Agysmal had been staying at High Periphery for a week, but he was still high-strung. In the dormitory, he didn't pay attention to his roommates. In class, he only focused on himself. If other trainees approached him, he would distance himself from them. Because of this, people were talking about how cold-hearted and snobbish he was.
But for Agysmal, in order to process everything that had happened to him, he needed to be alone first. He didn't want to be disturbed by other people, except for his instructors. During his free time, Agysmal would usually hang out at the back of High Periphery, where many pine trees stood tall. If he wasn't dozing off, he would gaze at the colossal golden structure of the academy.
Sometimes, he felt envious of his fellow trainees because they had friends or their own group of friends, but he struggled to form bonds because he was a prince with a large bounty on his head. Many had betrayed him before, including Beardman. He was tired of being betrayed by people he considered friends. He needed to be careful with his secrets, especially since only one person at High Periphery knew his true identity.
"Your secret is safe with me," said Dr. Regionald Englard, the head of Admissions Data Analyst. "One of the requirements for this job is that you must be the best at keeping secrets, and I've done that for five decades."
After the orientation on the High Periphery campus, the trainees were transported one by one to Dr. Englard's facility, where they underwent biometric testing. Agysmal found himself floating in a golden room, naked and unable to move his body despite being fully conscious.
He saw Dr. Englard facing him, typing on a large analytical engine. He realized he was in a room that resembled an aquarium. In front of him were wooden panels with various details about him, including his physique, build, strengths, and weaknesses.
However, when Agysmal looked at a panel with information about his personal life, his eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open. There was a detail that he knew was untrue.
"It seems you've discovered something new about yourself," Dr. Englard said suddenly, adjusting his monocle.
"Maybe your system glitched, that's why that incorrect data about me came out," Agysmal said.
"My technology has never failed me," Dr. Englard insisted. "If you don't believe what you read, then prove to me that I'm wrong and you should have tangible proof to present to me."
For now, Agysmal doesn't want to pressure himself. He wants to gradually find the answers that are bothering his mind. He also wants to set aside his personal issues and struggles while training at High Periphery, and what's more, he knows how valuable he is to his uncle, King Leclerc.
While still taking shelter under the pine tree, Agysmal noticed someone watching him, so he instinctively grabbed his dagger. When he heard the person moving again, he quickly acted and threw the dagger at the purple-haired man - Comtalc, his roommate.
"Stop stalking me," Agysmal emphasized. While wiping the blood from his cheek, Comtalc faced Agysmal, not expecting to be found. "No matter what observations you make, you won't get anything from me."
"You're crazy, we may be manslayers, but according to the rule book, trainees are not allowed to kill each other unless instructed to do so," Comtalc said. At first impression, he seemed like a talkative, quirky, and hyperactive person. However, to Agysmal, who was nonchalant, he was just annoying. "Luckily, you didn't seriously target me with your dagger, or my dream of becoming a Larkansas would have been ruined."
"I just gave you a warning," Agysmal emphasized. "If you follow me again, I might do something worse to you."
"They say that when a person is quiet, their emotions can easily boil over," Comtalc replied, with his hands resting on the back of his head. "I don't like people who are killjoys, who don't know how to get along or join in on the fun."
Agysmal felt a sting from Comtalc's words. He suddenly felt an intense force, a sensation he had never experienced before. He didn't notice that Comtalc had approached him. He saw the poniard in Comtalc's hand, about to slice his neck.
"You think you're the only one who can make someone's hair stand on end?" Comtalc whispered calmly but boldly. However, Agysmal still managed to catch him and slam him to the ground. As he looked at Comtalc, who was lying on the ground and laughing, Agysmal touched his neck, which was slightly bleeding.
"If you don't like me, why are you still taking the time to watch my every move, huh?" Agysmal's eyes narrowed, while Comtalc remained laid back. Even though his body had fallen to the ground, Comtalc was still able to stand up on his own, as if nothing had happened."
"Maybe I'm interested in your moves because we're roommates?" Comtalc thought, wondering if that was the right thing to say. "And the girls are talking about you. I just want to know what you have that I don't."
"Don't waste your time on that person, Comtalc," interrupted the black-haired guy, Erewhen, who had just arrived, with one eye closed. He was also one of Agysmal's roommates. "He might misinterpret your friendliness as attention-seeking."
While Comtalc wanted to befriend Agysmal, Erewhen secretly harbored hatred towards him. Erewhen viewed Agysmal as vainglorious. Like Agysmal, Erewhen had also lost loved ones and experienced hardships. However, Agysmal's behavior made it seem like he was the only one going through such struggles, which irritated Erewhen. If they were outside of High Periphery, Erewhen would have taught Agysmal a lesson.
"Hey, Erewhen, what are you doing here?" Comtalc asked.
"Just reminding you that our next training is about to start," Erewhen replied before turning away.
"Our class is about to start soon," Comtalc reminded Agysmal with a smile. "Come on, join us."
Agysmal wasn't blind to the way people around him perceived him. He accepted that he was seen as a killjoy and arrogant, even if his mind told him otherwise. He knew he was a good person with a heart. He thought that before his reputation was completely ruined at High Periphery, he would start to mingle and get along with Comtalc.
"During our last meeting, we discussed Musk and learned about its strength,
"During our last meeting, we discussed Musk and learned about how powerful the Musk you possess is," their instructor, Rosenthale Petalgloss, or Miss Rosen, began. Miss Rosen had a unique charisma. She moved with a bit of stiffness, but her feminine curves still drew attention.
During their previous meeting, they learned how powerful the Musk they possessed was when Miss Rosen let them fire a cannon. Instead of real cannonball, they used Musk. They were also ranked according to the strength of the explosion they created, and among eighteen trainees, Agysmal was ranked tenth.
While Miss Rosen lectured in front, the trainees sat on a golden floor with intricate embellishments. "A Larkansas has sharp hearing and memory, so if you truly listened to our lecture, who can dictate to me what Musk is?" she added.
The trainees, including Agysmal, raised their hands, but Comtalc's antics stood out. He had both hands raised, repeatedly saying "Pick me!" Despite having someone else in mind, Miss Rosen couldn't help but be surprised by Comtalc's enthusiasm. Nevertheless, she still called on Comtalc to share his knowledge. Erewhen nudged Comtalc to compose himself in front of the instructor.
"Musk refers to our physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual energy!" Comtalc exclaimed. "As a Larkansas, we use it to summon elemental powers."
"Great job, Comtalc," Miss Rosen said, making Comtalc blush in his seat. "In this session, I will teach you how to gather your Musk in your hands." As the trainees sat, they watched Miss Rosen demonstrate how to gather the inherent Musk in their hands.
With her eyes closed, Miss Rosen seemed to be performing a ritual dance, with every part of her body moving in perfect harmony. She was serene to watch. Meanwhile, for Comtalc, his instructor was like a beautiful scenery surrounded by flowers and glitter.
Agysmal noticed that a smoky energy was gradually forming and enveloping Miss Lauven's hands. The smoky energy had a unique, beautiful scent. When Miss Rosen threw a punch into the air, she released a powerful force around her that caused a strange sensation among the trainees sitting nearby. Besides almost being swept away by the fragrant air, they also felt a strange numbness on their skin.
The trainees stood up, as it was their turn to try and create their own ritual dance. Miss Rosen observed them intently. To manifest a fragrant Musk, one had to clear their mind and be at peace because if your mind is full of wild thoughts, it will release a disturbing or strong smell. However, when Agysmal tried to close his eyes, he couldn't concentrate and kneeled to the ground. Many thoughts were bothering him, and he was thinking of many people.
Miss Rosen noticed that Agysmal was struggling. But Agysmal refused to give up; he needed to concentrate. He had to pretend to be at peace before he could release a pungent Musk.