CHAPTER 26: CH 26: TARGARYEN.

"Alright, keep that going for about an hour while I go get lunch."

Those were the last words Aegon heard from Mr Collins’ that day.

Yeah... He never came back.

That is, until later that night.

---

"Arrgh!"

Aegon groaned as he headed back to his dorm room.

Stretching excessively as he’d held the cultivation stance for... He’d lost on how long he’d been waiting for Mr Collins.

He waited an hour. Then two. Then the sun started setting — still no Collins.

So he gave up pretending the man was coming back.

At least he spent a decent amount of time learning how to draw on Aether.

He reached the door of his room as he pushed the door open and proceeded inside.

Where he met Eli on his knees with his hands clasped together at the foot of Quinn’s bed as he groveled.

She, of course, ignored him but Eli was particularly... Persistent.

"Uhh... What’s going on here?"

Aegon asked hesitantly.

Eli whipped his head towards Aegon and hurriedly got back on his feet.

"Would you please tell her to come with us?"

Aegon lifted a brow.

"Come with us to where?"

"You haven’t heard..." Eli’s eyes shot out, bringing his phone out of his pocket and logging onto the Aethera app, "... There’s a party going to happen in a week’s time."

Aegon squinted his eyes at the screen and read the flashy title on it.

"The Novus Rave."

"Yeah," he said with enthusiasm while guiding his head back to Quinn, "And you’ve been to absolutely zero social events."

She continued to ignore him, eyes fixed on her phone.

"Eli," Aegon called for Eli’s attention, "When were you planning on telling me about this party?"

"You’re definitely going. But what fun is having the Number 2 in our dorm if she’s not coming out with us?"

Eli said flatly.

"And why exactly am I going?"

"Come on man," he placed a hand on Aegon’s shoulder, "Your girl’s Number 3, and if you don’t show off that ass someone else’s gonna."

In unison, Quinn’s and Aegon’s faces contorted violently.

"Firstly, she’s not my girl and secondly, what is wrong with you?"

Aegon slid Eli’s hand off his shoulder.

"So..." Quinn finally spoke, "You’re taking Mira to the rave?"

She immediately avoided eye contact, feigning nonchalance.

The silence between the trio stretched, none sure of what to say.

"I don’t know, I haven’t even spoken to her since—"

"Since the rooftop rendezvous?

Eli interjected.

~Knock. Knock. Knock.~

They turned to the door.

Eli moved to answer it.

"What are the chances it’s Mira again?"

And with that Quinn turned back to her phone, removing herself from the conversation.

The door slid open to a familiar face— at least to Aegon.

Mr Collins.

Eli’s brows shot up as soon as his eyes met those of Mr Collins.

~BAM!~

He quickly shot the door.

He whipped his head to them. Whispering now.

"There’s a teacher outside our door. Hide the weed."

Aegon rolled his eyes, matching his low tone and seriousness.

"We have no weed, do you?"

"Oh... Then why’s he here and who is he?"

Eli’s tone returned to normal.

"Uhmm... I’m Mr Collins and I’m Aries’ teacher and it’s weird to slam a door in your teacher’s face, especially if you’re hiding something."

Mr Collins’ voice sounded through the door.

Eli’s eyes shot wide as he heard his voice.

"Who’s Aries?"

Quinn legitimately asked.

"It’s me... He doesn’t know my name— either that or he refuses to acknowledge it."

Aegon faceplamed himself.

"I don’t know if you all realise this but I’m still out here."

Mr Collins pointed out.

Aegon turned to answer the door.

Mr Collins shot the trio a quick smile and then pointed at Eli.

"If you have weed you shouldn’t just say that, awakened have super hearing remember?"

’He’s definitely not qualified to be a teacher.’

Aegon thought.

Eli weirdly nodded, not sure on how to answer that.

~PA.~

Collins clapped his hands to draw Aegon’s attention.

"Alright, Austin. Come with me."

He said while already stepping away.

"Wait— Go where? I’m still in my uniform."

He dragged a hand across his beard. Quickly checking his watch.

"You already cost me lunch today kid and that’s not a good look, I promise you... I’ll wait here for five minutes while you get dressed."

Aegon’s mouth opened— but just before he could speak Mr Collins cut in.

"I swear to God if you ask me where again."

Aegon hurriedly closed the door and changed out of his uniform before stepping out to follow close behind Collins.

It was weird how fast the laughter faded when the night got serious.

The two proceeded out the dorm and into the cold night.

The moon hung low, basking everything in a dim light as the gentle night breeze blew their hair and silhouette of their clothes.

The longer they walked the more the question piled on Aegon’s mind.

’Where’s he taking me? Why didn’t he come back after lunch? How’s he this weird? And most importantly does he not know my name?’

He finally decided to break the silence.

"Where are we going sir?"

"You ask a lot of questions Targaryen."

"That doesn’t even have any semblance of my name."

"You still haven’t realised this..." He said flatly, "I don’t care what your name is. You’re not special, you’re a dime a dozen and learning names every year’s more than I get paid for."

’Damn. That’s blunt.’

They finally stopped in front of the training ground— a simple cut field near a lake that shimmered in the night sky.

There were several other awakened on the ground, already stretching and warming up— but for what?

Mirage was also present— at the centre nursing a mug of a steaming liquid, seemingly coffee.

Aegon glanced at Mr Collins.

"Sir, what is this supposed to be?"

"You’ve all seen your survival percentages of the next trial, haven’t you? There’s nothing we can do about that now other than help...

So over the next few weeks a couple teachers will set out time at night to help some of you truly sad and pathetically mediocre awakened up your chance at survival for the next trial."

"You and Mirage?"

Aegon asked.

"Yes, well at least for your set. Let’s be honest, most of you are not going to be Nightwalker or even reach Ascendant...

But you don’t have to, as long as you can survive the next trial then you’ll be given the option on whether you choose to continue or not."

"You think it’s that easy?"

"It’s not. But don’t forget Nightwalker is just a creepy man child with godlike powers and narcissistic personality disorder. So if he can do it then why can’t you?"

Aegon tilted his head back.

"I don’t think you should talk about Nightwalker like that?"

"What?" Collins narrowed down his eyes to Aegon, "The second we start to treat that rip off Homelander like a god then he becomes one. I’d personally rather die than glaze someone’s nuts...

So, are you ready to train, Aemon?"