for a meeting with like-minded individuals, perhaps?"

Ellynn shook her head promptly and resumed eating. Han thought that she'd be eager to talk with someone else, but then she didn't even warrant the other senior Mage a reply. Maybe it was because she didn't think it was worth the time? Well, it was Kai who asked.

"See?" Theodore said. 

"That doesn't count," Han rolled his eyes. "Nobody's going to talk with Kai here if they're that sketchy."

Kai seemed a bit pouty about the rejection.  "This is clearly an act and a ploy, but when I ask. I do ask nicely. My sincerity was not felt, it seems."

"It's like the story of the boy who cried wolf. If you've tricked them twice, they won't believe you on the third cry." Han shrugged. "But yeah, it really doesn't prove anything when you're comparing me to Kai in terms of charisma."

"—Han!" A voice suddenly called out to him. 

Han saw a small but familiar group of friends walk over to him. It was Teresa who waved at him and dragged the three other men with her. They were all there. Diov looked alright despite the events of last night, whereas Russel looked like he was sporting a massive hangover.

And Calum was just Calum.

"See what I said?" Theodore puffed up his chest. "Everyone."

"It really doesn't mean anything." Han rubbed the back of his neck and watched the group approach him. "How are you guys doing? Russel is not looking so good right now." He thought that the guy was hungover and not just ignoring him.

"Well he did drink much more than he could, I doubt he could actually attend class and listen well." Teresa snorted and took a seat. She glanced at Theodore and Kai. "So who are these two?" She invited herself in and seemed to be the one who could outtalk all three of her companions.

Han shrugged. "They're uh, upperclassmen. I guess you don't see them around since they're shut-ins." 

"Shut what?"

"Illusionary Mage." Kai nodded briefly. "A pleasure to meet you, Teresa Weaver." 

The woman blinked, but then averted her gaze. "Ah, so it seems that you've heard of me. You can just call me Teresa."

Han noticed the uncomfortable expression on her face and elbowed Kai. "Cut it out with the information-spill. Not everyone likes a know-it-all."

"That's like saying there are people who do like it." Kai grunted and clutched his side. "Besides, surely everyone else has heard of it when they're all friends here. There's Diov Brande, Russel Caulfield… and Calum." 

"Hmm?" Calum gave the guy a raised brow before he settled down at the corner of the table. Russel slumped over beside Teresa and got in between him and Theodore whereas Diov took the other edge of the table. 

"People would appreciate it more if they could speak for themselves," Diov said. He tapped his finger around and waited for one of the enchanted carts to head into their direction.

Kai cleared his throat and folded his hands together. "I do notice that Miss Lu Rei isn't around. Now where is that girl? Surely she's with you guys, isn't she?"

Teresa looked up with a frown. "This guy is asking about Lu Rei—"

Han coughed. "I didn't know that you knew someone from our class." The woman no longer seemed a bit upset about her name, or maybe she hadn't exactly been sad at all? Still, he gave the Mage a look. Teresa seemed to have a knack for noticing drama and this was a good one.

"Same nation, village rather—I look after her every now and then." Kai shrugged unabashedly. "But yes, is she still sleeping at this time? I guess so. That girl likes to take snake naps when she can."

"Snake what?" Diov raised a brow.

"It's when a snake goes out to a rock and curls around it to get some warmth from the sun?" Kai tilted his head and at the blank expression on their faces, he sighed. "It must be called differently here—I'm still a bit used to our home nation's slang. Excuse my words. But I do think my job here is done, at least for a while. I'll be leaving now." 

"Hey, wait up for me!" Theodore stood up from the table and pouted. He cast one look at Han and said, "After classes or maybe lunch—I'll introduce you to Sybeth. See ya."

Han's brows furrowed together, but the two idiots already left before he could say anything else. And yet it wasn't like he actually had any actual free time now that they were gone. Teresa had already pushed their breakfast plates around and was eating with them.

"That guy spoke about the high-leveled Blacksmith, didn't he?" Diov sighed and took a sip of his drink. "Your connections are good here, although I'm not sure how trustworthy those two are."

"Did that Mage guy have a thing for Lu Rei?" Teresa asked.

"Is that really all you care about?" Russel groaned and had his face on the table. "Are you sure that you're not the one who falls in love with every guy. You've been ogling at that red-haired guy."

Teresa rolled her eyes at the man's words… but then she cleared her throat. "But also, uh, hello to the two of you. You and Ellynn seem to be nearly finished huh?"

The young woman didn't seem to know how to talk to Ellynn. 

Han glanced at Ellynn and noticed that she had stopped picking out the food on her plate. But she was nearly done anyway. He scratched the back of his head and grinned. "Sorry, we weren't expecting you guys to show up. Or at least, thought you would have joined Lady Angelika and her siblings."

"They were busy studying, we didn't want to disturb them." Diov shrugged.

"We were studying too—right, Ellynn?"

"Yes." The Half Elf nodded. "Not much right now though. Han got lazy."

The sensation of wanting to cough up blood like all the Xianxia protagonists before him struck Han hard. But he just cleared his throat. "Can't study with an empty stomach." 

A snicker erupted from Diov. But then he nodded, "Well, I can't help but agree with that. Although, most of us manage to learn how to get through stuff without eating if necessary. The Advanced Combat classes aren't nice if you spew your guts out when fighting."

"Oh, is that what you guys take in a Primary Combat curriculum?"

"Yeah. It's strange to take Basic Physical Combat and Advanced Combat at the same time, but while the first one does take into account one versus one battles, the latter also takes into account the act of fighting in formation, listening to your superiors."

"To summarize, Basic seems to be more suited for those who want to be Adventurers while Advanced Combat class are for those who want to join the army. You learn the rules and fight with others cohesively." Teresa explained, but then cleared her throat. "Force of habit."

"No, you explained it better than I did." Diov waved a hand. "And that's great, since it's better than what any of us can do." The man gazed briefly at Russel still asleep and Calum eating quietly on the other end of the table.

Han scratched his head. "Honestly, it sounds like what you'd do when you start adventuring. But to put it together, armies fight in formation and are great because you have lots of numbers while Adventurers combat in smaller numbers?"

"Yeah. You can almost say that an Adventurer is a little bit stronger—"

"That's not true." Russel lifted his head. "People in the army have it more together. Proper armor, assistance from a Strategist or General and they can wreck a small group of Adventurers."

"Unless the Adventurers happen to be someone like Professor Uriel then that's not much of a benefit. The Swords of Glory might be on retirement, but I heard that they were enough to make the Beastkin Battalion to waver and break formation. You see, some Adventurers are strong enough to change the tide of a battle by themselves." Diov acknowledged, but then shrugged. "But I won't bother fighting with a drunkard."

"Oi! I just have a hangover!" Russel said. "And you said a lot of things, so you can't say—ugh, I should have stayed at the clinic. Could have gotten excused from classes if that had been the case."

"Do you want to fail classes?" Teresa rolled her eyes.

Han cleared his throat. "But if I'm listening to you guys correctly, does that mean that all four or five of you will make an Adventuring team once you graduate?"

Teresa cleared her throat. "Well, it depends… the pay in the army is actually better."

"Adventurers tend to have the short end of the stick at the start of their career." Russel said and rubbed his face. "Not everyone's going to plunge into a dungeon to loot, some of them will end up taking care of a sewer slime infestation or rabid giant rats in the forest. Maybe some would get hired to deal with goblin tribes." 

Han crossed his arms. "Is that a yes or a no?"

"Some of us can start teaching too once they graduate." Russel cleared his throat.

Han raised a brow. "Oh." Teaching was always the safest career path. His father once suggested that to him before too… his father. 

"Boring," Calum suddenly said.

"You don't have to speak up if you don't have anything nice to say, Calum!" 

—-—-

Author's Note: Please take note of another break this June 2021 for the Author. You can temporarily suspend purchasing Privileges unless I suddenly publish. Doubtful. But you guys from the start know the drill. Thank you!