Ruler Of Iron And Flesh

Alaric and Eli were sitting at a lunch table discussing the details of the fight that happened earlier with Ethan.

"That was crazy to see man. I knew Ethan was good, but I didn't know he was that good. I mean, you destroyed Finn when you fought him before, but Ethan fought on even ground with you."

Alaric was deep in thought, "he was...what I don't understand is what happened at the end. Was that some kind of teleportation?"

Eli responded, "I'm not sure. You would think that he would use it more if it was teleportation, but maybe it's something he can't always use? That's why he was saving it for the end."

"That could be. He was masterful in his fight! I would his really like to fight him again."

Eli smiled, "I would love to see that." His face dropped when he looked over Alaric's shoulder, "at your six o'clock."

Alaric turned around and saw Elizabeth marching over to where they were sitting.

He cringed a little bit as she said, "I'm ready to forgive you, Alaric if you can tell me what happened to you earlier." Her arms were crossed, and she was leaning on one leg, waiting for an answer.

Alaric sighed, "I got into a fight with Finn and his goonies. Burt stepped in to take care of me, and it was embarrassing." Alaric didn't tell her the details of him transforming, but instead made it sound like he was just embarrassed to get a teacher's help.

Elizabeth squinted her eyes as she scrutinized him, "that's it? Ugh, boys and their pride. It's going to get you in trouble someday!"

She sat down next to them and said, "that was an impressive fight between you and Ethan. I wish I could fight like either one of you!"

Alaric nodded, "we were just talking about how I want to meet up with him."

"Neat! You'll have another chance to fight him too at the end of the year. By the way, what are your goals in becoming officers?"

Eli and Alaric were a little taken back, and Eli said, "well, that's a random question."

Elizabeth shook her head, "not really, I've been asking everyone about their goals here. What are your guys'?"

Eli and Alaric looked at each other, but Eli spoke first, "my goal is to go up in status in society. If I make it to the end of my four years, then I hope to be a mecha commander. My status and pay will go up, and I can get my family out of the outer districts of Preah. What about you, Alaric?"

Alaric perked up, "I've always wanted the ability to go out of the city and explore the world! I want to learn more about monsters while also being able to defend my home here in Irigia. Being an officer would be perfect! Maybe I can get my personal mecha and leave on special missions or something."

Elizabeth clapped her hands together, "those are both great! My reasoning is that I want to be an officer like my mother. She died soon after the great war with the Kotus Empire. Almost right after she had me. I want to serve Irigia like her!"

Alaric nodded, "that's a great reason!"

He looked around and noticed how the students kept apart from one another.

He said to Eli and Elizabeth, "you know, our class has been a little separate from one another. Why don't we try and get a few to join us here? It could help us last longer here."

Eli shrugged, "sure! I'm okay with that."

Alaric stood up and asked a few students if they would like to join them. A few did, like Barry and Sarah who fought each other on the first day of the bright coin fights. Karen joined them as well. Alaric went to go ask Ethan as well if he wanted to join them but was answered with a, "no," before he even had a chance to ask anything.

"Alright, then." He went back to the table and joined the others.

Most of the students didn't care to sit with them, and some others were hostile. Imre, for example, went and sat with Finn and his cronies. Sides were starting to form in the cafeteria, except for Ethan who sat by himself.

Alaric spoke to the newcomers, "thanks for coming to join us here. I thought that we could stick together more. I know not everyone will be able to make it to the end of the four years, but I'm thinking we will have a better chance by supporting each other."

Barry and Sarah spoke together, "I'm in." Karen added, "I'm in too. Sounds like a good deal to me."

Alaric smiled, "great! Let's talk about the future here at the academy. Each year has a different test. This year is the bright coin fights; next year is the mecha competitions. Third-year is another test with the bright coins, but the last year is a team test. They have us go out together on a mecha patrol and fight a monster or two. I would like this to be the group."

Sarah added, "you know that we need at least one more for the last test, right? We would need seven people for the team test, and we only have six here."

Alaric slightly smiled, "don't worry, I have almost four years to convince a specific person I have in mind."

He nodded his head over to Ethan, who was still sitting at the table by himself. He was reading a book about the history of the war against the Empire.

Barry spoke matter of factly, "Ethan would be the perfect candidate to complement our group. However, he does not seem like a team player."

Alaric waved that aside, "I think if I can beat him in the bright coin fights, then I can convince him to join in our group."

Karen's mouth dropped open, "you're going to try and fight him? We all saw how strong he was last time. Good luck with that!" She finished sarcastically.

Alaric thought to himself, 'I have the rest of the school year. I can practice, and eventually, I can beat him.' He looked at his friends around him, 'we can bring him in!'