The next day, Isshin, Rune, and Karin walked to class in a group. As they were getting settled, the topic of commissions was brought up. The teacher told them how students could take on various tasks assigned by the academy so that they can practice along with earning rewards. They were interested in the application aspect, but they knew that if they do not perfect their skills, they will not be able to conduct important missions.
Then they immediately headed for training, where Khalid observed them first before informing them about what they were doing wrong. He started with Rune. "You must have more close combat training," he said. Rune nodded, already considering how he was to do it.
Then Khalid turned to Karin. "Your actions are good, but you need to execute them faster. Speed is life." Karin did not underestimate him—efficiency was an area in which she knew she had to improve.
Lastly, Khalid turned to Isshin. "Your skill is good, but you're relying too much on the same tricks. If your enemies shift their tactics, you'll be at a disadvantage. Work on being more flexible, so you always have something that you can use against anything."
Obeying his instructions, both of them promised to improve. As Isshin had Raijin, his own improvement was naturally faster. Raijin took advantage of the opportunity to impart a new technique. "This is called Storm of Light," he instructed. "It requires a lot of Qi, but if you master it, you will be able to eliminate enemies several times stronger than your own level. But this cannot be done in one day. It requires patience and understanding."
The technique called for more than brute strength. Isshin had to create equilibrium between nature and himself, summoning the heavens and balancing his thunder Qi against them. After that alone, he could send lightning of ever-escalating size that would strike his adversary. The principle was simple enough, but there would be mastering it. Focused, Isshin sat meditating, hoping to master the technique, recognizing with each passing step towards idealism, he would be moving closer to what he wanted.
While he practiced, Raijin also instructed in a second skill—shaping his thunder Qi into a spear of pure energy. It required precision, complete mastery over his Qi, and absolute focus. Isshin practiced creating the spear over and over, refining his ability with every attempt. He ended his practice with more hand-to-hand combat training and concentrated meditation to further refine his control.
Rune trained differently, creating a small golem to battle with. By limiting himself to fists and a sword alone, he got great real-time combat training. Karin, on the other hand, developed her speed by utilizing her innate abilities in very much the same manner Isshin utilized Raijin. By employing her Qi and channeling it through her legs, she developed tremendous agility. To challenge her limits, she sprinted at top speed through the dense wild forest, weaving around trees and reacting to her surroundings, honing both her response time and movement awareness.
Following their training, Khalid put them together again. "It's time for you to encounter real combat. I've made the decision that we should take on a mission."
The team went to the Commission Selection Area, and Khalid looked over various requests there. There was one assignment that interested him—a report that there was an increase in monster activity on the western part of Crimson Kingdom's forest. The information was that goblins, wolves, and strange monkey-like creatures were collaborating to cause destruction.
The strange connection between these animals made the job extremely odd. Interested, Khalid chose to take on the request despite the dangers associated. However, he was certain that he could intervene if necessary.
With the mission in mind, the four of them prepared and entered the forest unaware of the ordeals that awaited them.
With Isshin, Rune, and Karin walking further into the woods, an unsettling feeling crept up on them. The trees remained abnormally still, and the road ahead of them seemed strangely familiar. At first, none of them dared to speak, assuming it was fantasy. But minutes passed and became close to half an hour, when the strange consciousness hit them—they had been moving in circles.
Isshin's brow furrowed, his eyes suspiciously darting about. Something was certainly not right. He reached out toward Raijin in his mind. "Are we stuck in some kind of trick?"
Raijin's response floated back listlessly. "Oh, you did? Took you long enough. You stumbled into the trap ages ago."
Annoyed, Isshin resisted the urge to make a snarky comment. "And you didn't think to warn me?"
"Where's the fun in that?" Raijin responded nonchalantly.
Before Isshin could answer, Khalid cut him off, his gaze sweeping around them. "So, when is he going to make a move?"
Rune and Karin exchanged a confused look. "Who?" Rune asked.
Khalid sighed. "The one who set this up. We've been in this illusion for thirty minutes."
All three stopped where they were. They stood in shocked amazement, looking at Khalid as realization hit them sharply. Isshin took a quick breath. "And you couldn't think of bringing it up any sooner?"
Khalid grinned wryly. "Where's the thrill in doing that?"
Their frustration mounted, but before they could protest, the deception began to break. The air around them wavered and the sky itself cracked like breaking glass. Then, suddenly, reality reasserted its grip. They were back in the forest.