She frantically wriggled out of her friends'' tight grip, "Don''t do that! You scared me to death!" Aiko shouted as many students wondered by them glancing as they heard Aiko raising her tone.


    Uli just laughed in response, "Look, chill out it was only a joke..." she decided then and there to change the subject eyeing her friend closely "...anyway, who were you having a secret rendezvous yesterday? Huh?" she continued to press the subject without letting up.


    Aiko nervously smiled, "Well..." she pauses for a moment considering her options before proceeding "...I just spent some time with Sachika-" she was stopped by Uli before she could finish, her friend''s eyes lit up with excited anticipation.


    Aiko just shook her head quickly to answer Uli''s question. Uli sighed with relief, "Good, just make sure you don''t do that" she told Aiko with all the seriousness she could muster at that moment.


    "What''s the issue with doing such a thing with Sachika?" Aiko asked hesitantly to find out the answer.


    "Do you know how jealous the other girls would get if they found out..." Uli gulped slightly "...it''s common knowledge that Coordinators try to form Blood Contracts with prestigious Familiar''s in order to raise their status within the academy".


    Aiko tapped Uli''s hands off of her shoulders, "Okay, okay...jeez just let it go already" Aiko replied as if impersonating a little girl.


    As the two of them walked towards the reception area of the academy in the centre of the room was a large group of students looking upwards, when Aiko turned to see what they were looking at it was a holographic projection of the news.


    At 22:00 hours, eyewitness reports indicate that a Third Nebula Invasion has commenced as radar and communications blacked out of the Korean Peninsula, the news reporter paused for a moment placing a finger upon his earpiece, I-I just been informed that we have exclusive footage taken from a civilian source.


    The screen cut to the recording taken from a civilian source, as Aiko, Uli and the other students watched, they could see the rainy overcast day of the sky as gunfire, flak and explosions filled the sky with a cluster of vibrant colours.


    We''ve also received information that the Minister of Defence is currently giving a statement right now, so we''ll now broadcast said statement.


    As of this moment, we the Japanese Government have come to the decision to dispatch military aid and relief to the Korean Peninsula along with an Armiger detachment in order to provide support on the operation. We are unclear of the situation at hand, as sporadic information keeps coming out of the area regardless we will still provide full support to our allies abroad.


    Upon hearing that statement, the crowd of students began to talk to one another some scared of what''ll happen others unsure on how to respond to such a thing.


    At first, both Aiko and Uli didn''t notice Bethany running to them breathing heavily as pores of sweat ran down her forehead, "I-I''ve been l-looking everywhere for you" she announced with such a haggard tone.


    Both Aiko and Uli nodded.


    "That''s the thing..." Bethany sent shivers down their spines when she continued talking "...the two countries resumed fighting yesterday along the 38th Parallel Line, and that''s where the Nebula emerged"


    "You don''t mean that..." the thought of it haunted Aiko, she didn''t want to believe it. Bethany nodded confirming Aiko''s suspicions, "Rumours are circulating that nearly all the second and third-year students of Essensu South Korea Academy were killed in the initial attack, and not much of the first years survived either"


    Uli laughed nervously thinking that they were over exaggerating the whole thing, "Come on, you can''t be serious..." when she realised that both Aiko and Bethany still had serious looks on their faces her knees trembled as she fell to the floor some of the students turned to see what was happening "...but we had friends go to that academy..." tears started coming to her eyes as the thought weighed in on her, Bethany knelt down trying to console her as the two of them hugged.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.Aiko was in danger of losing her cool as were many other first years around them, so this is what it feels like wondering whether a friend is dead or not, as she too fell to the floor hugging Uli who was still crying.<hr>


    "I hope she''s okay" Hibiki muttered, Sachika just nodded in response.


    "Stop worrying about something you can''t change" both Hibiki and Sachika heard from the distance they looked up to see a girl, a third year at their academy standing before her lesser peers, her bright red hair tied in a ponytail hanging down her back almost reaching her tailbone, her sea green eyes staring at them.


    "What did you say!" Sachika''s anger was rising by the second.


    "You heard me" the third year girl responded.


    Sachika without thinking stood up forming her Essence Armament her bladed gauntlets the Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, in response, the third year''s Coordinator held out her hand in front of her as fine pixelated shards started to emanate from her body as energy started to build up in front of her hand. The third-year waved her hand signalling for her to stop.


    "B-But, Haven-sama" the girl responded.


    "It''s fine, it looks like Sachika Ito needs to be taught a lesson by her superiors" the third year answered, as she too started to form her own Essence Armament, her weapon was that of a great sword.


    Sachika smirked, "I''ve been waiting for a long time to beat you to a pulp, Jade Haven," she said as she readied herself. Jade also did the same readying herself for their fight.


    Hibiki jumped up off the bench, "Come on! We don''t have time for such things like this, we''ve got bigger fish to fry!" she tried talking some sense into the two of them, but both Sachika and Jade were adamant to continue this fight ignoring the pleas from Hibiki for them to stop.


    Turning to their left they could see both Ashina and Amelia the latter with her hand out as pixelated patterns emerged across the floor from her body to the barrier between Sachika and Jade.


    Jade shocked bowed as did her Coordinator, deactivating her Essence Armament, " Ms Ashina" she answered.


    Ashina giggled, "I hate to break it to you ladies..." her eyes suddenly turned from their gleeful effect to a sour one "...but unauthorized duels are not permitted on campus"


    "I deeply apologize, Ms Ashina, however Sachika Ito of second-year went out of line to draw a weapon on the third year" Jade responded bowing down lower than before.


    "I know everyone''s on edge..." Ashina pointed to Sachika and Hibiki "...I am also aware that you were trying to give these second years an important life lesson on the burden of losing friends and loved ones..." Ashina clapped her hands together "...however, we must also never lose what makes us human" she announced.


    Jade couldn''t help but scoff at the last comment, but she refrained herself from answering back.


    Both Sachika and Hibiki had their gazes on them albeit Sachika''s was more hostile.


    "I was originally sent here to collect you two..." Ashina said, both Sachika and Hibiki were somewhat surprised that the former wasn''t being punished for breaking the rules "...Mistress Daiki would like to speak to the two of you personally" Ashina finished with a big smile on her face, as she turned away walking towards the Mistress'' office closely followed by Amelia.


    Both Sachika and Hibiki followed suit, the two of them looking at one another wondering what the Mistress could possibly want with either of them.