OP— 17

Title: Teams

"Well?" Rogue inquired once they returned to their seats however, Mana still kept the haughty expression on his face. Just the sight of which seemed to annoy most of the boys of the section even when none of them had anything to do with the Disciple of Green Heart.

"Well," Mana finally coughed, "I barely saved any form of friendship I still had left with the two of them. Of course, it's just me. You will have to chat with Mina if you wanna get serious about having a girlfriend this semester because this dork will dig your virgin grave up!" He pointed at Rogue while looking towards Dharma.

Dharma still recalled how easily Rogue had managed to repel a group of girls to the front row on their first day. He didn't want to live on a dry island anymore.

'But… is it worth it?' Dharma had his misgivings.

'They both are sisters and… it's true that nobody would usually act so enthusiastically even if we are Heart Disciples. Not to mention, those two are Pink Heart's Disciple, too. I never questioned their approach since Mana was accompanying me but now that I have a chance to distance myself from a possible disaster… again, do I really want to return?'

Unknowingly, silhouettes of two girls appeared in front of Dharma. His bright blue gaze dimmed slightly before he shook his head.

"See? Dharma understands me!" Rogue snickered. With Mana sitting in between Rogue and Dharma, he shook his head.

"You're saying this now. But I've read journals online. Most of the alumni disciples encourage to try and get to know a group of females from the very beginning. No matter how small or strange. And from my experience, Mina and Hina aren't all that strange."

"She tried to stab me yesterday…" Rogue pointed.

"A few moments prior to the act, your words were— Hina has more nuts in her head than I do in my sac. Go ahead, say that about anyone, I feel that the reaction and response will not differ by a large margin," Mana countered, his words persuading Dharma, too.

"Don't listen to him," Rogue snorted, "You gotta find a refined and gentle girl! What Mana is suggesting instead is to fall into the chasm of craziness."

The two continued arguing to the point where others began focusing on the whispering duo until Klyde entered the room and Rogue instantly shut up, his face twitching as his old injuries acted up again.

Unlike yesterday, Klyde seemed especially gloomy. His eyes being able to reflect the past, the present, and the future.

'Sigh, Pure's disheartened bloom is like a drug. A single sip of the petal tea is so overwhelmingly sad and yet… I want moar… too bad the turds don't let me binge drink this stuff,' Klyde sighed as he looked at the disciples.

"Follow me," Saying that, Klyde led the disciples towards the sect gymnasium.

The building was constructed near the Auditorium and when the disciples saw the large, empty interior with a wide space and sturdy wooden flooring that seemed well-cleaned and polished.

"Ah…" Rogue groaned as he gazed at the group of second-year disciples and spotted a blue-haired girl with unhealed injuries idly standing in the front. Her gaze slightly dazed with her right eye covered by a white patch and her left, dark brown pupils seemingly uninterested in everything.

"Vedra…" Rogue hissed under his breath.

"Senior Goat?" Mana inquired, his gaze following the focus of Rogue's hate and finding a rather impassive and petite girl who wore clothes much boxier than her physique but looking at injuries, Mana couldn't help but reveal a confused expression.

"It is time for the second-year disciples to choose their partners," Klyde spoke while most of the disciples revealed a confused expression.

"Chrome, step up and explain."

At Klyde's words, a youth with grey hair stepped forwards. His bushy hair covered his forehead while his extremely pale face only looked more haunted due to his ghastly yellow pupils.

"Yes, Professor Klyde," the boy replied softly and looked at everyone.

"Refer to me as Senior Chrome. I am the sixth personal disciple of Master Yellow Heart, otherwise known as Bronze Heart. In the curriculum of the sect, the professors only provide theoretical knowledge and little practical experience. For this, the founder of the Sect— Daoist Cobble— began a new tradition."

Letting his words sink into the first-year disciples, Chrome continued.

"Instead of partnering on a lateral term, he ensured that a group of three individuals partner based on their years in the sect. In essence, a team of First, Second, and Third-year disciples is formed for various tasks which shall continue till they graduate or change the teams for drastic reasons."

The disciples nodded.

"This also means that while the professors will work hard to clear any doubts that might appear in the path of our understanding, the said doubts themselves will appear as we work hard in the team of three and help each other grow."

Rogue's expression turned slightly distressed.

This was his second time getting chosen. Although, with his experience, he didn't think he would enjoy his team this time, too.

"Senior Chrome, may I?" Mira raised her hand.

"You may," Chrome replied with a nod.

"How are the teams chosen?"

"Individual decisions of the senior. That means, the senior who chose me for his team saw some value in me. And I will choose someone whom I find value in. However, the process cannot be reversed. A junior disciple cannot choose which Senior he or she would like to team up with. Finally, how the seniors decide to choose the juniors is up to them. Mostly, it is based on our strength and reputation so Heart Disciples like us get dibs on the potential junior disciples."

Mira nodded thoughtfully.

"Is there a case where nobody gets chosen?"

"No. In essence, every single one of us has some potential. After all, the weakest of us would still have a B-rank Aptitude and they can still become a great asset. However, certain qualifications do shine better than most."

"Please explain," Mira continued but unlike the annoyance shown by others behind him, Chrome smiled softly and nodded.

"These qualifications can be mundane or divine. For instance, the second-year Disciple from section B chose a woman named Roxy. This senior eyes the most curvaceous woman and is well-known among us to be extremely licentious and kind. So, for him, the greatest qualification is the beauty to his eyes. Then there is the Sect President Senior Big Mac. He chose a disciple who came from slightly worse backing but showed great promise. This is because Big Mac's family is known for external relations and hiring talented individuals to assimilate into the family. Have I been clear enough?"

"Yes, thank you," Mira nodded while adjusting her glasses.

Looking towards the gloomy Klyde who refused to say anything unnecessary, Chrome sighed and raised his hand.

"Since I'm the strongest of current Heart Disciple," his words agitating Rogue, "in the second year," Chrome smiled at Rogue, "I will be the first to choose a junior disciple. Before anyone else asks, I should explain that none of us knows anything about your origin and element. With that said, Junior Mira Kapoor, I would like you to join my team."

His words made Vedra frown and Lilia sigh.

Rogue wasn't the only one always challenging his master's wishes despite the obvious punishment.

'But for his own fun, Chrome can go far enough…' Lilia narrowed her gaze and stepped forward as Chrome pulled Mira away.

"You already know it so let's go," Lilia waved her hand noncommittally as Mana looked around.

'Does she really mean me? If I walk out and this kind of obvious phrase was meant for someone else, I would probably die of shame… but, she saw me naked, so she could only use such a familiar term with me, right?'

Thinking till here and seeing nobody walking out, Mana stepped forward and sighed at the lack of response from Lilia.

Though different from other girls due to the obvious lack of curves, the way Lilia dressed pulled many heads towards her direction, and even if she was petite…

Mana's gaze lingered over Lilia's perky butt captured by her tight denim jeans.

'Stop it! Stop it! She's master's half-sister… but… can I really look away from the call of booty?'

But when a dark green origin seemed to materialize in between Mana's gaze and Lilia's butt, he finally averted his gaze with a cough.

On the other hand, Senior Goat picked Dharma while Rogue sigh at his fate for being picked by Drake. But even Rogue knew that fate no longer had anything to do with him. It was just the consequences of his own actions.

Once isolated from others, Lilia leaned against the wall with her arms crossed below her chest, as usual.

"First thing I should explain to you that we both do not have a third-year disciple in our team. She graduated early and left the sect to pursue her objectives. The same is the case for Chrome and a few other second-year disciples and I, too, will probably graduate earlier than others."

Mana nodded.

"So, this means that while I may be able to instruct you, there might be no one to correct my mistake except for Forest. Now, after recess, you are to report here every day from tomorrow. If you are planning to take a leave, I need to be notified a week before unless it's an emergency. These would be our ground rules."

Mana nodded again, his thoughts still not in the moment.

"Since this is a 4-hour lesson, half of the time will be dedicated to personal training and the other hour to the sparring with your fellow disciples."

Seeing Mana nod without his usual flair, Lilia furrowed her brows but didn't inquire about things she didn't particularly care about.

"Now, I need to test your physical strength. You will perform basic push-ups, lunges, and pull-ups. We can only begin with the next half of your training if you can perform a set of an average of 120 reps for push-ups and pull-ups and 180 for lunges with 2-minute break in each of the exercises."

"Lilia… why would Senior Goat scratch herself?" Mana finally inquired as he recalled the marks on a certain someone.

"Cause she's bat-crap crazy! Now, stop poking your nose where it doesn't belong or it'll turn brown soon with all the shit in the world."

Mana nodded as he began with the exercises.

---

"Senior, why did you pick me?" Mira inquired as Chrome crouched on the floor with an idle expression.

"Because… I haven't found anything special about anyone. There are Drake's twin sisters with some potential but they got picked up by section B."

"Then?" Mira fell into an awkward position.

Looking up, Chrome smiled, "Because Vedra wanted you."

With a frown touching her brows, Mira waited for further explanation.

"You see, Vedra doesn't have friends. She had trash that she throws away sooner or later, and Jewels that she likes to hoard. Till now, she has made her Senior Disciple who chose her quite the sect, one of the Professors who wanted to create a harem to disband all the girls and opt a dharmic position, and a few other such cases."

Chuckling, Chrome continued, "She does not even respect her master that much. But she does admire his persistence of not being cleared out…"

Mira's lips twitched.

'Does she even consider White Heart a trash?!' Already shocked, Mira waited.

"But, she wants you. She chose to contact you," Chrome's eyes seemed to glow.

"And I trust Vedra's judgment. So, I decided to go with you. If it wasn't going to be you, then I would have waited and picked the boy with Origin Infection."

Mira was soon introduced to the concept that Mana was introduced to and they began their exercises soon enough.

---

"Begin," Vedra commanded simply.

"What?" Dharma inquired plainly. He felt a little stifled under Vedra's gaze and already knowing the bad blood between her and Rogue, he didn't have any good impression of Vedra. Not to mention the injuries and overall haggard display of Vedra.

"Did Rogue not introduce anything about the curriculum?" Vedra inquired but by now, she already knew the answer.

With a narrowed expression, she gave a simple explanation and stated.

"Begin."

Nodding, Dharma began his exercise.

---

"So… we should just spar, right?" Rogue smiled awkwardly while Drake sat down with crossed legs and closed his eyes.

"No. You will spar first-year disciples for the time being and then we both will train after your classes with Master Black Heart ends."

"Sure," Rogue grinned.

"Oh, did Sorya not choose your twin sisters for himself… because of you?"

Although Sorya was extremely into sexual relief, Rogue knew none other as kind as the youth. And although Sorya does look for beauties, he admired talent even more but not choosing Hina or Mina…

Rogue suspected Drake's involvement.

"In one year, Sorya managed to hook up with 85 female members of the sect, 84 of them not being with him and accusing him of spiking their drinks. I don't think Sorya is kind, and I don't want him anywhere near my sisters."

Drake replied plainly.

"Yeah… Sorya is perverted that way…"

"You mean a sexual predator."

"What? Hell, no. I would know a sexual predator when I see one!" Rogue snorted.

"No, you won't. Only their kind can know each other with a single glance. Remember Professor Guru?"

Recalling the poor Professor who castrated himself after six months of being in close proximity with Vedra, Rogue sighed.

"He can easily identify Sorya. Now… let me concentrate. I'm thinking about a rank 2 rune for my rank-up."

"Want some help?" Rogue instantly barked, more excited with the prospect of making Drake stronger only to beat him at his best again.

Looking towards Rogue's excited gaze, Drake thought for a moment and then nodded.

Insights from his rival would definitely help him.