Chapter 394: A Week With the Principal

Vedas glanced at his Tamer as they approached the Academy’s private training grounds on Monday morning. "Arthur, why are you smiling like that?"

Arthur hurried along the path. "Because I’m finally getting my reward! A whole week training with Principal Steven!"

Vedas shook his head. "Yes, I remember. You mentioned it at breakfast, yesterday, and on the way here."

Star wiggled on Arthur’s shoulder, apparently sharing his excitement. Eden floated beside them, still recovering.

"Do you think the Principal will teach us something amazing?" Eden asked.

"Definitely," Arthur said. "Although you’re taking it easy today."

Eden puffed her cheeks. "I know. You don’t have to remind me every five minutes."

"That’s what you said five minutes ago," Vedas replied.

They reached a circular arena surrounded by walls. Three blue crystals stood on waist-high pillars: one to the west, one to the east, and one near the northern wall. Moving platforms crossed the floor, while barriers rose along narrow passages.

Steven waited beside a control pedestal. Behind a protective screen in the viewing gallery sat Mithra, Sun, and Athena, accompanied by Melo, Kong, and Athy.

Sun waved. "Arthur! Try not to destroy the principal’s training ground!"

"No promises!" Arthur called back.

Mithra laughed. "Father, are you sure the equipment is insured?"

Steven smiled. "It’s designed to withstand powerful Beast Tamers. Arthur’s enthusiasm is another matter."

Vedas counted the metal constructs lined against the far wall. There were many.

Vedas pointed at the constructs. "Principal, are all of those necessary?"

"That depends on how quickly Arthur learns," Steven answered.

Arthur grinned. "This is going to be amazing!"

Vedas sighed. "I was afraid you’d say that."

...

Steven brought up a glowing display of the arena. "Your task is simple. Protect all three crystals until the exercise ends. The constructs will try to strike them. One successful hit is enough to count a crystal as lost."

Arthur studied the positions. "So I just have to stop them?"

"You may use your existing abilities, but this is not a test of how hard you can hit." Steven tapped the display. "You may agree on a plan before we begin. Once the exercise starts, you’re limited to three emergency commands. Your partners must make the remaining decisions themselves."

Arthur blinked. "Only three?"

Steven continued, "In battle, your voice might be drowned out. Your companions must act without waiting for you."

Athena nodded from the gallery. "That was a weakness Darius exploited during the semifinal."

Sun leaned against the railing. "Arthur can handle three attackers himself, though."

Athy tilted her head. "Which is precisely why the principal isn’t testing his strength."

Arthur looked toward Vedas and Star. "Alright. Vedas, stay near the middle. Star, watch the east passage. I’ll cover the west and move wherever I’m needed."

Vedas nodded. Star bounced once.

Steven raised his hand. "Begin."

Six constructs rushed from the gates. Two headed west, one moved north, and three charged east behind a shifting barrier.

Arthur immediately spotted the larger group. "Vedas, help Star on the east!"

The command counter dropped to two.

Vedas obeyed, sprinting toward the eastern passage. Arthur intercepted the western attackers, sending one skidding across the stone. He knocked the second aside.

Then the northern construct split into two smaller units.

"Star, go north!" Arthur called.

The counter dropped again. Star slipped beneath a barrier and raced toward the northern crystal.

A fresh construct emerged from the west, where Arthur had moved away. He turned and saw a platform rising across his path.

Arthur called, "Vedas, get back to the west!"

The final command vanished. Vedas immediately changed direction, but the platform blocked his shortest route.

Arthur leaped over the obstruction. Another barrier rose between him and the attacker. By the time he cleared it, a metal fist struck the western crystal.

A sharp chime sounded.

[Western Objective Lost.]

"What? Already?" Arthur landed beside the pillar.

The constructs froze. Steven ended the round, leaving the eastern and northern crystals untouched.

Kong scratched his head. "That looked annoying."

"Arthur defended the west successfully at first," Athena observed. "Then he abandoned his position to supervise everyone else."

Mithra watched Arthur carefully. "And Vedas never had a chance to choose where he was needed."

Arthur faced his companions. "Sorry. I kept sending you from one side to another."

Vedas rested his spear against his shoulder. "I noticed the eastern group was moving too slowly. I suspected they were distracting us, but you ordered me there before I could say anything."

Steven joined them. "You saw almost every threat, Arthur. That’s impressive. But you treated your partners as extensions of your own movements. Your attention became the weakest part of the formation."

Arthur frowned at the three crystals. He could destroy every construct here. Somehow, that hadn’t been enough.

"Can we try again?" he asked.

Steven smiled. "That’s what we’re here for."

...

Arthur gathered Vedas and Star beside the central platform. "This time, I want your plan."

Vedas surveyed the gates. "I’ll control the middle. Star can reach the northern and eastern pillars through those low passages faster than either of us. You should stay west until a threat truly requires your attention."

Arthur nodded. "What if the constructs change direction?"

Vedas replied, "Then we change with them. We can see the threats ourselves."

Star stretched toward a narrow opening, demonstrating that it could pass through easily.

Eden cheered from the gallery. "You’ve got this, Star!"

Melo floated beside Mithra. "It’s adorable when the little one looks so determined."

"Star’s always determined," Mithra said. "Arthur just needs to trust it."

Steven reset the crystals. "Ready?"

Arthur faced his companions. "Ready."

The second round began with attackers rushing from all three gates. Arthur held the western approach, intercepting two constructs before they reached the pillar. At the center, Vedas blocked the northern route with his spear, forcing the attackers toward a narrow lane.

Star slid through a gap beneath the eastern platform. It stretched around a construct’s ankle and pulled it off balance. The machine crashed into a barrier before it could reach the crystal.

Sun punched the air. "Nice! Star got it!"

The constructs suddenly changed formation. Two that had been approaching Vedas turned east, while a new attacker accelerated toward the northern pillar.

Arthur opened his mouth to warn them.

Then he stopped.

Vedas had already noticed. He stepped sideways, striking one construct toward the eastern barrier. Star caught the second from below, while Vedas pivoted to intercept the northern attacker.

Arthur held the west.

Athena leaned forward. "He didn’t give a command."

Athy nodded. "And neither partner waited for one."

The moving platforms rose again, separating Arthur from the center. This time, he didn’t rush to cross them. He watched Vedas adjust and Star slip through the narrow route.

A heavy construct charged the western crystal behind a metal shield. Arthur stepped forward, golden light gathering around his arm.

[Guardian Strike]

He struck the shield’s edge rather than its center. The impact twisted the construct sideways, sending it crashing into an empty section of the arena without touching the pillar.

Mithra smiled. "He’s protecting the objective instead of chasing the enemy."

Steven glanced at the control display. All three crystals remained intact. The command counter still showed three.

He pressed another control.

A concealed panel opened near the western gate, releasing a fast construct that raced along the outer wall. Arthur prepared to intercept.

Vedas was already moving.

Vedas drove his spear beneath its guard. Rather than attempting to stop its full momentum, he redirected it toward Arthur.

Arthur understood immediately.

He shifted his stance and delivered a controlled strike that knocked the machine harmlessly onto an empty platform.

Star sprang across the floor to block a smaller construct attempting to exploit the opening. It flattened beneath the machine and toppled it before it reached the crystal.

A final chime rang through the arena.

[Training Exercise Completed.]

[Objectives Protected: 3/3.]

[Emergency Commands Used: 0/3.]

Arthur stared at the display. Then he threw both arms into the air. "We did it!"

Star bounced onto his shoulder. Vedas smiled.

Eden cheered so loudly that Sun flinched. "Arthur! Vedas! Star! You were amazing!"

Kong applauded, while Melo spun through the air. Athena smiled, and Mithra gave Arthur an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

Steven approached the three of them. "Excellent. I expected improvement, but not quite so quickly."

Arthur grinned. "Vedas came up with the formation."

"And you trusted him to carry it out," Steven replied. He turned toward Vedas. "Your King understands battlefield responsibility. Give him room to exercise it."

Vedas straightened with pride. "Thank you, Principal."

...

Steven invited everyone down to review the recording. The first attempt showed Arthur turning between crystals, issuing commands as his companions changed direction.

The second showed Vedas controlling the center, Star bypassing barriers, and Arthur supporting their decisions.

"That’s a pretty big difference," Arthur admitted.

Sun grinned. "I liked the part where you almost ran into your own barrier."

Arthur protested, "That was the first attempt!"

Sun grinned wider. "Exactly. It’s educational."

Mithra nudged Sun aside. "Ignore him. You improved because you stopped trying to do everything yourself."

Arthur smiled at her. "Thanks. I think I finally understand what Steven meant."

Mithra glanced toward Vedas. "You looked much happier in the second round too."

Vedas nodded. "I was allowed to make decisions instead of chasing instructions."

Arthur rubbed the back of his head. "I guess I owe you both a better first attempt next time."

Star bounced against his cheek, apparently accepting the apology.

Steven closed the recording. "Tomorrow, each of your Beasts will face a different challenge. You’ll be able to help, but you won’t be allowed to solve every problem for them."

Arthur’s eyes lit up. "Three different challenges? Can we see them now?"

Vedas placed a hand on his shoulder. "Lunch first. Please."

Eden nodded eagerly. "I’m hungry too!"

Kong raised both hands. "Finally, a challenge everyone can agree on!"

Arthur laughed as the group headed toward the exit. Tomorrow’s exercises sounded even more exciting, but for now, he was happy to celebrate a victory that belonged to all three of them.