The class schedule was simple. Students studied in the morning, and at noon they were required to go to the training field. This routine continued from Blazeday to Blessday.
Today was Blazeday, so Marcus had to report to the training field. The field was not an ordinary practice area. It was designed to give students real experience, almost like a controlled battlefield. At times it felt like stepping into a small wilderness, complete with roaming monsters. The creatures inside were weak, but still dangerous enough to teach the students how to handle real threats.
The purpose of the training field was to help students gain practical combat experience. They learned how to react, how to fight, and how to survive when facing a real opponent. Professors were stationed around the area, watching the students, guiding them, and giving instructions whenever necessary.
Training began at 2 P.M. and ended at 5 P.M.
And because today is Blazeday, everyone has to attend the training field.
Marcus looked at the clock on the wall and saw that there were still thirty minutes before training started. Since he had already returned to his room, he lay on his bed and opened the book he bought from the library hall.
The book was called Aton Language: West. In this world, where three kingdoms ruled the land: the Brames Kingdom, the Aton Kingdom, and the Hamberg Kingdom.
Each kingdom had its own culture and structure. The same applied to their languages. In the Aton Kingdom, the language was divided into three types: west, south, and north.
When he opened the book and read for a few minutes, he suddenly closed it and threw it onto the desk.
Why is it so hard to study? It was only basic language knowledge and some beginner grammar, yet I can't learn anything.
At first, he thought studying a language would be an easy task for him, but after opening the book, that thought disappeared immediately.
Maybe only someone like Lilian could say studying is easy.
He let out a long sigh, as if he had run into a problem he couldn't solve.
Sigh… why am I so stupid and useless when it comes to studying? I don't even need to compare myself to others to know that.
In his family, no one liked him except his friend. They always called him trash. Even if they never said it out loud or dared to whisper it, Marcus could see it clearly in their mocking gazes.
Ehh… what if I were the protagonist of some novel? What would they do to improve themselves and escape this situation?
As this thought crossed his mind, he let his imagination drift far away from reality.
Yes, they would try to improve themselves by working hard, or they would have some ridiculous luck like finding a wishing lamp and getting help from a god.
But I'm not them, so lucky encounters are impossible. Working hard might work… but every time I think about it, I always come back to the same answer. Even Lilian told me the same thing…
He sighed again and leaned his head against the bed. His hands rested behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling.
The only solution he could think of now was to work hard. He didn't want to, since he was always lazy.
Unable to think of anything else, he closed his eyes and took a short nap while waiting for training time to arrive.
After a while, the time finally came, and the sound of the bell echoed again. Today, the bell had already rung three times, which was very rare.
Marcus jolted awake at the sound and immediately got off his bed. Without wasting any time, he headed outside.
The training class did not require any items like bags. All he needed was himself, his focus, and the will to get through the afternoon.
He stood in the corridor and looked around, waiting for someone. The hallway felt a bit quiet, the air slightly tense as other students prepared for the same destination.
After a short wait, James finally appeared. He hadn't changed his clothes and was still wearing the same outfit from the morning, looking casual as always.
When Marcus saw him, he quickly waved his hand. Noticing the movement, James turned his head and spotted him. A small smile formed on his face, and he returned the wave before walking toward Marcus.
As Marcus met with James, they exchanged a brief greeting before heading toward the training field together.
Lilian was likely already there, so the two didn't bother waiting for her.
After walking for a while, they finally reached the hall. Compared to the other halls, this one was much smaller, only about a third the size of the combat hall. There were no decorations, nothing except a raised platform at the center. The platform's floor was etched with complex symbols, and four large white stone columns surrounded it, it seemed to supporting the entire hall. The stone was smooth yet mottled with age, giving the place a solemn atmosphere.
Marcus and James stepped inside but could only wait until the other members arrived.
The first person they noticed was Lilian. She wore the same uniform as she had in the morning, standing beside the central platform, seemingly talking to someone.
Marcus could only shake his head slightly. He was already used to these two acting like this every time they met, but there was nothing he could do except remain as silent as possible.
If he didn't, he would end up facing Lilian's wrath. That girl… once she was angry, it felt like a demon had taken over her.
Lilian seemed to notice the two of them and quickly ended her conversation, walking straight toward them.
"Why is it that every time I see you, my good mood instantly dies?" Lilian said, casting a sharp glare at James.
James shot her a matching glare and replied with a frown, "Do you think I want to see you? It was you who walked toward us."
The two immediately locked onto each other with piercing gazes, as if lightning was crackling between their eyes.
Beside them, Marcus let out a soft sigh and thought to himself:
Why does this look exactly like the scenes in those novels I read… and in the end they always end up together?
The thought made him laugh under his breath.
Yeah… maybe in the future those two will really become husband and wife, haha…
He tried to hold back his laughter, but a few sounds slipped out.
Hearing it, Lilian and James instantly snapped their sharp gazes toward him.
A sudden chill crawled down Marcus's spine. He immediately shut his mouth and looked away, afraid to meet their eyes.
The two of them ignored him and resumed their silent glare battle.
Sometimes they really look like demons… maybe one day they'll become devil gods or something…
Marcus sighed again and began thinking of ways to make them calm down.
But at that moment, everyone's attention shifted toward the entrance. The room fell silent without anyone noticing.
James and Lilian immediately stopped their staring match and looked toward the door along with everyone else.
Marcus also turned to see.
Standing at the entrance was a burly man, towering at around 2.3 meters tall. His face was lined with age, his skin a rugged brown, and a heavy beard covered his jaw. He looked like a man who had survived countless wars.
He was the professor in charge of overseeing the entire training field.
The training field wasn't one of the five main subjects, it was a side branch of the combat class. Unlike the main subjects, which had two professors each, this one had only a single instructor.
The man walked quietly toward the platform. But when he passed Marcus, he suddenly stopped and turned his head.
Marcus froze as cold sweat broke out across his back. Suddenly a terrifying image flashed through his mind
the man raising his massive fist and smashing him into a pile of meat.
The thought alone made Marcus tremble, on the verge of breaking down.
But the professor merely shifted his attention away and continued walking toward the platform.
Marcus released a long breath. It felt as if he had survived a monster attack. He stared at the professor's back with trembling eyes.
Why did he look at me? I didn't do anything…
He quickly reviewed his actions, searching for anything he might've done wrong.
No… aside from my usual routine, I didn't do anything special…
He shook his head, forcing himself to calm down.
Noticing his expression, James whispered, "Hey, I saw the professor look at you just now. What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything. Just my usual day," Marcus replied.
"…Did you, by any chance, skip his class last week?" James asked.
Hearing that, Marcus tried to recall last week, and after a few seconds, a realization hit him. He had been absent… because he was reading a novel.
Since when did my memory get so bad? Maybe I've been reading too many novels… my memory is getting a bit lost…
"Yes… I skipped that day because I was reading and didn't notice the time. But my father already reported that I was sick…"
Just as Marcus was about to continue, a deep voice echoed across the hall.
"Everyone, we won't be waiting for the others today. We will head to the training field first."
"Once I've sent all of you to the training field, I will return here and wait for the remaining students."
He paused for a moment, then added ,"Now, all of you, step onto the platform."
Everyone exchanged puzzled looks.
Normally, they had to wait for the entire group to gather before heading out together. But today, they were leaving early.
They couldn't question the professor, though. Marcus, James, and Lilian were also confused, but they quickly followed his instructions and stepped onto the platform.
The moment everyone was in place, the professor snapped his fingers.
With that snap, the symbols carved into the platform awakened in a cascade of radiance. Each rune shimmered like a fragment of descending starlight, weaving together into a circle of divine brilliance. A soft hum rolled through the hall, and in the next breath, their figures dissolved into the light and vanished.