My Soul card is a Reaper-Chapter 1015: Dreams of the Past: The Hunting Mission (1/3)
A boy with a composed expression and sharp, knowing eyes stepped forward. Yudhisthira, 12 years old, is the eldest of the three brothers and the leader of Team Pandavas. Unlike Bheema, his strength lay not in brute force but in wisdom and restraint.
He turned to Rael and Eon, offering a slight bow. "I apologize for my brother’s behavior."
"Eldest Brother..." As Bheema looked shocked, Yudhisthira fixed his gaze on Rael. "He sounds rough, but he doesn’t mean anything bad."
"Doesn’t sound that way by how he left his desk and made his way toward us, only to insult us when we were minding our business," Eon replied. Her tone was firm, and a frown of displeasure appeared on her face.
Yudhisthira smiled. "Actually, we received the same mission. He was here to talk about making an agreement in order not to clash over the monsters later on." His voice was pleasant, and his tone laced with politeness.
Bheema gruffed and looked away, crossing his arms to his chest tightly.
Rael, however, remained impassive. He would never admit that his sister was wrong, even for formality. Hence, he glanced at Arjuna, who had been silent through the exchange.
"Arjuna, don’t take it to heart," Rael said simply.
Arjuna, walking toward them and stopping just behind between his brothers, shook his head. "She isn’t wrong anyway." His voice was steady, without bitterness. "I went against my grandfather’s orders. Without my soul skills, I didn’t have a chance against you."
Rael folded his arms. "That was no excuse to throw away a fight, though. Nevertheless, one day, I hope we fight again—without constraints."
A small smile tugged at Arjuna’s lips. "We might, very soon."
The evening sun cast a golden glow over the rented mansion. Inside, Rael, Eon, and Artaigne sat around a wooden table, a flickering lamp casting shadows against the walls.
It had been ten days since Rael and Eon got out of the dungeon. The space had become familiar, a home away from home. Artaigne, on the other hand, was still bound to the academy dorms. She had tried to request a transfer, but the academy had strict rules—unless there was a valid reason, no exceptions were made. Unlike the siblings, she had none.
Still, she didn’t seem to mind. She had grown used to dorm life. Not to mention, the academy doesn’t prohibit her from going out, as long as she returns before 10 p.m., when the Elementary dorm gates will be closed.
"So, about tomorrow," Rael said, leaning back. "Ten Vulcan Beasts won’t even be a warm-up. We’ll finish the mission in no time. What else do we do for the rest of the day?"
Eon smirked. "We could go exploring. The nearby islands, the wilderness—there’s plenty to check out."
Artaigne shook her head firmly. "No."
Rael blinked.
Six weeks ago, she would have hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. Now, there was confidence in her tone, a sharpness in her eyes.
"We already fell into trouble once," The princess continued. "We need to be careful this time."
Rael studied her. He had been watching her during class throughout the past week. She wasn’t the same timid girl from before. She spoke up more. She looked certain of herself. She had read enough books to fill in the gaps of their knowledge, guiding them when they weren’t sure of things.
What happened in those six weeks?
He wanted to ask, but he didn’t.
Eon shrugged. "Then how about we stay on Vulcan Island and take down more of their kind instead?"
Artaigne nodded. "That works."
Rael exhaled quietly. "Fine, fine. We’ll do it your way."
For now. He added as an afterthought in his head.
Morning sunlight bathed the academy grounds in a soft golden hue as Rael and Eon made their way through Sector 4, where students of special division gathered before departing on missions. The air was filled with murmurs of anticipation, the occasional clang of weapons as teams checked their gear. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
They spotted Artaigne near a marble fountain, her back straight, eyes sharp.
"You’re early," Eon remarked as they approached.
"So are you," Artaigne replied with a small smirk.
The three of them then proceeded to their assigned mentor—Vice Principal Ban Zhao.
Unlike the other students who are experienced enough to go on their own, they had a mentor. Moreover, their mentor was one of the highest-ranking figures in the academy itself. Ban Zhao stood with her arms folded, an air of authority radiating from her every movement.
Without wasting words, she led them on a flying carpet. In just a few hours, they had already traveled thousands of kilometers, reaching their destination.
The journey was quite smooth and brief. Ban Zhao’s barrier spell protected them from winds and a potential fall from their high-speed travel.
As the Vulcan Island came into view, Rael narrowed his eyes. A wasteland stretched before them—jagged black rocks, scorched earth, and not a single tree in sight. Pockets of steam rose from the ground, the remnants of an ancient disaster.
Landing on the shores of the island, Ban Zhao retrieved the magic carpet back into her storage ring and turned to them. "This is where my assistance will end."
They looked at her in surprise.
She continued, her voice even, "Unless you are about to die, I will not interfere. Consider this a real battlefield. Act accordingly. So, treat my presence as nothing from now onwards. I don’t exist, understand?"
Rael, Eon, and Artaigne exchanged glances before nodding.
"Understood," Artaigne answered.
With that, they stepped onto the island, the rocky ground hot beneath their boots.
Ban Zhao simply watched, arms crossed.
They ventured deep into the island, moving with caution. The landscape was barren, filled only with crumbling cliffs, cracked ground, and molten veins glowing faintly beneath the surface.
It didn’t take long before Rael stopped and gestured forward.
"Five of them," he whispered.
From behind a boulder, they peered at their targets. Five Vulcan Beasts lumbered across the terrain, their spiked, bipedal forms covered in thick, charred scales. Their eyes burned with a dim red glow, their breath releasing wisps of steam.
"They’re just wandering around," Eon noted. "Not very alert."
Rael smirked. "Good. That makes it easier."
He glanced at his teammates. "Eon, you use the Hourglass to stop time. I’ll finish at least three of them before time resumes. The moment it does, you can use your innate ability to freeze the last two. Artaigne and I will take care of them."
Eon gave a nod. "Solid plan."
But Artaigne shook her head.
Rael raised an eyebrow. "You disagree?"
Artaigne met his gaze steadily. "I have a better idea."
Rael blinked, surprised once again. "Alright," he said after a pause. "Let’s hear it."
Artaigne explained her plan, her tone confident and precise.
When she finished, Rael and Eon looked at each other.
"She’s different," Eon murmured. "Not just in strength—she seems to have changed as a person."
Rael nodded in agreement. He had noticed it, too.
They watched as Artaigne stepped forward alone, striding toward the unsuspecting beasts.
The five Vulcan Beasts noticed her instantly. Their eyes locked onto her, their bodies tensing. A low, guttural growl echoed in the air before they charged.
Rael and Eon stayed back, watching.
Artaigne didn’t flinch. She leapt into the air, her coat waving behind her. A mystic seal flared to life in her palm, glowing with an eerie blue-black radiance.
"Sealing Art: Shadow Bind!"
