The Sanctuary: Chapter 28

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Chapter 28

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The one week special training in the Sanctuary ended and all the participating school had returned to Earth including the Tanhausser academy. Despite that though the training for all the participants in the interschool competition did not lax but become more intense instead. The competition day is looming and everyone were stressed but excited.

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Back at Tanhausser academy another selection match was being held to choose the main team that'll participate in the group match. The interschool competition consisted of group and individual matches. There's no selection for the single match as the top ten of every class can compete. Of course there will be qualifying matches at the day of the competition itself but that's a different matter all together.

To have a higher chance of winning each school will choose 10 of their best students. This 10 will represent the school in the competition while the remaining students will become substitutes. And as one would expect the competition for the 10 spots in Tanhausser academy was intense or atleast that's how it is supposed to be. Yet there are two students that no one wanted to challenge. And ironically these two students are just 2nd year students.

These two students are Dylan and Dianne. Dianne's case is obvious as she was considered the school's strongest student. Her genius had been showcased a year ago where she went to a challenge spree and challenged the strongest students that year—easily claiming the top spot. Dylan on the other hand is a special case. The reason no one wanted to challenge him was because of the mysterious ability that he showed during the duel inside the Sanctuary, as well as his brutal beating of his opponent, Enzo.

Speaking of his mysterious ability. The students from his school as well as that of the other schools tried to investigate the ability he showcased that day. Yet all of their efforts bear no fruit. And this is not due to the lack of effort but instead the lack of record of such an ability. Their investigations had been very thorough and was even able to unravel his secret identity in the virtual world called 'Mask'. What they do know is that it has something to do to his second awakened ability called the [Shadow Doppleganger]. But even that is a dead end as no record of such an ability ever existed. As such they come to a conclusion that it was an ability that had never appear before...

"...this is boring"

Without any challenger Dylan have nothing to do. While his classmates are doing their best to be choosen, Dylan's dying of boredom.

"I might have pull the gun when I showed my ability that day..." he thought.

Dylan looked at a certain direction where Dianne is. She too have no challenger is just sitting quietly. He really wanted to go over there but since he is from a different class, he cannot and could only sigh in frustration.

Dianne feel someone looking at her and saw Dylan when she looked. Their eyes met and both have wry smiles. Without any challengers these two youngsters are bored out of their wits. Both wanted to sit near each other and converse while waiting for the selection matches to end but since they are sitted afar they could only speak with their eyes.

"What the heck! I can't let her be bored can I?"

Dylan made a decision and walked towards Dianne. Fortunately most students are busy watching the selection and are to engrossed to notice. Of course that doesn't mean no one noticed. Several teachers and students saw him walking and then sitting near Dianne. This surprised them but after remembering the rumor about them no one said anything. Even the teachers have an understanding smile on their faces.

"Sorry for suddenly going over but I'm dying of boredom over there!" Dylan started the conversation with an apology.

"I'm dying of boredom too! If I'd known that this is going to happen I won't do what I did when I was still a freshman!" Dianne exclaimed with a bit of regret.

Dylan could not help but laugh at this. He then comment, "I heard you did it to scare potential suitors."

"Yeah that's the main purpose of it but I didn't expect the result to be like this." she confirmed.

"I know how you feel. I too regretted using my secret move that day." Dylan said with a sigh.

"Yeah, that ability is just too overpowered. Even I am not confident in facing you." Dianne agreed.

"It couldn't be that bad righ? I mean it's not like it has no weakness..." smiling wryly Dylan complained.

Dianne explained that no one knew the full extent of his ability as such no one wanted to try and be a guinea pig until they are sure.

The two chatted like there's just two of them and covered a lot of topics from the serious to the silly ones. Finally it broached the sudden invitation from the 'Shadow Blade' Kawasaki Sendoh.

"May I ask why old master Sendoh invited you that day?" Dianne asked in a hushed voice.

Though there was a rumor floating around that the Shadow Blade invited Dylan for a chat. No one knew the veracity of the rumor with the excemption of Dylan, Dianne, fatty Jing, their classmates, Yuki and master Sendoh himself. But since none of them wanted to discuss the issue, no one can verify the said rumor.

Because of a promise between them, Dylan hide nothing from Dianne. According to Dylan master Sendoh is very interested in his ability and had asked if Dylan is interested in taking him as a teacher.

Though expecting this, Dianne was still positively surprised. Without knowing why she is very happy for Dylan's good fortune, especially since becoming the Shadow Blade's disciple could exponentially raise Dylan's status.

["Why am I so happy for his rise in status. Could I be..."]

Realizing something Dianne blushed a little and took a peek at Dylan. For some reason she feel incredible comfortable with him despite Dylan being a guy. Due to his status as the heiress to the powerful 'Isetle' clan, Dianne was often showered with attention from countless people from other aristocratic family. Of course Dianne knew that these people only wanted to use her so that they could rise in status. There had been countless marriage proposals as well but Dianne vehemently refused all of them.

Due to her disgust to these aristocrats, Dianne personality became much colder and is easily disgusted by any guy who approaches him. Yet she could not feel similar disgust when she's with Dylan. On the contrary, she enjoyed interacting with him. Thanks to him she is also starting to open up to her classmates. Even her childhood friend Liz noticed this.

Noticing Dianne being suddenly quiet, Dylan asked if she's okay. Dianne answered that she's fine and instead asked Dylan's response to the invitation.

"I have no reason to decline and it is a huge honor to be the Silver Blade's disciple." Dylan asnwered.

Dianne's face brightened and took Dylan's hand to congratulate him. Dylan was shocked and was momentarily stunned. Noticing Dylan's absentminded state Dianne drew closer to ask only to suddenly notice her own action. After realizing that she took Dylan's hands in her excitement, Dianne let go with reddened face.

Finally calming down, Dylan laughed in a strange manner. He too was caught by surprised by the unexpected development. The two sat in silent, still embarrased by the earlier event. Knowing that they could not stay like this, Dylan started telling her the rest of the conversation with master Sendoh. Thank Dylan's glib tongue the awkward atmosphere slowly disappeared. But unbeknowst to them, the earlier made them more aware of one another.

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Several hours later the selection was finally over. Six of the top 10 are from the 3rd year while four are from the 2nd year. Among those from the 2nd year who are lucky enough to enter the top 10 are Dylan's classmate Vivian and Dianne's friend Liz. Of course Dylan and Dianne won their spots by default. No one challenged them from start to finish.

To celebrate their inclusion to the school's top ten, the Coach decided to celebrate and invited Dianne and Liz to join them, which the two girls gladly accepted.

And with the selection over, the preparations for the interschool competition are almost complete.

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to be continued

Chapter 27 / Side Story: Fatty Jing's Nightmare

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