Excerpt from Chapter 6 part 4 of Asterion Academy
I tapped the controls a few times then my scanner beeped and said "Voice command activated." Lady Shandi raised an eyebrow at me and said "You don't know everything about your scanner? Well the only ones who can access the voice command are the ones who have properly connected with their scanners." I blinked and said "What do you mean properly connected?" She sighed and said "They really should have made you take the technology class despite your high scores. Your scanner is basically a semi organic machine. It bonds with the person it's designed for then changes and adapts as they do. It was originally designed for the military; however they couldn't figure out the best way to use it. So, the project was going to be scrapped. Professor Asterion stepped in and took the scanners for the students. He believed that with the right programming they could be used to overcome the differences in the races. Once he took the scanners, he upgraded the classes at the academy to allow the different groups to intermingle. However because the scanner bonds with its host teachers have a very limited amount they can show them. The scanner itself unlocks each level of programming as the student needs it. The help program is a basic feature that explains what each combination of keys does, however since you already have voice command override unlocked, and you don't have to worry about that. Also because of the voice command, you don't have to worry about others taking your scanner."
I stared at her with a slightly credulous expression then looked down at my scanner and said "Scanner, pull up the pokedex function and show me all collected data on Ninetails, Charizard, and Mightyena." The help screen closed and three other holo screens appeared in its place. I nodded slowly studying each set then said "Scanner close pokedex view and go into standby mode until I tell you to activate." My scanner closed the holo views then shrank into an arm guard and stopped glowing. Lady Shandi studied me and said "I see that despite your distrust of me, you tested what I said. Are you content?" I nodded and she said "Good, then you can stop treating everything I say with suspicion and take me at my word now. Otherwise this lesson is going to take all six hours and we aren't going to get anything done."
I sighed then thought about it for a while and said softly "Fine, I'll do as you say without question until you give me more of a reason to distrust you." She nodded realizing that was the best she would get, then slowly stretched out her wings and walked outside. I followed her at a sedate pace holding back a yawn and wondering where she could possibly be taking me, and why she wanted me to go there. She glanced back to make sure I was following a few times then stepped onto one of the portals. I hopped up next to her and the two of us were transported to a spot in the middle of a beautiful glade. I blinked and said "This is an interesting place." She nodded and walked over to a large boulder and pushed it out of the way revealing a large cave.
I blinked and walked in slowly wondering what would happen next. Lady Shandi walked in behind me then pulled the boulder back across the entrance and walked deeper into the cave with an orb of light hanging over her head. I followed her carefully, and wondered what could possibly be so important in an old musty cave. After a few minutes she stopped beside another boulder and said "Everything you see in this next area is an illusion. It's designed to test your magic. If you pass then in six hours you'll walk out of here. If you fail, then I'll take you back to the infirmary. Don't hesitate to follow your instincts. I'll be watching you from another passage, so don't worry if things get to tough." I stared at her and she said "Is something the matter?" I shook my head and said "I'm just surprised." She smiled slightly and said "You seem able to handle yourself, so I thought we'd test your abilities using a chamber the headmaster and I discovered a very long time ago. Kiriana trains here every chance she gets." I smiled and kicked the boulder out of the way then walked in.
The boulder slid back into place behind me and I heard Lady Shandi's voice say "Remember, nothing in there is real. If you accept it as such however, then it will become real and you'll be in danger." I nodded and walked to the middle of the chamber as the crystals started glowing with their own inner light. I stared at them and suddenly found myself in the middle of an extravagant plaza with people running everywhere. One of them turned to me and said "Did you hear? The crown prince is coming to the city. He's going to remove the corrupt prim minister and replace him with lord Syana."
I blinked and said "whose lord Syana?" The man stared at me confused then said "You must be an outlander. Lord Syana is the most honest nobleman in the city. He turned in several merchants who'd been cheating people and leads the elite guard. It's believed the prince will take him from a minor lord to a high lord." I blinked and suddenly found myself remembering everything the man talked about and asked "Didn't he also go out and kill the demon Sentias without the help of his guardsmen?" The man nodded and said "Yes, though he plays it down. The demon supposedly had him cornered when he decided to use his broken lance as a spear and shove it down the beast's throat. I don't believe that, I think he attacked it and when the lance broke pressed the charge. He doesn't seem the type to hide." I nodded and said "His guards say he went after the beast with a determined stride." The man laughed and walked off talking to several other villagers as I sat down on a barrel.
I couldn't figure out why it had taken me so long to remember who lord Syana was. Suddenly I heard a voice say "There you are Liomas. You're father is waiting for you in the castle. He got worried and sent me to find you because usually you're so punctual." I turned and started to say my name wasn't Liomas when a flood of memories came back to me. I shook my head slowly and said "Sorry Nemas. Is father angry that I took so long, or did you decide to take it into your own hands and just say he's worried?" Nemas blinked and said "A combination of the two. He said if you don't hurry he was going to tan your hide, but he didn't really send me to get you. I thought you were lost, so I decided to lead you there myself."
I blinked and said "whose lord Syana?" The man stared at me confused then said "You must be an outlander. Lord Syana is the most honest nobleman in the city. He turned in several merchants who'd been cheating people and leads the elite guard. It's believed the prince will take him from a minor lord to a high lord." I blinked and suddenly found myself remembering everything the man talked about and asked "Didn't he also go out and kill the demon Sentias without the help of his guardsmen?" The man nodded and said "Yes, though he plays it down. The demon supposedly had him cornered when he decided to use his broken lance as a spear and shove it down the beast's throat. I don't believe that, I think he attacked it and when the lance broke pressed the charge. He doesn't seem the type to hide."
I nodded and said "His guards say he went after the beast with a determined stride." The man laughed and walked off talking to several other villagers as I sat down on a barrel. I couldn't figure out why it had taken me so long to remember who lord Syana was. Suddenly I heard a voice say "There you are Liomas. You're father is waiting for you in the castle. He got worried and sent me to find you because usually you're so punctual." I turned and started to say my name wasn't Liomas when a flood of memories came back to me. I shook my head slowly and said "Sorry Nemas. Is father angry that I took so long, or did you decide to take it into your own hands and just say he's worried?" Nemas blinked and said "A combination of the two. He said if you don't hurry he was going to tan your hide, but he didn't really send me to get you. I thought you were lost, so I decided to lead you there myself."