Doggone Academy
Chapter 103 Circulatory System (5)

Luna and I agreed to undertake the circulatory system practicum as a duo, without seeking additional members.

Originally, I had planned not to wear a mask, but today my thoughts had changed.

Thanks to Professor Rakam’s advice to be cautious of plunderers, a movement to conceal group compositions among the students had arisen. If the group composition was unknown, wearing a mask during activities made it impossible to identify me.

Luna, possibly already aware of everything she needed to know, had no issues with wearing a mask for our activities.

Of course, we had to maintain deception and diversion, so until we moved to the circulatory system, the fact that Luna and I had become a group remained a secret.

During the last period of preparation, I immersed myself in researching the circulatory system at the library.

Luna did not question why I hadn’t gone to Rigved to obtain the Blue Spirit Grass. She simply nodded without any objections to my plan, which felt akin to gambling. The top student from the Magic Department had abandoned her pride and entrusted the lead to me. With her grades depending on my choices, I couldn’t afford to approach our situation haphazardly. Sᴇaʀᴄh the NøvᴇlFirᴇ(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

I encountered Trisha a couple of times throughout the day. I could sense something boiling within her. In scenarios where it was just the two of us, she seemed ready to let everything out, but such a moment never quite presented itself.

Trisha had her own group preparations to attend to, and I was equally busy. Moreover, due to personal reasons, she did not return to the estate with me and stayed at Eternia, leaving us no opportunity to speak properly.

Back at the estate, I spent the last night making extra potions with Liria. On the day of departure for the circulatory system, I went to Rigved early in the morning to repair my forgotten Stitch.

After hurriedly completing all preparations, I headed to the Eternia River for the rendezvous point.

At the dock, instead of sailors, Plantaras busied themselves loading the students’ luggage.

Behind this scene stood five impressive galleons, blocking the horizon. They were the same ships we boarded when returning from the entrance exams.

Other students completed their paperwork and boarded the vessels.

Groups of four moving together boldly were rare; most, aware of the threat of plunderers, did not travel in groups larger than pairs.

We would travel downstream along the Eternia River on these ships. Once we dock at a deserted estuary, the moment we disembark marks the start of the circulatory system practicum.

While observing the ships, someone came to a halt behind me.

Turning around, I saw Luna, about ten paces away. She wore a round-brimmed hat pulled down over her head, and her hands were neatly clasped together.

Her attire was a vibrant dress, unsuitable for rugged exploration. Whether she could withstand a week-long journey in it, I had my doubts. Her luggage was as minimal as mine.

We didn’t exchange greetings as agreed upon earlier.

Just a brief exchange of glances.

We would board separately and move independently to the initial point of the practicum. Currently, we were nothing to each other.

Amid this, Trisha’s voice rang out loudly from the distance, calling my name.

“Damian!”

At that, Luna flinched and continued on as if she knew nothing, passing right by me.

Trisha strode up to me, glancing over at Luna. The bubbling emotions inside her clearly had not settled even after a day.

She glanced up at me—her expression included me in the target of her anger, a stark difference from her usual manner.

“…Your group.”

“I got kicked out.”

“…Meals.”

“I didn’t pack any.”

“Are you going to starve onboard?”

“…”

I hadn’t thought about that.

Trisha scolded me with a fierce look.

“Idiot.”

Then, she pulled out dried fruits, jerkies, and sausages from her bag, separating them into a leather pouch, and placed it in my hand.

Her caring gesture, despite an expression brimming with frustration, was puzzling.

“Thanks.”

“And let’s talk alone later.”

A chill sensation crept up my spine. By the looks of it, she had quite a bit stored up against me.

Then, without waiting for my response, she walked towards the ship.

“I can make time to talk now…”

She spun around at my words and shouted.

“Not now!!!”

And with that, she stomped onto the ship.

Why must women’s hearts be so enigmatic? Trisha’s, in particular, was difficult to decipher. If there were guidelines or a manual to follow, I would memorize it diligently.

Perhaps seeking Silveryn’s advice could shed some light on this. I’ll ask her after the Stitch repair.

***

The five galleons slid along the waterway with ease as the Eternia River was wide and had a slow current, causing little discomfort from rocking.

The professors were aboard the leading ship, sharing a conversation in one of the cabins.

Georgia was serving tea to the professors when she spoke.

“I heard there are quite a few plundering groups this time?”

Rakam took the proffered tea and replied.

“Last year, the students were too well-behaved; there was only one plundering group. This time, the average is much higher. There seem to be many troublesome students admitted this year.”

Plundering groups typically consisted of one alchemy squad leader with the rest being combatants, aggressively stealing resources from other groups.

On average, there are about 3 to 4 plundering groups each year. This time, around nine groups were suspected of being plunderers.

This implied a more belligerent temperament among the first-year students.

Moreover, including groups composed of 1 to 2 members rather than the standard groups of 4 could mean even more plunderers.

“Ah, I’m worried about our arts department students getting hurt. This term, how many students are flagged as individuals of interest?”

The students most likely to venture into the dangerous territories of the Familiar’s domain typically did not form groups larger than two.

The perilous journey that these 1 to 2-member groups embarked on was not for the faint-hearted.

Candinella, a professor from the Magic Department who joined the expedition to construct safety barriers, chuckled and said.

“There are six. That’s more than last year; quite interesting. Besides, Professor Georgia is openly favoring the arts department students. The alchemy department feels left out.”

“Alchemy students are all saint-like; hard to feel affection for them. Anyway, they manage just fine on their own. But Candinella, aren’t you punctually donating to the Drama Club? Why lecture me?”

Candinella had a particularly strong attachment to the Drama Club, sending donations without fail even during northern field deployments. Like Candinella, many professors shared a more profound affinity for the talent-specific departments over their own.

Candinella continued.

“Haha, that’s true. Anyway, with six people of interest, it will be exciting to see who everyone picks. Shall we each make our selection?”

The four professors present—Rakam, Alquaid, Georgia, Candinella—were all arts department advisors. They had a tradition every year during the joint class to place bets with additional budgets for arts department activities as the stakes.

The aim of the bet was to predict who would achieve the highest score. The winner could allocate the additional budget to the arts department they mentored, while the losers had to compensate for the deficit out of pocket.

Georgia suggested.

“How about we raise the stakes to sponsoring a trip to Claridyum?”

Claridyum, the city of culture, arts, and magical studies, was a dream destination for Eternia’s students.

And for the arts departments that performed well in the inter-department competition, they earned the privilege of a field trip to Claridyum. However, the arts department had never once received this opportunity.

Candinella rejected the idea.

“Haha, if we bet so recklessly, the students may well stage a protest outside my home wielding scarecrows. The Drama Club has too much to lose, so we’ll pass. Besides, with fewer numbers in the arts department, you could get closer to a Claridyum trip even if you win this budget alone, right?”

“That’s why I’m taking this seriously this time around.”

Rakam interjected.

“Then, Professor Georgia, with your urgency, why don’t you pick first?”

“Ahem. I will not decline such a rare kindness.”

Georgia swiftly grabbed the elevated group list from the table, as if she had been waiting for the opportunity.

She scanned the list and noticed a familiar name.

Candinella watched her with a slight tension in his eyes.

After some consideration, Georgia spoke up, her attention kept drifting back to one particular name among the strong contenders.

“I’ll go with… Damian. I guess I can’t help but be drawn to arts department students.”

Candinella sighed, as if he had just lost his intended pick.

***

The docking area was a vast meadow not a single house in sight. As the ships docked in a line, it looked like a great wall had been erected on the river. Plantaras were busy shuttling the students’ luggage.

Their assistance ended here; the rest was up to us to handle.

The students filed off the vessels onto land.

They stood on the ground, gathering together briefly—tense expressions all around. At this moment, everyone beside them was a competitor.

Depending on whom they encountered in the Sodderton region, they could become prey or hunter, so caution was required.

Once all the first-year students had disembarked, Rakam stood at the ship’s rail and raised his voice to emphasize a few critical points.

“No plundering near the starting point. Avoid starting any scraps from the get-go. As repeatedly mentioned in class, be cautious not to venture into dangerous areas if you lack the skills. Additionally, safety barriers are in place up to the entrance of Sodderton; make use of them in an emergency. You can quit midway through the practicum, but it isn’t recommended. You won’t die from hunger in a week. That’s all. I wish you luck.”

With the signal that the practicum had officially begun, students gathered their belongings and set off.

The students, each shouldering a load as big as their own bodies, dispersed in a radial pattern. No groups acting as a foursome from the start were visible—all due to the threat of plunderers. They sought to avoid revealing their trails, spreading out to converge later at predetermined rendezvous points.

Thanks to his minimal pack, Damian felt lighter than the others.

He stretched briefly before beginning his trek.

Heading to that very spot, the one he and Luna had agreed upon.

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