Spirit Taming

Chapter 246: Hard As Bricks

"Jerold? Reese?" Clark found that no one was standing outside the front door of the dormitory when he had gone to meet them after grabbing a few extra pairs of clean clothing to put in his storage ring.

This was not a good sign at all. With the situation they were all in, Clark knew that the two boys would not have wandered off. Reese had his spectral sword but it would do him no good against a powerful opponent with a lightning quick stinger.

Jerold was in an even worse state. He had just recovered a little from lacking resources and basic nutrition. His chameleon had no way of standing up to a beast that was stronger. It would most likely get beaten down in a single look from a powerful beast.

"Oh, come on. It's just a walk to meet a few friends of mine. We just want to make you an offer. Something worth your while. Just leave that beanpole here and bring your little sword with you." The voice was just loud enough for Clark to catch in the breeze. It was a sly and calm voice that proved even the sweetest things could be evil.

Only someone well practiced in deception could use such words.

After walking just around the corner of the dormitory, a tall boy with long black hair tied in the back was leaning over and ushering Reese to follow him while also waving off Jerold. "So that's where you two went. I thought that you would wait for me. But here you are making another friend. You should tell me these things." Clark put on his best face and smiled softly at the boy in front of him.

"You must be Clark Stormwood. The genius first year that befriended the Star city lord, helped push for a new family branch uniting the Green and Rolly families, and on top of all that has two mentors. What a surprise." The praising voice hid the threat. The boy was clearly showing off that he knew Clark and had a target on him.

"I know news travels fast. So many people know me. But I can't say you seem familiar. You must not be important enough for people to gossip about. But a lackey is just that, a lackey." Clark had been holding his arms in front of him crossed. As he did so, he had hidden Shy's appearance.

The shadows cast by the dormitory on this side were perfect to give Shy the slight bit of added strength. In case anything happened, or if Clark wanted to assert a little dominance over the unsuspecting lacky in front of him.

"I won't waste my breath telling you about myself. A real gentleman does not boast. But you don't have to worry anyways, you are unfortunately dropping out of the academy. It's a shame." It was clear to see that anger had bloomed in the boy's eyes. He was not having such disrespect right in front of him. And the shadows of the dormitory were his disguise for a little brutality.

Just as the boy stepped forward and raised a hand to punch Clark, his fist was turned and slammed straight in to the bricks of the dormitory. A sickening crack echoed for a moment in all their ears. "Hmmm, is it normal for every fourth year to miss a punch against a standing target? Or is it just that you waste the resources the academy and the Mourne family waste on you? By any means, Reese, Jerold.

Follow me."

Clark turned leaving the deathly silent boy behind. Reese and Jerold were quick to run after Clark. Shy just snuggled in to Clark's arms a little more as they went in to the light. A single shadow thread breaking in to nothing upon being exposed to the light. "You'll get stronger, but that was just enough to make a point."

Clark had mentally told Shy to do her best to change any attack that went toward him. He had intended to embarrass the fourth year lackey but instead had watched him injure himself. Shy had done more than intended even though she could not actually control anyone. She had won a lot of praise which Clark told her over and over while she remained in his arms.

"What was that?" Reese was the first to ask. He was unsure how Clark had done anything yet the boy had punched a literal brick wall.

"Oh, my partner helped out a little. She just had to train a little." Clark didn't say who or what had helped but ensured that he shared a little with them.

"And why do you have a doll with you?" Jerold hesitated a little before asking. He looked at the doll he thought was just a wooden and fabric toy. But it was too perfect. It creeped him out causing goosebumps.

"This is just something I have to carry a little. Show it around the academy." While Reese and Jerold still didn't understand what had happened they decided to drop this topic. Geniuses had quirks and apparently, the genius in front of them brought a doll everywhere with him. His results were too good to judge a single quirk.

"Good, you three are back. We were getting worried." Professor Wright had just finished reprimanding Brad for not staying awake and instead missing the chance to get his things. She had to go in to more detail when he told her that he lived a minimalist lifestyle and everything went in to helping his beast grow. It was common sense to have the basics and she had to ensure that he knew this.

" Were you showing Shy around?" Maria saw that Shy was in Clark's hands and spoke with him as if nothing was odd. Jerold and Reese just glanced at each other and focused on professor Wright.

"A little like that. We ran in to a little trouble. I assume the fourth year that had the forest scorpion was tall and had longer black hair?" Clark saw Ralph immediately gain an angry expression. "Then I'm right. I will deal with him if he comes by again. For now, just remember that you refer to him as the brick puncher.

Or the knuckles breaker? Maybe the dormitory puncher is better?" Clark wanted to think of more names that could anger his newfound enemy. But time was not on his side.

As Professor Wright grabbed his ear and forced Clark to pay attention, she distributed a basic set of winter student uniforms. "These are made with special wool. It will keep out rain, snow, ice, and the cold. But it does rip easily so try to wear it with the overcoat provided. Otherwise, store it away for now. We are leaving after you do so."

Reese and Jerold whispered to Ralph who had gone right up to them as they began to follow Professor Wright and Doc outside again. They answered Ralph's blunt questions and brought a grin to his face. Whatever Clark had done was a small victory on the road to revenge.

Ella had clearly packed up some important things from the lab in a second spatial ring. Clark hadn't said anything since he know that they would most likely go through the materials they had stocked. They would be the key to continually boosting the beasts of their team before they reached the north.

"Isa, we are leaving for the north. You know it will be very cold there. I want you to take the chance to let your ice maiden reach the next growth stage. Your flame sprite too. It can absorb all the fire crystals we can get our hands on. I want to see it grow to double the size before we are there." The cold was the major reason Clark asked this of Isa.

The ice maiden can absorb the energy while the flame sprite can boost its resistance to the cold.

"I was already planning on it. Natural growth is perfect to train them. But I also want to be ready. The crystal golem will not be ready for a true fight unless we stop in a few places for materials." Isa had hidden away a map of some known dungeons on the way. She casually handed it over to Clark. "Just some light reading when we get to a carriage."

"This will be a good read. I will see if professor Wright can let us alter our course. But seeing how she's so focused…" Professor Wright had her face pointed forward. She was dedicated to letting the students under her reach the northern city safely. She pushed to keep them safe and was not planning on anything but that.

"Shouldn't there be a carriage around here somewhere?" Brad was the first to realize that there was no carriage anywhere near the front gate of the academy.

"Carriage? Why would we do that? We are walking half way and then taking another method to get past the snowfields. Just wait and see." Professor Wright shook her head thinking about how lazy children had gotten over the years.