54. Frame's invitation

"As expected the guild sent out the Academy's top 10 ranking students out... And they refused the spar", Jiyoung explained to us. "The academy's top ten had refused for any spar no matter the provocation. However, the students from the Frame displayed their power by attacking the guards assigned to guard the arena. They were stronger than any of the Academy's rookies and the majority of them were killed while the rest were disabled or lost their limbs. They may be rookies, but unless you kill each other, you must be prepared to die. Duke gave away information about the Academy's rookies to the Frame and they would have undoubtedly lost if they fought."

That's... bad. Even though the top 10 from the World Academy were safe still many people lost their lives.

At home, while Jiwoo was explaining what happened to Kayden and Kartein I asked him for his phone wanting to check up on Arthur.

I dialled the number but he didn't pick up before I cut the call I heard his voice, "Seo Jiwoo?"

"Hey Arthur... It's Eunwoo."

"Oh Eunwoo... Did you hear?"

"Yea."

"Tsk- I guess word spreads fast. I owe you one. Truly. If you hadn't warned me beforehand we would have been in place of those guards. Others were reluctant to not participate but thanks to you we're good."

"Please... It's the least I could do as a friend. How are you holding up?"

"I'm just pissed that I was put in this condition by that bastard Duke. Is that why you called?"

"I was just worried if you or the others got involved and injured."

"It's fine. That's enough for me. How are the others?"

"We're doing well."

He giggled mischievously saying, "That makes me want to see those bastards. Kekeke. Except Jiwoo. You both aren't jerks. hahaha."

"Come visit us when things calm down over there."

"Okay, I'll do that."

~~

Later Jiyoung informed Jiwoo that the Frame had invited him and he accepted since he had to for Kayden even after his mentor insisted that he didn't have to do so.

"Don't worry since we'll go with you", Kayden assured.

But Jiwoo worriedly asked, "What about Eunwoo then?"

"Hyung it was this day for which I learnt to become a cat", I explained.

"'Kitten' you mean. Are you aware of anything else?", asked Kayden.

I shook my head in response. I think it was the last chapter that I read before my schedule got hectic. All I know is how Jiwoo will defeat a couple of kids from Frame.

And soon Jiwoo's training began with Kayden and Jiyoung. That didn't mean that I was allowed to slack off since a certain someone was stressing about me getting found out. I practiced healing techniques, force control and golden chain which Jiwoo named 'Heaven's chain'. Kayden helped me to get stronger physically. Which in short was pure hell.

For my force control, in order to understand the dark part of it I had to make peace with my dark past. I always tried to practice it whenever I was by myself because most of the time I would end it in tears. My controling and abusive father, my mother whose eyes only saw my older brother and my prefect hyung who behaved like I didn't exisit whether in the house or outdoors. All the sleepless cold nights I spent on the streets. And I thought I had gotten over everything but here I was; stopping mid practice and breaking into tears again and again.

~~

And so days went by and soon came the day where we had to leave. Kayden, Kartein and I were in our cat forms. Jiwoo had packed a few winter jackets for me just in case and then we left to board on the plane.