Child of Destiny

…

Shin just did a round of fundamental training and a short meditation for his Mentalism before having a quick shower and getting ready to leave.

He was in a rush when he bumped into someone in the lobby.

He could not help but halt his steps and stare blankly at the person standing in front of him, who was also giving him an odd look.

“What’s with that face? It looks like you have seen a ghost. Am I one?” asked Shiella as she glared at Shin.

Shin awkwardly smiled as he greeted her. “Oh! When did you get back, Big Sis?”

Shiella rolled her eyes at him while replying. “Last night. I want to rest for today, but it seems like there is going to be a special mission issued by the academy, and they are looking for a suitable leader.”

“I happen to be away for quite some time, so I must make up for the missions that I have missed, so I will be taking this one. Uncle Nathan also says that I must take it since he needs someone that he can trust for the mission.”

“He mentioned that this mission will be a collaboration between governments of different nations, the military, and the other organizations.”

She paused for a moment and turned to Shin, wearing a worried look on her face, before continuing. “I can feel that there is a hidden plot behind this mission, so I want to hear the details from the professors and the elders as soon as possible.”

Shin noticed something from that look and could not help but ask. “Have you heard anything from uncle?”

Shiella shook her head. “That’s not it. It is just the feeling that I am getting. Even the Magic Ace Academy and the Top Military School are involved, so something is going on.”

Pausing for another time, she smiled. “I am just worried that it will be too much for you and the others to handle. Given the current information that I have gotten, the risk of the mission is a little too high for your level.”

She could sense that Shin had grown tremendously since the last time she had seen her, but she felt that the events that were about to take place were way beyond their levels.

In the meantime, Shin felt a little strange after seeing the expression that Shiella was showing him. He knew how much she cared for him and Arthur, but she usually hid it most of the time. He also knew that she kept on beating them because she wanted them to grow stronger much faster.

It was her form of training and showing her care for them.

But the current expression that she was giving him was rather strange. He was not sure why, but he felt that Shiella knew something that she could not tell him.

Unable to suppress his curiosity, he could not help but ask. “Is there something wrong, Big Sis?”

Shiella stared at him for quite a while before shaking her head. “No. It is nothing.”

She then turned around and said. “Let’s go. You are heading to the academy too, am I right? Give me a ride. We also have some matters to discuss about the game.”

She took a couple of steps forward when she suddenly paused and turned to him again before saying. “Shin, remember this. I will protect you no matter what. And you will always be my little brother.”

After saying her piece, she quickly turned around and resumed her steps, walking away gracefully.

Shin stared blankly at her back for a few moments before a shiver ran through his back. He cringed hard after hearing those words. He could not imagine how embarrassed Shiella was at the current moment.

But after seeing how calm Shiella was, he smiled bitterly and shook his head repeatedly. He then shrugged his shoulders before chasing after her. “Wait, Big Sis!”

At the parking lot, the two bumped into one more person, who was about to enter his car.

Arthur, who was rushing to his car, wanted to avoid Shiella. He hastened his steps, trying to get into his car as soon as possible. But before he could even increase the distance between him and the two, he suddenly felt a soft hand tapping his shoulder.

“Arthur Springfield. Are you not going to greet your big sister, who just came back from her trip?” said Shiella with a voice as cold as a thousand-year-old ice.

Arthur suddenly paused and slowly turned his head as if he were a mechanical puppet before smiling brightly at Shiella. “Oh! You’re back, Big Sister? How is your trip?”

Shiella rolled her eyes at him before pointing at Shin’s Black Panther. “Ride with us. I have something to discuss with you.”

“Eh!? But Shin is taking a different class from us. He will not be joining the special mission with us. Old Man Lin said that he has another plan for him,” reasoned Arthur, trying to avoid riding with Shiella.

Shiella then turned to Shin with an inquiring look, which the latter confirmed with a slight nod. She seemed to have a sigh of relief when she saw that before nodding her head. “That’s good.”

But she still rejected Arthur’s indirect rejection. “But you are still going with us. I heard that you have too much free time on your hands inside the game.”

“That is not true! I am dealing with a business with the Wing’s Alliance,” Arthur said, denying those words.

“Perfect! I happen to be looking for an additional knife that I can borrow,” said Shiella, refusing to let him go.

“But what about my-…” Arthur was still trying to make an excuse when Leonard suddenly appeared and greeted Shiella.

Seeing the guy made Arthur grimace and shook his head, mumbling. “Should I say that you have a terrible or perfect timing?”

“Obviously, it is perfect timing,” Shiella answered for him and pointed her chin at Leonard. “Give him your keys and let him drive your Golden Jaguar.”

She then turned around and headed toward Shin’s car as the latter opened the door for her.

Arthur could not do anything as he tossed the car key to Leonard while scowling. He then walked toward the passenger seat of Shin’s car with a reluctant and defeated look on his face.

…

When Shin arrived at the headquarters of the Research Department and entered the secret training room, he was immediately greeted by a lively atmosphere.

His seniors, who were away for a special mission, came back and were back to their respective training routines. He felt quite impressed with them as he saw them working hard despite just coming back.

“Hoh~! Look who is this? Isn’t this my cute little junior,” said a seductive voice coming from behind.

Shin felt a shiver as a pair of soft hands and flexible arms wrapped around his shoulders and a pair of soft mounds pressed on his back.

He did not have to turn his head to know who it was. There was a single person within the department, who liked to pull such a ‘prank’ to anyone she liked.

“Senior Selena, don’t you think that this is inappropriate? People will misunderstand if you keep doing things like this,” he said helplessly as he knew that he would not be able to escape now since she had already caught him.

What scared him the most about this senior was she always appeared around him without any notice. She was a perfect assassin, and in a different way when compared to Jerimiah and Vincent.

If she wanted to kill him, then she would be able to do it silently – without him being able to put any resistance.

“What’s the problem with that? It is not like you have a girlfriend or anything. The same goes for me,” she refuted before a mischievous thought entered her mind. “What do you think about dating me instead? Don’t you feel quite thrilled about the idea of seeing someone like me?”

She then licked her lips and was about to tighten her hug when Shin took that opportunity. He used the timing when she loosened her arms to adjust her position to escape.

He first put a layer of Mental Energy around his body before activating a series of Mentalism Runes such as Haste Rune, Strength Rune, and Flexible Rune in the process.

He broke free from her arms and ran straight to the training room designated for his special training.

“Let me say a pass to that offer, Senior! I am too busy to be seeing someone!” he said without turning his head back.

“Eh!? What is this? Am I being rejected once again? I think it is the fourth time already. Am I starting to lose my charm?” Selena stared blankly at Shin’s back, surprised at what happened.

She then realized something and mumbled. “He has gotten much stronger than the last time we have seen him! What happened?”

“You should ask Benedict and Professor about that if you are that curious,” said a person, who was wrapped in a blanket on the side.

Who knew since when this guy was sleeping here? But Shin seemed unable to sense his presence since earlier.

This person seemed to be half-asleep when he said those words while turning and adjusting his position into a more comfortable one. He was treating this training ground as a sleeping area.

“Hey! Mahon! Are you an iguana or chameleon or something? How come your camouflage has gotten much better than before?” asked Selena with a frown.

“Try training the Turtle Breathing Technique while sleeping and you will know how good the results of your sleep are,” he answered in a very sleepy manner as if he was already about to head to the dreamland.

Selena rolled her eyes and complained. “How come everything that you have learned becomes a purpose for your sleep? And how are you so strong despite lazing around all day?”

“Get more quality sleep and you will understand,” replied Mahon before his breathing became constant and silent.

He had gone to sleep…

At this moment, another person suddenly entered the training room and walked over to Selena. “How about you give that offer to me instead? I can date you all you want!”

Selena stared blankly at the newcomer as if he was some sort of loser before shaking her head. “You better put more effort into your training Dominic. You almost die on the previous mission.”

Dominic stared at Selena’s back as she walked away, particularly her butt which was swinging rhythmically with each of her steps.

Bang!

That was when a fist smacked his head and sent him to the ground.

“Look! Look at that habit of yours. Can’t you focus more on increasing your strength? She is right, you almost die in the mission because of your laziness,” said a bulky, two-meter guy as he walked past Dominic, and about to leave the training room.

“Rock! You don’t have to hit me that hard!” complained Dominic while rubbing his head.

He then turned to Mahon and complained. “Why is this guy so much of a monster despite doing nothing but to sleep.”

“If you want to become like him, then go look for a ten-star witch monster in the Dark Continent and get cursed when you are still in the womb of your mother,” said Benedict as he emerged from another room adjacent to this one.

“You should know better than anyone how much suffering he went through to become like this,” he added as he rubbed a towel on his head, drying his wet hair.

“That is why I am thankful to the professor for saving me and giving me a new life,” Mahon, who was supposedly sleeping, replied as if he was talking in his sleep.

Benedict swept his gaze in the training room before nodding his head. “You guys prepare for the meeting. The professor wants us to gather at the conference hall during lunch. It seems like he will be announcing our next mission.”

“Already? We just got back here; you know?” complained Dominic.

“It is not a mission for the Research Department or the Sleeping Dragons, but a real mission for ‘us’,” emphasized Benedict.

Rock and Dominic went silent when they heard that as they understood what Benedict was trying to say.

The expression on their faces turned serious before heavily nodding their heads in acknowledgment.

…