Damien awoke before the break of dawn. The clock on his bedside drawer read at 04:54. He got up and sat down in his meditative stance until 06:00 came closer. Once it was almost time he tidied himself up a bit in his bathroom and tried to control his messy white hair. Ready to go, he looked in the mirror to see a handsome kid looking back. His white uniform accentuated his hair and made it seem like he was shining. His orange eyes were dimmed by the glasses and he looked like a mystery. Knowing he couldn’t change his physical appearance, he prepared himself with a final deep breath.
Opening his door he saw many others doing the same, carrying their bags and instruments they needed. Looking at them carrying many things made him feel naked and out of place. As usual the glares came from all around but a short kid with ginger hair walked up to Damien.
“You don’t belong here white-haired freak, especially when you use your influence to bend the rules. I busted my ass off to be accepted here but in you come with nothing to show…..”
“Hey! That’s my target so you can get out of here!”
Down the hallway Yuki came rushing in with a killer face. The short kid’s face sunk in and ran off instantly. Another scream came even further down.
“Yuki, wait for me! Don’t cause any more trouble!”
Right after Yuki came, another boy came with short blonde hair and blue eyes. It was Cal who was with Yuki at the entrance. Cal finally caught up to her and was panting for breath. Damien was flabbergasted from the start, he didn’t know he caught the ire of many students. He took a look around and everyone instantly turned back to what they were doing. He quickly caught on to what happened so he faced the both of them and thanked them.
“Thank you Yuki, and you too Cal. What are you two doing here?”
Cal was the first to speak between the two.
“Orders from the Headmaster. We are to show you around. He was also generous enough to put us on the same schedule.”
Damien instantly became relieved and he even put on a sublime smile. All his worries of navigating the academy disappeared.
“Where's our first stop?”
The ice cold Yuki was the one to answer this time.
“You just need to follow us. Eventually you won’t need us anymore…… Daniel?”
“You can’t be serious…….”
After an awkward staredown Damien gave in and gestured for them to lead the way. Along the way Cal was very talkative, he explained anything that caught Damien’s interest and explained the history of many things. For one StarPoint academy was founded together with the first Guildmasters over 5000 years ago. It quickly became a prestigious school where it was the most sought after academy in the continent. The acceptance rate was extremely low sitting around 0.1%. It was a melting pot of talent, races, and nobility. You can make connections to future kings, and field leaders. This information caused Damien to feel like he cheated the system. He didn’t prove his worth or work hard to be accepted, he was just lucky the headmaster owed his grandfather a favor and a big one at that. All the judging stares will come his way but he planned to shut them down. He clenched his hand into a fist in a scene of determination.
‘My worth is for myself to determine’
Eventually they arrived at a huge recreation area on the first floor. Damien and Yuki both felt like they were saved. Damien really underestimated how much Cal could speak about anything. Yuki then came up to the front of both of them.
“This is an open gymnasium used for our first class of swordsmanship. We came a bit early to get you situated. To the left are the male lockers where you will change and have your equipment.”
Damien was grateful for the guidance and was about to shed a tear until Cal dragged him away to the lockers.
“Let’s get changed before it gets crowded!”
They entered a spacious room filled with personal lockers containing an outfit, variety of swords from rapiers to broadswords, and multiple showers. It seemed like the headmaster was quick to make adjustments as he already saw his name on a locker in the corner. There he had his own proper gear and space. He saw Cal coming up to him and sure enough, he saw Cal’s name on the locker next to his. Inside he cursed his luck, but having someone he already met was better. They both quickly changed into their athletic wear, which was a set of tight but flexible white pants and shirt. It also features the school emblem on it.
“Grab any sword you are comfortable with before you leave!”
Cal motioned towards the broadsword in his locker and got it ready on his side. Copying Cal’s movement he placed a large bastard sword where he would usually keep the sword gifted from his grandpa, Thunder. He named it after the resounding sound it makes when you increase its weight on a swing.
As they both got ready to leave a stream of students started coming in. While they were walking out Damien ran into that short ginger from earlier. The sudden impact caused Damien to take a step back.
‘How can someone so short be so sturdy.’
That was all he could think about from running into him. The ginger chuckled as he stood there proudly.
“I’ll see you on the field, cheater.”
Damien just took it in and walked out with Cal to the field. Out in the middle was a female instructor who looked to be in her 20s. She had short purple hair with delicate facial features. She had an ephemeral air surrounding her, the complete opposite of Veron who was overwhelming. She wore a light armor set with simple black clothing underneath.
Stolen story; please report.
“That is our professor, Nora Mildred, she was one of the most talented swordsmen that attended StarPoint. She has a complete understanding of various sword styles which coined her the name ‘Sword Queen’.”
Damien was surprised to see such a figure as a professor, but that is what makes this place so special. He couldn’t help wonder how strong his grandfather was, someone who didn’t back down to Headmaster Sord.
The two walked up to their instructor and stood at attention. Nora acknowledged them and kept her stare on Damien. Her lips opened and she spoke in a light tone.
“I am Nora Mildred, your swordsmanship professor. You are the new kid, Damien, right?”
“Yes mam, it is nice to meet you.”
Damien gave a slight bow to his new professor.
“I’ve been informed about you already. Let’s see what ‘his’ grandson is made of today. Give your new classmates a look into what swordsmanship is all about.”
Damien was wide-eyed from astonishment and meekly replied.
“What do you mean professor, I only know a little about swordsmanship.”
With a look of surprise she let out a small chuckle while covering her mouth.
“You’re right, even I only know a little of swordsmanship.”
Cal looked at Damien surprised. This was the first time Cal saw someone really impress professor Mildred. As he came to, he realized the rest of the class was already at attention and heard the same conversation.
Damien felt the stares of everyone in class and especially of the little ginger who unexpectedly lined up right next him.
‘This is it, my life is done from here on out.’
He couldn’t muster up the courage to correct Nora so he braced himself for what would happen in today’s class. Nora raised her hand to a fist to silence her class. She spoke out in a light voice that somehow resounded everywhere.
“Today we are welcoming a new student. Come on up to my side and introduce yourself.”
Damien let out a sigh and went to her side. He cleared his mind like he has practiced many times and spoke as clearly as he could.
“My name is Damien, age 11, I’m happy to be here.”
He put his head down in the final part and felt completely out of place. Nora put her hand on his back with a small smile and she spoke to her class once again.
“To gauge the proficiency of our new member, who would like to volunteer to have a friendly spar with Damien?”
Instantly more than half the class raised their hands up causing quite the scene. They were all emanating a fighting spirit, especially the short ginger who already had confronted Damien. Nora examined her class and finally pointed at the short ginger.
“Erik, since you seem so eager you can come up.”
The class suddenly went into an uproar.
“She’s putting him against Erik…”
“I feel bad for him…”
“This is what he gets for cheating the system..”
Damien felt everyone’s animosity focused on him but was surprised to hear that the short ginger, Erik, was pretty strong.
‘This would be my luck, hopefully it’s over soon.’
Damien started to walk towards the middle where there was a stage present. As he was walking by Cal passed by Damien and quickly whispered to him.
“Erik is one of the top students this year excelling in many things, especially in swordsmanship. Be careful.”
Damien walked by and just gave a nod, he positioned himself in the middle of the stage waiting for Erik. He closed his eyes, readying his breath to a calm state. Instantly all the noise disappeared from the background and led him to extreme concentration. He remembered what his grandfather taught him for all those years.
‘Just breathe, any lapse of judgment or concentration could lead to your downfall.’
He slowly opened his eyes and saw Erik strut with confidence, carrying his sword carelessly over his shoulder.
“Erik Fierstone, Sword Earth Realm Rank 8.”
Damien looked back at him with no clue what he was saying.
“Damien, no rank.”
Many in the class started laughing and couldn't wait to see the spar happen.
“I can’t believe he has no rank”
“At least he will get embarrassed today.”
Erik looked up to Damien with no pity.
“I’ll make this quick.”
Nora was in the background watching everything unfold and just held her enigmatic smile. She raised her hand once more to quiet everyone down.
“Remember this is just a friendly spar, there will be no fatal strikes. Also no magic is allowed.”
She then brought her hand straight down with ease.
“Begin!”
Nora secretly readied herself to intervene if anything were to happen. She analyzed every move and was two steps ahead of them.
Damien raised his short sword to a basic stance and stood ready for any move. Erik saw the beginner stance and laughed to himself. Erik began taking steps towards Damien, and after each step he began accumulating momentum. Every step felt like a quake through the floor creating a fearsome pressure to come down in the area.
Damien saw the sight before him and didn’t feel the pressure as everyone else did. Everyday he practiced and sparred against his grandfather who had an immeasurable amount of pressure. Damien couldn’t help but smirk ever so slightly which caused Erik to explode in anger.
“I don’t think this is a good time for you to be amused!”
Erik came rushing in, slashing his sword down upon Damien causing the air to roar. The students watching all held their breath, they believed he was going to cut him in half. Damien saw the strike coming down and time slowed down for him. He could see the strike move inch by inch.
Like he has done many times before he naturally brought his sword down, sliding it down Erik’s blade creating a perfect parry. All the momentum brought down was instantly transferred back to Erik, launching him to the side. By the time he looked up he had a sword pointed at his neck. His anger erupted when he heard everyone gasp in surprise. He felt so embarrassed that he needed to avenge himself.
“You cheating bastard!”
He reinforced himself with magic shrouding his body in a yellow aura causing the floor to crack. He lunged once again forward catching Damien by surprise. Damien was not ready for this attack since he already let his guard down believing it was over.
Facing an attack that could badly injure him, Damien’s body started to heat up causing a great amount of steam to rise from his body. Underneath his glasses there was a fiery glow ready to be brought out. Before he could even retaliate back, Nora appeared between them catching both their blades with her bare hands.
“That’s enough you two, Damien has already won. Take your loss gracefully Erik, I expect more from a Fierstone.”
The two sheathed their blades and walked off the stage back towards their spots. Erik bit his lips in anger and stared at Damien the entire way. The whole class was stunned to silence with most of their mouths gaped open. The silence was deafening for Erik. He was never embarrassed like this before, but he didn’t want to continue acting up in front of Professor Mildred.
On the other hand Damien felt odd about the whole situation. It felt so surreal to experience so many emotions in one day, but not only that, he had also won in a spar! He put on a big smile that he couldn’t bring down. Eventually Professor Mildred came to the front of everyone with her hands behind her back.
“I hope everyone was able to be enlightened by their spar, there was a lot to understand. Now everyone is to either spar or practice techniques for the rest of the period. I will be back to walk around to answer your questions and guide you.”
The students either got into pairs or held a stance practicing their swings. The only outlier of the class was Yuki. She held the same basic stance that Damien demonstrated and just stood still with a furrowed brow.
As the students were practicing and gossiping about the events, Nora walked into her office. When she closed the door behind her she stared at her left hand that caught Damien’s blade. The flesh on her hand was melted down to the bone leaving it disfigured. She calmly went into her cabinets and took out a green potion. She poured it onto her hand causing her disfigured hand to heal back to normal.
“Veron, what kind of monster did you create?”