My Soul card is a Reaper

<strong>Fire:</strong> Fireball

<strong>Water:</strong> Stream of water

<strong>Lightning:</strong> Speedster

<strong>Earth:</strong> Rocky Armor

<strong>Wind:</strong> Air Float

<strong>Light:</strong> Healing

<strong>Dark:</strong> Night

"Okay, let's do with the ones that I'm familiar with, first," Azzy mumbled to himself while reading the guidebook or instruction manual that had the brief descriptions about the known skill cards that are usually found in the card stores.

Unlike the other skills, these seven of them usually don't need any kind of mental skills or dense soul energy. All one needs is either sufficient soul energy with the ability to add an attribute to it or just corresponding elemental crystals to create them.  In modern terms, these skills are called default cards.

There's an additional condition, which is that the maximum soul power consumption must be equal to or less than 999 i.e. lower than rank-4. Of course, one can still create higher-rank skill cards using more soul power. However, one might need a high level of concentration for that.

Because of complete absorption talent, Azzy only took out a couple of fire crystals that are bought from a local card store. They were deep scarlet in color and each crystal is about the size of his hand.

He placed his left hand on the blank card and his right hand on one of the crystals. "Absorb."

In an instant, all the fire energy was absorbed into his body, leaving behind nothing but powder. However, Azzy didn't refine it and instead, redirected the energy from his other palm towards the blank card. Since he wasn't a fire attribute user, it was the only way he could create a fireball skill card.

After pouring all the fire energy, Azzy felt it wasn't enough for a three-star one, so, he absorbed the second crystal too. Soon, the image of fireball appeared on the front of the blank card with three silver-colored stars on the back.

"Good, now, let's go for the next one."

One after another, Azzy created three-star skill cards of different attributes with the help of elemental crystals. After a year of practice, Azzy didn't face an issue creating those cards. Of course, that was the case for only up to three-star. After all, lower rank cards just need him to redirect the energy into the card and make sure the inserted energy doesn't go out of control.

However, from four-star and above cards are entirely different for him. On his own, Azzy couldn't do four-star cards of Healing and Air float skills.

His master Barton, who looked after his training from time to time during the past year thought that it has mainly due to his attribute relationships like his lightning is weak against wind and his dark is opposite of light, but the truth is that Azzy just wasn't interested in card creation in the first place as in his view, death energy is the real force behind his skill card. What is the use of creating other attribute skill cards? It's a waste of time for him.

That's why, despite having talent, apart from creating laughing skulls, Azzy didn't put much hard work into card creation.

"Senior, help me," suddenly, a piercing cry was heard from the corner of the classroom, disturbing his concentration and forcing him to reabsorb the wind energy from the blank card and turn in the direction. The others also halted their work for a moment.

It was none other than Estella and Anner. The little girl has this panic expression on her face as her soul energy is about to go out of control and is on the verge of exploding. On the other hand, Estella was busy with her own card creation, not paying even a little bit of attention to the one who sat beside her and behaving as if she was alone.

*Boom*

The card exploded, releasing a thousand joules of energy. Just as Sahara was about to make a move, a portal suddenly appears behind her seat and suck her inside before disappearing and reappearing a few meters away along with her seat.

"Eh?" Anner looked around herself, widening her eyes in surprise as she found herself right beside the Vice-principal on the stage. The other students were also looking at her in surprise. Meanwhile, Estella blocked the explosion with a palm. It was only rank-2 strength. So, for a peak-rank-5 like her, it isn't worth noting.

However, her reaction brought a frown on Sahara. She immediately berated her, "student Estella, I believed that I told you to look after mentee. If you don't want to mentor her, you should have rejected it earlier. Thankfully, student Louis saved her, or else, student Anner would have been heavily injured."

Usually, a person like her who possesses two platinum grade Arcana will be treated like a princess even in Dragon Academy. However, Sahara didn't treat her that way because her academy where she poured sweat and blood to run it for nearly 250 years is now being sold to Eternal Institutions. If not for the enormous price, she would have directly abandoned her post or might have even divorced Barton for his decision that was taken without her consent.

And so, in her view, whether Estella stays in this school or not doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is Azzy's growth considering they have a connection.

Her response surprised Estella a little bit but she didn't justify her actions and calmly replied, "I have no intentions in mentoring anyone, Ms. Fauns."

Anner's facial expression darkened further by her blatant rejection. It was the second time she was rejected, first by Azzy, and now by Estella. At least, Azzy was nice that he stated it beforehand but Estella, on the other hand, is far worse. She accepted her but doesn't have intentions to proceed with mentoring. It would be a lie if she would feel good. Anner felt like complaining to her father and transferring to another school.

Meanwhile, Sahara took a look at others at asked, "And if there's anyone who has the same intentions as her, say it now. If you don't say it now, I will not tolerate any irresponsible behavior in the future."

Unlike Estella, the others were the students of the Aclein Academy and weren't as arrogant or talented as her. So, even though some of them didn't want to waste time mentoring their juniors, none of them stepped forward.

After a brief silence, Azzy raised his hand, "if junior Anner won't mind, I have no problem in mentoring her too."

He felt a little bit of guilt for rejecting Anner earlier and chose Flora over her now that he realized Estella doesn't plan on mentoring the granddaughter of Aegis Light, his benefactor. However, it isn't the reason he came forward but it is the Reaper who reminded him about the Buddhist scripture that was won by Aegis during the Royal Feast after the Champions League. Making a favor on her would only get him closer to Aegis and let him gain knowledge from that ancient book.

"Eh?" Anner was once again taken aback by Azzy's move. She doesn't know how to react. It was at that moment Mia came forward and said, "Azrael, I think it would be better if I mentor her."

"Huh?" It was Azzy's turn to get surprised this time. The others also looked at her while she gave her reasons, "first, we are relatives. Second, lately, I'm training in modern weapons. And finally, my partner is junior Annabel, who is an eighth-grader. So, I don't think I would be stressed by looking after two people."

Not only Azzy but the others also felt her reasoning is good but what will Anner do? Choosing Mia will be an obvious choice but rejecting Azzy is the last thing one can do.

Anner also knew that very well. It was a difficult choice for her too. As a result, she went silent, not knowing who to choose. Sahara was also in a tight spot. She was on Azzy's side but Mia's argument is correct, moreover, both of them are good friends and the presidents of respective student bodies. So, she didn't interfere and let the little girl take the decision.

After a whole minute of silence, Anner Light finally opened her mouth, telling that she would accept Mia as her mentor and apologized to Azzy, to which the latter waved his hand with an indifferent expression and replied that there's nothing to worry about.

The Reaper let out a sigh, "you have lost a good opportunity, Azrael. But then again, neither of the girls brings any kind of change in your life whether in the present or the future. So, it doesn't matter either way."

The class resumed. Azzy continued to help out Flora when necessary by giving advice. Estella was sitting alone in the corner, minding her business. It was her first day and so much has happened to her due to her choices. Nevertheless, she doesn't have any remorse at all as in her view, only Azzy matters. Perhaps, now, Claire also matters considering she's also a platinum grade user and is at the same level as her.

After the card creation class is finished, it is the turn of Practical Combat. Instead of the appearance of the teacher, an announcement was heard from the speakers around.

Following the instruction, everyone left the training facility and made their way towards the forest habitat where a man in light brown pants and a red blazer with white fur lining is waiting for them. He's tall, muscular, and has a fair-skinned body that is covered with large battle scars. His hair is long and grey and his eyes have deep scarlet pupils.

As everyone stopped, the man spoke, "Hello, I'm Arley Blood."

"Blood?" Azzy, Gideon, Estella, and surprisingly Claire, Mia, and Anner were taken aback by surprise at the same time.

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