The security team came to break up the fight and check the students for injuries. They collected statements from the others who witnessed the fight. Casper and his group tried to frame Ash for the fight. Lita said Casper started it and tried to assault them with a football with his ability.
Both sides had compelling arguments. Ultimately, both Ash and Casper were sent to the detention area, where they were given their class assignments to make up for being detained.
Ash didn't feel the bloodlust he had before at the moment, but he felt hunger inside. It was small and faint but still lingering in there. He practiced deep-breathing meditations to calm it down for the moment. Ash's phone went off; it was on silent, but he saw the message while filling out his homework papers. It was from the Revhound military academy.
He applied to enter the academy at the beginning of high school. The academy took in students starting at sixteen to train for the military in the fight against the Kraegans. It took many tries to get a text back; the association with his brother's legacy left a stain on his applications. Even the military academy was desperate at this point to gather more recruits for the fight against the Kraegan.
Casper stared down at Ash hard. He was thinking of how to get him back. His pride was hurt, and the fact that he was embarrassed by the kid he beat up for three years in front of everyone only made him feel angrier.
Ash was finally released from detention. He did everything he could to avoid Casper; he wanted to tell Lita the news that he was leaving for the academy. It was going to break her heart, but she knew he would go through with it no matter what.
He found her at the stables when he asked the teacher in charge of the rescue animals where she was. Normally, some high schools wouldn't have a stable for horses, but their school did for all the homes and ranches that were destroyed.
He saw Lita brushing a dark horse with scars. The poor thing looked like it had been through hell in its life. Ash snuck up behind Lita, giving her a little scare, and she responded by slapping his arm.
"You jerk, don't do that."
"Sorry, couldn't resist." He joked with her. "So who's your friend. First time I've seen a horse."
The horse chortled at Ash; it felt cautious around him.
"His name is Daredevil. He used to work with park rangers. This old boy saved many lives. Too bad the Kraegans ruined his career; he saved a few people from an attack in the mountains, now he's here to grow old and die, unfortunately. Feel bad for him, he must want to be free and not stuck here."
Ash felt bad for Daredevil, to be left to rot in a stable, feeling trapped, must hurt his heart. Ash couldn't help but touch him; he felt a kinship with Daredevil.
His hand was touching his neck as his fingers rubbed his heavily scarred skin and hair. Daredevil didn't resist; he felt warmth from Ash.
"Wow, that's weird. He's never let anyone touch him but me and the doctors. He must trust you." Lita couldn't help but smile; it was a beautiful sight to her to see Ash look happy in a moment, along with Daredevil, who felt depressed in his stable.
{Congratulations. You have bonded with your destined steed. Secret Mission Complete. Reward: Slayer Arts-Death Rider Style. The user can access horseback fighting techniques specialized in fast-moving targets and pursuit.}
Ash saw the notification and was stunned. He was rewarded with a martial skill by interacting with Daredevil, his first-ever martial skill.
Martial skills were not the same as the specialties from Skill books. Skill books granted powers across all forms of technique, from surgery to cooking to marksmanship. Martial skills, as the name suggests, were martial arts and fighting styles integrated for specific weapons and self-defense.
Ash had the knife techniques from his old Skill book, but they gave him knowledge of how to use and throw them efficiently, not anything related to fighting arts like Systema.
Ash and Lita enjoyed their moment with Daredevil, unaware that someone was watching from afar.
"Hey, Cass. You still want to get back at the freak. I think I know a way you can." A male student, Casper, was using his phone, setting up an opportunity to take revenge.