Nox froze the moment he was faced with Astra, yes he knew she was also a teacher at the academy but not in his first year.

And by the look on instructors Garron's face, she definitely wasn't supposed to be here.

All the other students turned to him since she was directly looking at him, making it obvious that Nox was the lab rat being referred to.

"Y'know her?" Devon asked, eyes flicking between Nox and Astra. "Like, personally know her? 'Cause everybody knows who Ascended Dawn is, but that ain't what I'm askin'."

"You could say that," Nox said with a sigh, "she's the one that saved me from the tier two Eclipsed attack that happened back in zone 9."

"I see," Devon nodded, but that still gave him no idea why she called him a lab rat but he didn't ask further.

Flint, on the other hand, finally understood how Nox had gotten into the Academy.

It had to be favoritism.

After all, Astra Dawn was infamous for her… questionable behavior. Not bad, just eccentric. She disliked working in teams, avoided group missions unless forced, and rarely interacted with people unless absolutely necessary.

It wasn't hatred, she simply saw most social encounters as a waste of her time.

Yet suddenly, the very same woman who ignored entire squads had taken an interest in someone.

And that same someone had been admitted into the academy even with a result so strange.

"But I'm not wrong though," Astra suddenly interrupted their thoughts as she started speaking to herself, "I won't be taking it easy on them just because they're first years."

"..."

The students were surprised at her actions but didn't dare question it, after all, she was Ascended Astra Dawn.... Questioning her actions were not the smartest of decisions, especially if you valued your life.

"Ascended Dawn, I believe the first years were assigned to me," Garron interrupted her conversation, with herself, "so there no reason for you to still be here."

"Don't sweat old man," Astra waved her hand, "the blind bat already knows I'll be taking over the first years from now on, so you can handle the second years."

She was also a combat instructor, but just for the second years, the same ones that had walked out of the combat room limping.

Though they were in pain, they received the greatest news when Astra informed them that she'll no longer be their combat instructor, hence the reason they wished the first years good luck when they met.

Garron frowned at her words, of course he didn't mind letting her take over, but this was just abrupt and he hadn't received any information about this from the headmistress, hence his hesitation.

But the next second, his watch let out a ding as a message came in. It was directly from the headmistress, basically confirming Astra's taking over the first years causing him to just sigh.

He really was looking forward to molding this new batch of students into proper Solar Knights, but still… they'd meet again in their second year, so it wasn't the end of the world.

"Fine," Garron said with a resigned exhale. "They're all yours, Ascended Dawn."

Astra smiled before turning her attention back to the first years.

The class collectively froze in place.

"Alright, kiddos," she said, clapping her hands together once, "welcome to the combat division. My division, in other words, hell."

The students gulped in nervousness, she didn't seem like she was joking, in the least bit.

"First thing's first," She turned towards the glass casing that held the solar techs before pointing the students towards them, "get yourself a weapon."

Although they were nervous, that was quickly overshadowed by the excitement of a new solar tech of their choice, so they quickly scrambled towards it.

"Damn, these are sick," Devon said as he quickly picked out his Solar tech and put it on.

Nox turned to him and noticed that, he was right. The Solar tech on his hands were pretty cool.

They were white fingerless gloves that went a bit past his wrists, on the knuckles were small metals and running through the glove were SE pathways that looked like golden lines, adding to the glove's design.

Though there was one thing that confused Nox, so he asked, "gloves."

"Right, these ain't gloves," Devon answered, "they just need to be activated."

"I see," Nox nodded in understanding.

"Whatchu got?" Devon stopped admiring the gloves and turned towards him, only to see that his hands were empty.

Some students had quickly scrambled towards the glass cases and chosen solar tech that either looked cool or made them look cool, completely avoiding practicality or what felt right in their hands.

Which meant that most of the swords had been chosen, leaving Nox with only a few options.

He had tried multiple of the swords but none of the felt like they belong, and the time for choosing solar tech was soon up.

"Alright," Astra's voice soon rang out, "gather up."

Nox now had no choice but to randomly grab a solar tech without looking, before rushing to where they were meant to gather up.

"Since you all have chosen your solar tech," she clapped her hands again and the glass cases suddenly retreated into the walls completely disappearing from their sight.

"This will be the only free Solar tech the academy will provide you," Astra informed, looking at all of their faces before stopping at Nox's and looking at his selected weapon before she chuckled, "if you want a better one, or one that you think you can use better, then you'll have to buy them yourselves."

Nox immediately froze at her words, before slowly and hesitantly looked down, at the solar tech in his hand, only for his eyes to widen the next second.

He could've sworn he grabbed a staff, so what the hell was this.

"What's that?" Devon asked as he also looked at the solar tech.

Nox had no idea, all he knew was that it's cylinderical metallic object with SE pathways all around it.

What was he supposed to do with this? Throw it and hope the Eclipsed was puppy enough to go fetch?

'I demand a reselection,' he mentally cried, 'I'll take the daggers."

But Aria didn't care whether they like what they chose or not, as she simply continued.

"Alright then," she said with a pleasant smile that did not match the student's impending doom. "Let's start with something light."

"For today's lesson, I'll have to see what I'm working with," she said, "you all will be paired up and spar."

A student suddenly raised a hand, and the others slowly turned to look at him, Nox immediately recalled who he was, he was the same kid that had asked whether they could team up during the combat test.

Astra turned to him, "…Yes?"

"Ascended Dawn," the boy said cautiously, "um—are we...are we going to be sparring with our actual solar tech?"

"Yes," she simply said, "and don't worry, as long as you don't immediately die,the medbay can fix you up, good as new."

The students nervously swallowed, she didn't seem to be joking in the least bit.

"No then—" but before her words could be completed, a familiar sense of dread washed over Nox and he stiffly turned towards the entrance.

"Ayla?"

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