Welcome to Gaia! ::

Nocam's left eyebrow went up.

"Well, it seems Merlin Jr. just volunteered. Arkena, post."

A cool, emotionless, feminine voice spoke up.

"Access granted. Welcome, Your Highness."

The Dispplay case with the rifle opened up and the weapon drifted into Nocam's awaiting hand where is instantly came to life.

"If you're such a badass, fire this weapon. One shot. If you do, I will hereby declare, in an official statement through the universes, that magic is hereby more powerful then 87 million years of technological advancement."

Nocam took the safety off the weapon, loaded a stun magazine into the magazine well, then held it at rm's length toward Arkena.

"But I warn you. If you fail, then the entire class will see the truth, in that you're not the most powerful. And if you choose not to accept, then it will be publicly known that you're a chicken s**t."

Redtail summoned a chair and sat in it. He then summoned a target at the far corner of the room, speaking to Arkena.

"Careful kid. They don't call him 'Godslayer' for nothing. Using his technology, he slew a God that used magic. I simply augmented the shields and weapons with magic. A simple troop transport can fly through a black hole and come out unscathed."

Redtail sighed and extended his hand, palm facing Arkena, fingers relaxed with the index and middle up, thumb at a 45 degree angle. Arkena was blasted back against the wall, held to it with shackles made of lightning.

"Watch your tongue, boy. I simply mentioned his name and the headmistress fell over herself in excitement. The reputation of the Se-combeian Empire exceeds even my own."

He rotated his hand 180 degrees and closed his fingers to a fist, shrinking Arkena down to the size of a quarter and teleporting him into his hand, still held by the shackles.

"The Masters were a slaver race of beings that had perfectly combined magic and science. They moved planet to planet, Universe by Universe, enslaving all peoples they found. Almost annihilated his people. And mine. Through a combination of Arcane Magic, Divine Magic, and the technological might of the Se-combeian Empire, the United Earth Federation Navy, the Ferogan Republic, and my people, the terrors of Creation were defeated. Technology and Magic are perfect equals...to those that know how to use it. Nocam and myself are evenly matched through our skills. But your magic skills IF you graduate this school, vs his skills now...you'd be in WAY over your head. Remember that and MAYBE you'll live long enough to come near the measly amount of power I'm using now."

Redtail flicked Arkena away, causing him to slam back against the wall, growing to normal size upon impact, the shackles disappearing. Redtail put the same inpenetrable barrier over the exits of the building.

"Now take your seat and participate in this class. it IS required for your graduation. The Headmistress commanded it."

Redtail sat back down and made a rude guesture at Nocam who was simply shaking his head.

"Red, you think you can tone down the theatrics? You're likely to scare the poor sod."

Redtail gave Arkena a mysterious half-smile.

"Good luck. The Headmistress personally approached me to teach both elemental and combat classes. Though I did tell her that I know someone better at teaching combat than I. She'll be here tomorrow as a guest instructor. And MAYBE you'll like her better, because she uses magic in her combat...though her magic is a type that your big shot father would never be able to use, much less counter. And if you choose not to participate, you'll fail and not graduate. It's as simple as that. And your father can try to get me fired, but he'd fail. You and your father have no idea the true extent of my power, both magically and politically. So sit down, shut your trap, and learn something. because I have no problem whatsoever failing you. And be warned, 75% of the grade is participation."

He reached into a pocket in his breeches and removed a small remote with two buttons. He pushed one and a metallic clunking is heard behind the walls and a dark grey slate moved over the exits. Redtail replaced the remote and stood up.

"Alright ladies and gents, this room is now surrounded by Cold Iron. That means your magic is now nullifyed. Not even I can cast a spell. So all of you are completely helpless. Which is why you're in a Combat Class.

A loud guffaw was heard throughout the room as Nocam fell off his chair laughing.

"Celise. "FlowerPower" magic. Oh, that's almost as funny as Redtail being weaker than someone in this Universe."

Nocam sat up and wiped a false tear from his eye as he climbed back into his cahir. Redtail looked back over at Arkena and smiled again.

"Fine. I'll have you teleported here. One way or another, you will be in class. And if you have a problem with it, have this father of yours 'set me straight.' And trust me, the power that tomorrow's guest, one Grand Marshal Celise Marcella Allenar, High Commander of the the Order of the Silver Shield, is given to her by someone that could crush everyone in this school with the blink of an eye."

Redtail paused for a moment as an Idea came to him.

"Since you want to make deals with Nocam and vice-versa, I'll make one with you which there is an inter-changable part that you can choose. The part that stays fixed is that you show up here tomorrow. Voluntarily. If you choose to fight against Celise, her melee and powers against your magic and win, you will never have to report here, and I'll pass you for the year. If you bring your father here and he proves that he is as powerful as you say, same thing. But if you lose, then you WILL report her and keep quiet and participate. And if HE loses...BOTH of you will come here to learn and participate. Agreed?"

Redtail extended his right hand, covered by his black fingerless gloves. Nocam raised his left eyebrow but kept his mouth shut, trying not to laugh again.

Redtail crossed his arms and shifted his weight to sit equally upon both legs. Recognizing his firen'ds mood, Nocam rounded up the rest of the class and pulled them off, showing them the different types of weapons, letting them handle each of them. Redtail erected a dome over him and Arkena. The dome prevented sound from leaving and sight from going in, emenating from a small retangle that Redtail tossed to the ground after speaking in a language unknown to all but him and Nocam.

"I believe I gave you a choice on which challenge you would do. Not if you would or not. our father or you. Your choice. But one of them will happen. Because you cannot escape this class. This is a school of magic. Not religion. So you saying that this class is against your beliefs will get you laughed out of the office. You have to remember, this class was requested by the Headmistress herself. I was requested as it's instructor, though Celise will probably take over the day after tomorrow. Seeing as how this is a graduation requirement, I can prevent you from ever graduating while being perfectly within school regulation. It is well within my power. And this is also the only school of magic in this entire universe. I know of one other in existence, and it happens to reside in Universe Five. But you would never be accepted. For one, your power levels are too low to get in. And the second reason...I am the Headmaster of it. And you wouldn't just drop out of this school. Because even though no one would say it to your face, everyone would know that you allowed a teacher to run you out. That you finally lost to a teacher. A brand NEW teacher at that."

He glanced over at the class, seeing a student hold a katana, Nocam correcting his stance.

"ANd you DO realize that if you refuse to participate in class, I can hold you after school for detention. And if you do not show, I will teleport you here. If I find even the tiniest spell to prevent it, I will have you escorted here under armed guard. Even though I can easily break any spell you cast upon yourself, the armed guard is a lot more visible. And every guard would be armed with a Mark-15, which if you choose to run or resist, will be used against you. Stun rounds of course. And before you attempt to say that i cannot do that, I would remind you that the guards would be members of the United Earth Federation marine Crops, and therefore under the control of Nocam. And Nocam has Diplomatic Immunity. So he cannot be touched by any law,. And I doubt your father would try anything. That would bring the wrath of three different star nations down upon his head. He IS royalty after all. That is...if your father survived. One does not gain a title of Godslayer for being a pushover."

Redtail stooped to retrieve the shield generator but stoped and stood again.

"Also, when Celise takes over, don't expect her to go any easier on you than myself or Nocam. Celise happens to be my wife, and therefore oin my corner. Nocam and Celise are the only support I need. Trust me. Don't play with powers you know nothing about, boy. You can get hurt..."

As he spoke his last sentance, an evil purple glow could be seen under Redtail's hood. He shook his head violently to clear the glow, retrieved the generator, and removed the dome.

"Choose your challeneg. And choose to participate or be here after school. It's your choice."

To empasize his point, he pulled out the remote and removed a Cold Iron slab from the door.

"You still have a hal-hour of class left. It would be better to spend a half hour pretending to be interested and play along then be here with me for three hours after school."

Redtail shrugged, tired of Arkena's self-centered boasting and stroking.

"Go ahead. Try. Guarenteed you'd lost any and all reputation and semblance of respect that others have for you. Having the Headmistress in my corner is enough to get you laughed at. Having Celise, Nocam, and the Immortal Guardian of Time at my back... And actually, your detention would be in here. You'll be sharpening and polishing weapons. With your own muscles. he room will be laced in COld Iron, preventing magic. For three hours. And I actually won't be here when you father comes to retrieve you. Being an Archmage and a Guardian, I too have a strict schedule. That's why Celise is taking over. And if you think she'll be any easier to take care of...you actually have a better chance of removing me than her, and I've already warned you that getting rid of me will take an act of congress. So participate and go home on time, or sit here like a stubborn child and be here for three hours."

Redtail walked away, then srtopped after three steps.

"Oh, and by school policy, if you don't perform your Detention task, I am allowed to keep you here longer. It's three hours or until completion of the task, and even the Headmistress cannot override that. I hope you have good upper body strength. I have enough weapons to arm a country."