12 Bonding of Rothars

Laquadia and Deisham were now inside the Academy's conference room together with the Pedagogues. After the encounter with Mozti, both of them surveyed the other trainee. It was not necessary for them to do those trifling things. However, it was needed to inspire the trainees and to boost their morals.

Teachers were called Pedagogues in here due to their strict ways of imparting knowledge to their students. In fact, all of the Pedagogues were mostly at their dying age and there's none in the group who looked young or middle-aged. The aura of death clutched onto their bodies like a leech. Above all, their eyes were full of knowledge that at a single glance could make anyone bow down to them with at most respect and veneration. Yet, they were all humble as clouds in the sky.

One of the facts to take note of these Pedagogues were that they were the veterans of war. Taking part in at least a million major and minor wars in the border or even conquering a new planet and defending them was not an easy experience to live their daily life. It was not easy to count how many battles they had participated on their entire life. For the fact that they were already one hundred million years old could make them a deity in front of the lowly beings in the Galaxy. Truly, they all deserve their current status and position.

Laquadia sat at the center surrounded by 500 Junior and Senior Pedagogues. Deisham who was still irritated from what happened not too long ago stood beside him. Laquadia first looked at everyone inside and started in a solemn manner, "To have a Rothar, whatever it may be, is a glorious pride that will last a lifetime. I think this is the right time to give our future soldiers their own Rothars. I saw in their eyes the excitement to grow with them. As the largest Academy of the Kingdom, I want this to be the main training ground of all the recruits who have potentials to become a Supreme General at the least."

Rothars were the beasts of the Empire and a companion of every Jadasian. When the Pedagogues heard about Rothars, some of them couldn't hold their eyes to redden. A humble existence like Rothars who would die for their master truly made the Pedagogues remember the days that their loyal beast was at their side. In fact, Rothars would die immediately after their master dies. The sad truth was that when Rothars die their master will still live and carry that pain in their heart in losing a beast like them. That's why, those Pedagogues who coudn't stop their tears to fall down had lost their beloved Rothars. They call themselves God but they couldn'tdefeat the law of the Universe. It was such a true irony.

"As you all know, we are preparing for another war," Deisham took over and sent some of the important documents to each of the Pedagogues' holograms. "Look at the information on your hands. This war will happen ten years from now. The First Prince had decided to station the new soldiers in Frant," Deisham said while looking at the First Prince. Laquadia looked at Deisham like he knew what he said.

The Pedagogues scanned the documents that were flashing through their hands. Some had a look of discomfort regarding the plan. Everyone inside this room knew the pressing pressure of training new armies that would become invisible on the battlefield. Time was also one of the reasons why this training would be hard for both the younger generations and the Pedagogues of the academy.

"My Prince, 2 weeks time is needed for the bonding to be stable," commented one of the Pedagogues with an alarmed tone.

"Also, the training of the Rothars and their masters will take more than three years to achieve a cordial relationship. My Prince, I know time is not in our hands but we must not push the trainees and their Rothars. It can affect their battle prowess," explained one of the Senior Pedagogues to Laquadia. He eyed at Deisham worriedly, wanting him to know his sentiments. However, he was directly ignored by the General.

"I know that some of you are concerned with the time that I put for the completion of training for our new recruits. I had already planned about this ahead of time. 100,000 trainees will be prioritized and the other's will finish their training in the usual time," Laquadia reassured everyone as if he knew all the plans his Generals had laid out. Deisham rolled his eyes full of disgust. He couldn't believe how the First Prime handled this kind of pressing situation.

'He offered his self to convince these wise men. How absurd,' Deisham thought full of disbelief.

"Therefore, gentlemen, the best decision was to develop the abilities and skills of all the trainees in a short period of time with a good plan," Laquadia finished his ethical way of convincing everyone.

All the Pedagogues gave a deep sigh and looked at each other. They were now discussing each other's thought regarding the war plan. The First Prince and Deisham looked at them while smiling happily. However, inside, they wanted to kick the butt of these Pedagogues to agree with them. This was the true battle of convincing these wise men who experienced countless death. Death could make you know the true essence of life and without experiencing death you won't believe that life amidst struggle is worth living. While these Jadasians faced them a thousand times.

The First Prince and Deisham felt eternity before the most Senior Pedagogue stood up on his seat. "My Prince, you are a star that blazed up in the skies! Your wisdom is more tha us and there's no denying about that! All of us knew that war in this Galaxy needs no time! The sooner we train our soldiers, the sooner we can have the universe! My Prince, may the Imperial Way guide you!" exclaimed the most Senior Pedagogue convinced.

Everyone knew how cunning this Jadasian was. He once conquered a civilization by making himself one of their leaders. As time went by, a huge crisis arose in their home system. Of course, it was the First Prince's plan. The crisis caused wide demonstrations and mass rebellion that affected the system's everyday life. What the First Prince had done was simple; he offered the President a very enticing proposal. Which resulted for him to conquer his very first civilization. That story spread all over the Imperial Family. Since that day, everyone looked at him with veneration.

Laquadia stood up from his chair and bowed slightly towards the Pedagogues. "I heard that there is a space rothar ready for bonding. I'm curious whom it will choose," he said casually and continued, "The trainee it will bond will automatically enter the Fleet Commander's program. Space rothars have high standards in choosing their master. I have no reason not to give that trainee a chance to become one."

Deisham widened his eyes and instantly walked beside Laquadia. "My Prince, isn't this a careless decision by making this trainee a Fleet Commander? I mean, this is unreasonable!" he exclaimed full of disbelief.

The Pedagogues just gave a heavy sigh and didn't bother to comment any further. Yet, their faces were painted with at most defiance.

Laquadia doesn't give any reaction and replied, "Flowers bloom because they have sunlight. Deny them of sunlight, they will bloom ugly."

After finishing his line, Laquadia immediately walked straight to the main hall leaving behind Deisham and the Pedagogues. Deisham was not impressed with what Laquadia had said. He was furious on Laquadia's action. This time, he doesn't have any clue on the First Prince's decision. The Pedagogues just looked at Laquadia's fading figure spaced-out before they followed him.

The western grounds of the Academy were full of cages. Each had their own sizes and were arranged in specific areas. Fifteen thousand trainees lined up at the center surrounded by majestic creatures. Rothars inside their cages were roaring full of excitement. Some rothars looked like lions who had a golden mane and large wings. Others were like tigers who had long fangs that could crush bones and could tear an individual in half. In the center were monkeys that had red blood eyes who were emitting powerful pressure within a meter. There were also birds that were surrounded by thick fog which made their cages full of ice popsicles.

In the rightmost cage, was a beautiful white horse with a raven blue hair and a diamond-like shape mark on its head that gave out a faint golden light. It had golden white wings that added to contrast to its beautiful figure. It stands 8 meters from the ground and had a length of 12 meters. This horse was a Space Rothar species. This was the grand prize on today's occasion.

Everyone looked at the beautiful horse greedily. They wanted it to pick them and become their Rothar. They knew that Rothars picked their master and not the other way around. Some of the trainees began to beg that it would choose them. But if it would not, they had no choice but to accept their destiny. Bonding with a Rothar was destiny itself, since they would grow and live together as a family in their whole life.

If their master would die, the Rothar would accompany him from dying. If their Rothar died, it would be one of the most excruciating pain any Jadasian could feel in their whole life. Whereas, they would not die together with their Rothar. Thus, making this kind of relationship a painful law of nature. Therefore, no matter what kind of Rothar bonded with them, they must accept it wholeheartedly.

Mozti was among the crowd who had given a "lucky" chance to bond with a Rothar. "This..." Mozti couldn't help to utter after seeing tens of thousands of cages lining up on the side. This is truly amazing! However, when he saw the majestic horse inside the cage, excitement filled his amber eyes. Mozti also glanced at the large balcony of the western building and he saw the First Prince, Deisham and all the Pedagogues. All of the trainees simultaneously bowed and greeted the First Prince that boomed all over the Academy, "Naeyri, Vahan Farha!" (Greetings, First Prince!)

"Release 500 Rothars in their cages and let us witness another wonder!" Laquadia declared in a commanding voice to the Jadasians guarding the cages.

The first row cages were then unlocked releasing 500 Rothars. All the Rothars bellowed in unison excited to bond with a master. When the door of the cage opened, some Rothars flew high up in the sky and some that don't have wings immediately searched for a master to bond. Every time a bonding occurred, a majestic air filled the sky. It was such an exhilarating scene to behold.
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