Earthpne - Northern Arms Academy, Council ChambersHunter stood in the center podium of the chamber room, the trip from the b to here had been an eventful one.

  "Hohohoho! Met with our grandsons did you?"

  Two of the ten elder figures chuckled heartily. The Montbelliard elders were known for the shrewdness and cunning in the political ndscape. these two were particurly loved by NAA staff and students, even the other elders respected them and held them in high regard.

  "Yes, elders. They were....enthusiastic."

  Hunter choose his words carefully, he did not want to describe the two he had just met as 'fanatics' but the word did closely match what he experienced. They had looked at him as if he were some form of nearly extinct beast to be admired and obsessed over; it was an overwhelmingly unpleasant feeling which he had forced down his chest and managed to smile and nod politely at the twins who had fawned over him on his way here.

  "Enthusiastic eh? Hah! that's a mild way of putting it, when we offered them the chance to come visit NAA and meet with the current Face Tiers they began running around like headless chickens. It was quite amusing."

  The elders began chuckling among themselves once more. These people were the decisions makers of NAA, in order to be considered for a position such as this there was one prerequisite: You had to have been an Ace of NAA. It was for this reason that NAA had flourished into what it was now. Though even the elders were susceptible to the weakness of being grandparents. That is to say... they doted on them. Too much.

  "The other elders would also like to have the Face Tiers meet with their grandkids, perhaps we shou-"

  Hunter cleared his throat. If he did not interject he would be in this chamber for the next couple of hours.

  "Forgive me Elders, but I was led to believe there was an urgent matter which required our attention."

  "Yes, he is right you doddering old fools! Thank you Hunter, you are meeting our grandchildren though."

  "... of course."

  Hunter nodded.

  "Alright, now Hunter let's discuss your next assignment."

  - - - - - - - -

  Earthpne - Northern Arms Academy, Combat Training FacilitiesThe four aces and kings had made their way to the training facilities after leaving the auditorium. Emeric had issued a challenge to Naomi for her position two weeks prior and the time had come for the two to meet in combat. While the area they were in was technically still within the confines of the training facility, it was in fact a rge open field. Though it was commonly referred to as the Ace's hunting grounds as this was the only pce that could comfortably allow for the aces to cut loose without incurring heavy damage to NAA's facilities.

  "Perhaps we should have waited for our introductions to the newcomers. After all, I will be the Ace of hearts after this."

  Emeric spoke, his broad shouldered figure exuding confidence. He stood at the center of the field a few feet in front of Naomi. Naomi for her part smiled at his remark. a smile that did not reach her eyes. Pandora stood nearby, she had been designated as the overseer for this encounter.

  "In accordance to the rules set forth by the Council, I will oversee this match. remember the only rule. No fatalities. Failure to comply with this rule will result in an immediate dishonorable discharge followed swiftly by the appropriate punishment. Now combatants...."

  The air grew tense, the remaining kings and aces observed from the sidelines, their eyes focused on what was about to transpired. The kings had serious expression on their faces, wanting to learn as much as they could. The aces (Sage and Wolf) had smirks on theirs. A small rift in the space before Emeric and Naomi opened, from it emerged the handles of their respective weapons. This was Pandora's ability at work, she was able to utilize her Sein to manipute space.

  Naomi took hold of her weapon, a single edged straight sword, still in its sheath. She held it in his left hand while her right hovered slightly above its handle. Emeric also grasped his weapon, a halberd whose bde and shaft embossed runes. The two met each other's gaze for a moment and then..

  "Begin!"

  The shockwave that resulted from the initial csh lifted the topmost yer of snow and it now fell back down, though it swayed to and from with each csh of the blows. Emeric was being pushed back, in spite of the advantage that his reach provided .

  No, its because of his reach that he has been able to hold out this far, so this is why the people in her home sector refer to her as Sword Saint.

  Carlos observed. This was his first time witnessing an Ace in combat, all of his fellow kings desired to be an Ace one day, and they worked tirelessly to achieve that. But to see them in action now, that dream of their seemed but a distant hope.

  Distant but not unreachable.

  Emeric's halberd began glowing a rich pale color as he was sent skidding backwards by a particurly forceful blow from the back of Naomi's bde. Carlos understood why he had challenged Naomi, she was the newest member of the Aces, she had earned the title a year before he had enrolled in NAA. Which meant that she was likely the weakest of them. At least, that had been the logic he had used when expining his reasoning to Carlos.

  Halberds made of the same pale glow began to unch from each of his swings, wave after wave of projectiles being sent towards Naomi, who now sheathed her bde.

  "You know... "

  Her body was aglow with a pale red veil of Sein for an instant before she seemingly disappeared, the aces followed her movement without issue but the kings were not able to. To them it seemed as if she had vanished; only to reappear behind Emeric her back to his.

  "... I dislike being underestimated."

  Emeric's eyes widened, though even as they did he made to swing towards her. That was when he sensed her Sein intermingling with his own, he closed his eyes. He knew what would happen next. A violent explosion sent him back, his thoughts going dark as he hit the ground. Naomi sheathed her bde, her eyes on the remaining kings.

  "It is your right to challenge us. Remember this when you think to do so."

  She exhaled, letting go of that annoyed sensation she acquired when Emeric made light of her position. She moved towards Emeric.

  "Pandora, do you know why only Hunter was summoned by the council?"

  Naomi asked as she nonchantly pulled him out of a hole in the floor he had made when nding, tossing his unconscious body to wolf. Pandora shook her head before announcing to the onlookers.

  "Naomi wins the match."

  She then moved closer to Naomi.

  "I do not know, I asked professor Valdis to see if he had any idea but he also does not know."

  Naomi frowned. something about this whole thing did not sit right with her.

  "Wouldn't they summon all of us if it was a mission?"

  Pandora sighed, she knew very well where Naomi was heading.

  "Naomi, don't. The elders summoned Hunter for a reason, if they had need of us they would have summoned us as well."

  Naomi bit her thumb, it was one of her nervous ticks. She was about to to retort when Wolf cut her off as he picked up Emeric and carried him on his back.

  "Right, you two with me. Come on now, you are NOT letting me drag this guy to Lucrezia by myself. Last time that happened she chewed me out for half an hour on how it was irresponsible of us to dish out these beatings to the Kings. I am not going through that again... specially when it wasn't even me who had fun."

  The st was delivered as nearly a whisper. Both Pandora and Naomi shrugged and joined Wolf on his way to the medical facilities. Carlos muttered to himself.

  "Last time? But this is the firs time a king challenges an Ace."

  "Of this Generation yeah, but we've been around a while kid."

  Sage answered, he stretched out and yawned. Catching Carlos on the other kings unaware, they did not sense him approaching much less moving. Sage took one look at their expression and chuckled.

  "Come on now, you kings aren't about to tell me that you haven't been paying attention to your studies. You should know Face Tiers remain in NAA's employ until they are either defeated by an aspirant or take an outside position. The tter is nearly unheard of since NAA is usually offering top coin to remain here."

  "Sage what did Naomi do?! Emeric just exploded out of nowhere.."

  Annaliese asked in a hurried tone. Sage rubbed the back of his head.

  "Eh... is that how it looked like to you all?"

  They nodded.

  "Wow... ok, you probably should work on getting stronger before trying that again. You've all been kings for... what a couple of months at the test right? I understand that climbing ranks was a much faster process from Jacks to Kings. Becoming an Ace is an entirely different thing, so please don't approach it like you have been thus far."

  He yawned.

  "Right so to put it simply, Emeric experienced rapid Sein compression and decompression. Naomi nded several Sein infused strikes on his body which forcefully compressed his Sein with hers. There was a deyed effect because Emeric himself did not realize it until he tried to muster his Sein to strike at her, which in turn caused the decompression. All of that culminating in the explosion you witnessed. It's.... pretty basic stuff really, at least to us Aces it is."

  "Perhaps we are better off challenging the Wildcard then, I've heard he has no Sein."

  Mei suggested, something to which Sage ughed heartily at.

  "The title of Wildcard does not technically fall within the Face Tiers. It also cannot be inherited by anyone that possesses Sein. Though if you are thinking of challenging him, it is within you right. Just make sure you let us know first, we would love to see how you fare against him."

  "He has no Sein, how hard can it be to deal with him?"

  Mei continued, though the others agreed. They thought that it was only a rumor that the Wildcard had no Sein and now that an Ace confirmed it, they were curious.

  "You should know the title of Wildcard is new and made exclusively for him, it had to be as he is an anomaly. Not only did he defeat Naomi and myself. but made Pandora expend all of her Sein in order to barely eke out a win and fought Wolf to a standstill. Also, let me be clear: he defeated Naomi quite effortlessly."

  The Kings went from feeling smug to horrified at this news. A common enough response in this world which gave value to its denizen based on Sein. Sage chuckled, he never tired of seeing that reaction.

  "So yes, if you challenge him make sure to let us know. We would love to see that. Now come along, we have to inspect the second and third years."

  - - - - - - - -

  "Understood Elders. I'll depart immediately."

  Hunter exited the chambers. His expression neutral but his mind racing with thoughts of what he had just been informed of. The elders nodded, their demeanor serious.

  An entire vilge gone in a single night, remains that while completely desiccated belong to the residents who had been alive hours earlier and no trace of Sein. The elders have a point, given the circumstances I am best suited for the job. What could have caused this?

  He doubled his pace, it was his task to find out.