Descending Into A Novel-Chapter 38:Special Class Get-Together (3)

"I primarily specialize in the usage of longswords. I am quite proficient in one-handed and two-handed but I prefer using a two-handed longsword. "

Clearing his throat, he continued. "Due to my innate power. I have reasons to believe that I will form a holy energy core. Due to this, I am currently studying first aid as well.

Raymond could see Audrina perk up slightly at his reveal.

Well, Raymond thought it was pretty obvious already but having it confirmed was probably different from speculating.

Holy energy and demonic energy were separate from mana. Whereas mana would develop a unique attunement once it reached a certain point. Demonic energy and holy energy just remained the same no matter what.

People forming cores with holy energy or demonic energy was extremely rare, but not unheard of. So it wasn’t suspicious and didn’t out Thomas as an angel immediately.

He could practically see the gears turning in her head already.

Seeing Thomas was finished and no else speak up, Raymond let out a sigh.

"I’ll go next then. I’m a mage as you all know. I’m unsure of what my core is going to be to be honest and uhhh...

He paused for a moment, now that he thought about it. He really wasn’t as noteworthy as them.

" I prefer using staffs I guess? I’m pretty decent at basically every magic discipline as well."

Noelle tilted her head slightly, "Basically every magic? What do you mean by that?"

He shrugged, "Well, I never struggled in casting for different magic disciplines. White magic, summoning magic, fire magic stuff like that."

"... "

Ellen went next, "I’ll go if no one else is. "

Seeing no one else went, she continued.

"I specialize in long distance archery and recently I managed to obtain Killian Halu’an’s inheritance, I prefer using longbows but I am decent with other bows as well. My innate power grants me enhanced vision and the ability to see weaknesses of enemies."

"... so that is how you were able to hit me."

She turned to face Audrina, "Well, If my archery was bad I wouldn’t be able to hit you in the first place even if I knew."

Ellen suddenly grinned, giving Raymond a bad feeling.

She gestured at Raymond, "Also, since Raymond is my Shadow. I have the ability to make him do whatever I want."

Noelle gave off a small hum, "Using it to make Raymond walk out of bounds. What a...smart play."

Noelle paused for a bit there, it seemed like she was about to say something else.

"Yes, he’s a very useful do-shadow."

Ellen also paused for a bit mid sentence. But it seemed like she was about to say something weird?

"So useful that it’s a shame."

"And why is that?"

"Because he would do better under me. I could make better use of him."

"Oh really? Such a shame then."

The two of them locked eyes, sparks flying in the air as they exchanged words.

"...guys?"

He looked back and forth between them.

Raymond could understand them arguing, they were practically born to be rivals from the start. But why were they arguing over him?

She crossed her arms, leaning back slightly. "You don’t deserve to have such a thing. Don’t you remember what happened to your pet dove?"

Ellen nearly slammed her hands on the table, "You were the one who ordered that servant to kill it! Besides, I don’t see how that is relevant here?"

"It’s relevant because it shows you can’t take care of your things. Didn’t you once admit to liking Joshu-

"And didn’t you once brag that you were drinking wine? But when you spilled it everyone could see it was just wat-

"Didn’t you once cry when your second dove was killed and cooke-

"Didn’t you once fall down the stairs during that banquet which The FullRomancers were attendi-

As much as Raymond would have loved to hear them continue to spill embarrassing stories about each other, he could already sense the two of them both drawing upon their mana and unfortunately he didn’t want it to devolve into a fist fight.

Making eye contact with Thomas who also seemed very intrigued at their argument, the two of them quickly nodded.

"What did you just say you b*tch?"

"Did you just call me a b-"

Seeing them stand up, he and Thomas quickly took action.

Standing up as well, he grabbed Ellen’s shoulder before she could pounce at Noelle. Luckily they were sitting next to each other.

"Let go of me Thomas! I need to teach her a lesson!"

"How scary! You can’t win in a fair fight so you can only resort to fighting an archer bare-handed?"

Ellen said that, yet why did it seem as if she was also dying to go at her!

Raymond lamented his own reduced stats. Without any spells right now, he was only a little stronger then an average male—he was struggling just to hold Ellen back from jumping over the table!

He pleaded with her, "Ellen please! Fighting here will cost us all too much points!"

Thomas did the same, "Noelle please stop this! At least wait until we are outside!"

"Then let her pay for it! A mere third place needs to know her place!"

"You only got first place because of Raymond! I would kick your *ss if it wasn’t for him!"

...

"Since the two of you have calmed down now. Shall we continue our self introduction?"

Noelle mumbled under her breath for a bit, "Fine. I practice the Asteria Armoury Arts-Spear Style. You all know what that is right? Due to some Asteria family methods, I have an astral affinity and my innate power lets me summon a suit of armour."

The Asteria Armoury Arts, an Asteria family exclusive arts which was responsible for most of their fame. The Asteria Armoury Arts were similar to Ellen’s self-created World Crossing Bow Arts but for all types of weapons rather then just bows.

The Grace family didn’t have any arts they were particularly famous for, the Grace family was strong due to its sheer numbers—with a private army consisting of some 30,000 awakened.

Most of which were veterans from the second Human-Demon war, many of them having fought alongside the party of heroes in the war.

Needless to say, even if the quality wasn’t as high as some members of the Asteria family. The quantity was high enough that it didn’t really matter—besides, they were all veterans of war. None of them were weak in any way.

Thomas offered a compliment, "The Asteria family is famous for the Asteria Armoury Arts, I hope to experience it one day."

"I’ll be happy to spar with you again using our weapons this time."

Now that left only one person.

With all their gazes on her, she cleared her throat.

"I primarily use daggers for close combat and throwing daggers for further distances. My Black Fog Arts lets me create a cloud of black fog which I can control. I prefer to use stealth rather then direct combat."

She left out the part of her mana core, to others—it would probably seem that she was unsure of her future.

But Raymond and Ellen clearly understood why. Human society was still unfriendly towards demons. Admitting you would form a demonic energy-attuned core was basically the same as admitting you were a demon or a demon contractor.

Audrina wished to hide her identity though, so Raymond and Ellen didn’t point it out.

The five of them continued talking for a bit. Mainly expanding more on their own strengths and weaknesses, potential team-ups and synergies between them.

Finally however, seeing the late time—the five of them each paid for their food and left the restaurant.

Since they all lived in the same dorms, they walked back together. Chatting on the way—although it was mostly Thomas doing the talking.

It suddenly struck Raymond that this was probably the most interaction he had with multiple people in a long time.

The past four years he spent it quietly next to Ellen, before that on Earth he was a loner, he only had a few friends in other dimensions who had never met one another and his friends in his home dimension had likely died of old age during his time spent in solitude.

Even as dysfunctional of a group as they were. Raymond couldn’t deny that having people to talk to felt nice.

Saying their goodnights, each of them got into separate elevators. With only Raymond and Ellen getting into the same one.

Listening to the elevator music for a while, he took the opportunity to ask Ellen something he had been dying to ask. "Who is Joshua?"

She huffed, "A bastard."

"..."

"Care to explain?"

She ran her fingers through her hair, sighing. "He’s this guy I once had a crush on, I was young and he was good looking. Turns out, he was only acting as my friend so our families could get closer."

Well, everyone was young at some point of their lives. Although it felt strange hearing that someone like Ellen once had a crush on someone.

"You had a pet dove?"

She crossed her arms, her lips pursed as she recalled the memory.

"Two, named them Whitey and Flyns. I brought Whitey along to an event and someone found it annoying so they ordered a servant to kill it. That someone is Noelle. "

"...and Flyns?", he asked.

"Some kids thought it would be funny to cook him and serve it to me. Ended up eating my own pet."

"...I’m sorry you had to go through that."

What kind of brain was even required in order to make the decision to mess with the only daughter of the Grace family!

Considering the Noelle knew about these events. It meant that they occurred before she was ten years old since that was the age she regressed to and he doubted that she would have repeated such events. Especially since he would have had to been there as a witness.

"It’s fine, I got my revenge on them anyways."

It felt awkward asking about these things, Raymond wasn’t exactly the best at comforting others.

Raymond quickly thought of a way to get Ellen into a good mood again however.

He turned to her, "Then can you tell me about some of Noelle’s stories?"

Her face brightened up, turning to Raymond with a grin on her face.

"I would absolutely love to."