Spirit Taming

Chapter 364: After The Victory

"Both the Star city and the Nova city lord placed bets on you against me. They said that in the first year battle you would win over everyone else. I was very against two city lords putting it all on one student, but I have been proven wrong. You even prevented my daughter from being hurt. Not bad." the familiar voice from the entrance ceremony.

"You're-"

"Astrid Nebula. Yes, city lord of Nebula and the mother of Illia. I know you probably want to about a few things but I just came to congratulate you after I checked on my daughter. I rarely have the time for her lately but she still seems to be showing off just enough to make me proud."

Clark could only look silently at her wondering if she was actually here for more. "I went out of the way to speak with your teammate. Jerold shared many details with us and we have looked in to things. I have sent some guards to watch over you. Remember that you have also earned prizes while here. I will ensure your safety until you have claimed them all.

Rest assured." With that Astrid Nebula left them.

"You somehow attracted another city lord. What the hell man?" Ralph grumbled about how Clark managed to attract these people as if they were moths to a flame. It was strange but to be fair, Clark just seemed to be lucky that way. He was just glad that this city lord had appreciated him instead of being angry with him taking the victory for Nova academy.

However, it was very good to what that they would have additional guards. It meant that they wouldn't have to worry about any of the ethereal academy troubles. The biggest issue that Clark had at the moment was that they were all low on energy and injured to a degree. They had shown off their strength for sure, but it had left them in a poor state.

What was even worse than that they had also made a stand silently against some of the powerful families. Specifically the Mourne family.

The others had already gathered in the healer's quarters set aside for Nova academy. However, Clark was not surprised at all to find that even the Nebula students were there. Including Illia who was awake again already with a few potion bottles by her bedside.

"I ran in to your mother on my way here." Clark laughed a little while Ralph let him fall in to a bed and a healer brought him a tray of potions that could help replenish his energy, heal his body, and further help diagnose any issues when the whaler was doing her examination. This was the benefit to someone who had spent years and years learning the best practices of healing and medical knowledge.

"My mother is always very busy. But she seemed impressed with the performance we put on." Illia kept her cold attitude. It always seemed that she would be unshakable. However, everyone could feel that Illia was a happy child at this moment. Mostly because she had been told that she had done well by the parent she strived to impress but also because she had lived up and beyond expectations.

"Clark, stop talking and heal up. You need to drink those potions and let them work. Then you need to eat something. They can't just let the nutrient potions they make sit in your stomach without something solid. It will make you sick." Maria gave Illia a slight glare before she made Ralph bring Clark over some food. It was clear that Ralph was just a little afraid of Maria.

But she was the team's only healer, it was just logical to make sure you would be on her good side.

"I just wanted to ask how her little dragon was ingesting the materials I gave her. She is a potential client of ours. She will need your outlined instructions very much. I just need Ella to make the other arrangements then as Isa to set up the trade of materials." This seemed to calm Maria down a little. But it also showed Illia that there was more than just a group before her.

"I understand what you mean by business now. You have skills but you have others to grow your connections and ability. I have trained mostly alone or with those that have reason to listen to my orders. I would not mind visiting your academy to see how such groups are formed." Illia had clearly gotten the wrong idea of how this happens.

"It is not normal for us to gain groups like this. It comes from hardship and violence that we are brought together. I would not have a place on this team if I had not been thrown here because of another student being hurt. Then I nearly lost it all because I refused to grow up even a little bit.

Now I am able to see things more clearly." Jerold waking up from where he was laying was a very good thing. It was not surprising that he had some injuries that the healers had made him unconscious to treat.

Through Jerold's recent experiences, he had most likely gained some hidden injuries that required advanced healing. Because of the tournament, that healing was free of charge. It was lucky but also bad because anyone would understand that his injuries must have been deeper by the time they were found.

"I think our whole team has been treated more or less." Clark looked at everyone. They were either awake, bandaged, or being left alone by healers. Clark was the only one being looked at and the healer was more surprised by his lack of injuries. Especially since she only found that he had more or less bruised and strained his body while exhausting his energy.

"Should we dare to ask you if that doll is a special item or a beast?" Illia was very curious. Her team was still more or less unconscious, had left for their own reasons, or were too caught in their healing to be able to really listen in. This was all due to the injuries they had taken. Some of them had even lost their lives.

The only reason that Clark's team was so well off was because they had all been guided with the best possible path so far. If they had not been, then they would be in a radically different position.

"This is Shyama. She is my youngest beast and has a very unique shadow typing. She used all of her energy to hold back that monster. She is a precious younger sister to my other beasts. She will one day be able to return her species back to the world. Or at least that is a small hope I have for her." Clark had thought about this for a little bit and wasn't even sure if it was possible.

The way beasts reproduced was a wide array of logical and illogical events. Many could be explained as normal beasts meeting their other halves. Others needed unique ways such as gaining certain materials or energies. Some even had to split off parts of their own bodies.

There were even some that could not ever reproduce since they were either born spirit beasts or they were found in ancient ruins and dungeons. It was one reason that being a beast breeder was so hard.

"I see, then please let her know that she did very well in the end. I wasn't sure how she did it but she helped a great deal. Especially after you attacked with that lightning. I don't think I will forget that until I am stronger than you." Illia seemed to see Clark as a goal. A potential rival in part, but mostly as someone to aspire to beat in the future as she grew stronger.

"Will we want to see the next matches? Nova is in the finals with everyone. Nebula might not be but we can all still watch together?" Grace was the one that seemed most worried but also excited to see how this would go. Especially since she knew that they might witness more people die.

"The second years will have trouble. I assume they will give up a decent few points to remain alive. I also think that we will see more ethereal academy students arrested." Reese had a very realistic expectation of the matches.

"I want to sleep more. You can all go." Brad had taken a serious toll on his body and mind. It was easy to guess that he wanted to rest. But Clark also knew that he had a lot more to do than just rest. His possessed helm was on the edge of growing to the next stage.

"I will finish things here then go to watch the third year matches. That seems best overall." After hearing this, everyone agreed. Illia even promised that she would meet them there as well which seemed to make everyone a little more interested. Having Nebula academy around was something that made anyone more comfortable since they were the hosting city and would have the best guards around.