Tales of the Pearly Kingdom (Pearly Tales Vol. 2)

119. Pursuit of Power

"I have one more thing to say." Calico said.

Achilles waved her hand as if to say, 'make it fast'.

"In that age, the study and mixing of classes was known as a Build." Calico explained. "The Dawn Way is what the Great Ones would call a build. Cal has his own build, but it is only suited to one person, himself. The Dawn Way is a more versatile Build, better suited for foundational training like this. In order to train someone else, Cal has to tailor a Build to the needs of every individual which is inefficient for increasing the survival rate of our class as a whole. Cal may be strong, but we will get much stronger learning the Dawn Way from Achilles than we would learning to fight how Cal does. If we tried to become Cal it would only increase the mortality of our class. Naomi, Yvette, and Seamus have all courted death more than any modern adventurer should because of Cal's old school way of thinking."

Calico stood up and looked at the class. "Don't ever underestimate how dangerous Cal is to both his enemies and his friends. Just being in this guild has steeply increased the chances of your untimely death in more ways then I care to mention. If you wish to survive to get to the level of either Cal or Achilles, I suggest each of you take everything she says to heart. If you don't... it will literally be your funeral." Calico bowed to Achilles. "That's all I wanted to say." She sat down.

"Thank you, Calico. I won't ask if Cal asked you to say that." Achilles sighed, she was glad that it wasn't all praise for Cal.

"He didn't, these are my own feelings. I'm here because these are dangerous times, and this is a dangerous place. I don't have to like you or follow Cal's orders to appreciate what you are doing for my friends. You have my personal thanks." Calico's tail wagged happily.

Achilles considered the purple haired foxgirl. She was indeed powerful, that much was for certain. Although she was a happy-go-lucky sort, Achilles knew just how dangerous she was. Perfect concealment, paralyzing skills, and magic sealing abilities just scratched the surface of what she was capable of. Being thanked didn't make Achilles feel better but being on Calico's bad side was as dangerous as being on Cal's... if not more so. She may not have the self-control that Cal has.

As she taught the class everything she could in one sitting, she wondered just how much more Cal knew. On one hand she had considered that she had the basics down as much as they could be. On the other hand, when she considered that Cal had mastered things she hadn't even thought of, she was ill at ease. It was like she had undergone how to paddle in a small boat and Cal could steer a ship and lead a fleet.

Either way, the basics were the basics. She had to focus on her students, and they didn't know practically anything. Not only for pay, but they were all important to her. Cal had put them in danger by inviting them into the North Wind Academy. That was true.

At the same time, he offered them a lot of opportunities they didn't have before. Juliette was a princess, even if she wasn't in direct succession for the throne she would have been coddled through things like this. Ophelia and the other half-breeds were homeless with no means of changing that fate. Everyone had a story like that, but Vera... she was a historical figure.

As soon as she made her debut the entire culture of Calphian would change. Anyone who didn't want that day to change would target her. Anyone who wanted to damage the relationship between Calphian and Alastis would target Juiliette. Anyone who wanted to cause conflict between the new nobility and Calphian would target Alice, Greffin, and Jasmine. The half-breeds already had targets on their backs and if someone wanted to hurt Cal they would target Seamus and Ophelia.