Spirit Taming

The sudden appearance of the crag salamander made the younger guards react with an instant fear. This was one of the beasts that they were warned not to face since they were not strong enough. Specifically because of the tough rocky armor that naturally grew scales on the crag salamanders.

The fact that the crag salamander was an offshoot of a beast that Clark knew all too well did not sit well with him. He knew he would most likely see other beasts like what the oldest Mourne family son had. Like the beast that had killed his parents.

However, he had not realized how much he had failed to control his own anger. He had trained harder and harder. Built relationships with trusted people around him. Formed connections to prepare for an all out battle and take Nova back from the control of those that didn’t even value human life. Let alone beast life.

Yet, right this second, Clark felt that his heart had sped up to triple the beats per minute. His adrenaline had pushed him in to a battle hardened state. One that the dragon energy in his body reacted to and made him feel the most basic of instincts. Fight or flight. But as Clark and all those around him knew, running was not an option anymore.

The dragon energy would not allow this. The flowing storm meditation technique did not feel anything. Clark would never flee from anyone or anything that threatened what he believed. Not a single thing would stop him. That was why Professor Wright didn’t flinch when she saw Clark dash forward with his black lightning spear in hand.

Surprisingly, the group saw Clark throw throwing needles for the first time in a while. They had been the ideal longer reneged weapon to distract the crag salamander. The needles hit right where the cracks of the larger earth scales met. Where lava wasn’t following because the crag salamander had left the magma pool.

The attack was just a pinprick. But that little prick of pain was enough to attract the attention. Anyone would feel a small prick of pain in their leg joints more than anywhere else. The joints were a place that every beast or being in general would feel an attack in the most. The weak points of most species.

As Crim appeared from the taming space, Devi was able to go unnoticed and remain hidden. Crim’s roar in dragon from proved to be much more intimidating to the crag salamander than expected. The salamander was prepared to strike out at Clark, but the oppression of a dragon energy and a dragon’s roar was enough to make it hesitate.

The perfect opening for Clark to slash downward. The lunar dragon spear techniques attack was enough to crack the dense scales it would normally boast about in any fight between fellow beasts or crag salamanders.

The sharp crack of shattering scales gave way to the sudden hiss of the molten blood that was flowing out of the body of the crag salamander. It would have been able to hiss and retaliate with its large claws if Devi wasn’t right there.

Devi had struck out with a shadow claw while still remaining invisible. The sudden attack had matched Clarks and split right through the scales leaving another devastating injury that caused the neck of the crag salamander to look as if it was barely hanging on.

The intense shift in the sudden battle left the younger guards wondering what they had just witnessed. They had been ready to retreat the moment that the crag salamander had shown itself. But they would not have been able to do so with their current failed formation.

Instead, they had witnessed a kid younger than themselves easily destroy the beast that had threatened their lives. It was something that should not have been possible. Let alone those that were clearly not from around here. Even the radiating dragon energy around Clark was enough to prove that he was not some average person. He was clearly well above what even the youngest in their academy could potentially do in battle.

When Clark recovered his pounding heart and was able to take a deep breath, Devi moved to take a position near his shoulder and secretly helped calm him down. Crim took a forward position and made sure he could defend Clark if the younger guards made a single movement toward the group or Clark at all.

"We are heading to Solar academy city. This is the right path, right?" Clark’s somewhat calm words were enough to make it seem like he hadn’t even thought twice about defeating the crag salamander. But as the body hissed and sputtered while cooling off, the guards realized that they couldn’t match the same calmness.

After a moment, the rest of the group appeared and started to back up Clark. Professor Wright stood somewhat in the back allowing for the emblem of Nova City and Nova Academy to be seen easily. The fact that she did so wasn’t just to show off the fact that these students were under her protection, but also to snap the guards out of their trance. It made them understand that anything they did could damage the integrity of any relationship with Nova.

"I am the captain of this training squad. We are on routine patrol. As much as we would like to send you to the city with us as a guard, we are not permitted to return until we have traveled our route. If you follow the x marked path you will come to the front entrance. If you follow the y marked path you will meet an outer guard camp that will take responsibility for you."

The response wasn’t negative, but it was very clear that the orders from above were much more important than being rescued. This also proved the mentality of these guards from a young age. Even as the guards started moving, they did not look back. It made everyone slightly unhappy seeing that they didn’t get a single thank you at all.

"That is how things will be. Solar Academy is very driven by their orders and their battle formations. You will find the same mentality in most of their people. They are a military run academy. Similar to Lunar academy." Professor Wright sighed. She had many opinions that many people shared about Solar and Lunar academies.

Between the two, the fact that they had shifted to different styles of military academies was well known. Solar made every single young person join their academy and learn as a soldier from the day they could walk. It was just the way they grew and maintained their city. Naturally, Lunar Academy did the same, however, the mentality was slightly different.

"Solar Academy seems more hard headed and following their rules than anything. It’s annoying." Ralph of all people came out with this making everyone wonder what just happened. When they thought of hard headed, they imagined Ralph more than most other people. But by comparison here, Ralph was very relaxed.

"Wait, so what about Lunar? They didn’t seem so hot headed and stiff when we met them in Nebula." Since Maria had seen Lunar Academy a few times in the colosseum, she had a decent opinion about Lunar Academy and Solar Academy. She didn’t understand why the two might be the same in a way.

"Lunar academy is less stringent. They believe in flexibility. The adaptation of plans while avoiding more trouble. That is just that though. They will still follow orders. Just in a more adaptable way." There seemed to be a few expressions and a tone that told the group that Professor Wright had seen the best and worst of these styles. It made them all wonder what she was like when she was out and about traveling before she became a professor.

"Regardless of either styles, we should head to the city. I don’t want to see more guards. I don’t know why they told us about a camp." Clark felt a little annoyed now that he had calmed down. Mentally, he was berating himself for just rushing out. But helping others wasn’t anything against what the group believed in. Only a few had noticed his sudden anger.

"That is to test if we wish to join Solar Academy. Some smaller villages remain around the volcanic environments of this area. It is perfectly acceptable for them to do so since they have merchant relationships with them. The materials Solar Academy needs are very large in number. The villages gather them and have the right to send their children for education. Not that they said that to us for that reason. They want to see if we are on official business rather than personal."

There were many things that Professor Wright was sharing. It was much clearer that she had a better handle on such a strict city and academy. Therefore, everyone listened carefully. Even Brad remained at full focus so that he could act as necessary. None of them felt like starting a bunch of drama here when it was clear that everyone was so hard set in Solar City.