After my 2 hour run I went to a nearby grocery story so I could buy some snacks and a drink...

As I went into the store I was extremely happy because the meat buns are in stock. When I tell you that these things fly off the shelf, I'm talking like from restock to sold out in a couple of minutes... It's an actual war trying to get a meat bun.

When I get closer I see that there are actually only 2 meat buns left! I got extremely lucky! As I went to retrieve the buns, there was a girl next to me who also wanted a meat bun...

"Oh... and when I thought they would be in stock..." the stranger says.

Now I do feel kind of bad because I know her pain... I once saw a bastard who took the last 5 meat buns. I wouldn't usually do this, because I am actually quite stingy, but since it's meat buns it's a sore topic for me as well.

"Here, I already got one, take this one." I say to the stranger.

The stranger's eye lit up brighter than the morning sun... It was kind of cute, I'm not going to lie.

We both made our way to the cash register.

"I can pay for both of us, can take that as a sign of my gratitude?" The stranger asks.

"No it's fine... It would be wrong of me if I made another person pay for my food." I responded.

As we left the store we started going the same direction.

She then proceeds to ask me a question, "Do you perhaps go to "Central Capital" the school for the challengers?".

"Yes I do! How did you know?" I asked.

"Your uniform, it has the sigil of the school." she responded.

I didn't even realize... I just put it on and instantly went on my run.

"So it seems..." I said.

Wait isn't that the same—

"Look, I have the same badge! If you don't mind me asking... How old are you— My bad, I forgot pleasantries, My name is Alice, what is yours?" said the girl.

"Haha, no worries, my name is Stephen, and I'm 20 years old, turning 21 in December." I responded.

With a small smile on her face she says, "I turned 21 last month, looks like I'm the older one here."

As we made our way to the school, she then asked a question in which I wished she would've never asked.

"I'm an "A" grade Lightning type, how about you?" She asks.

I didn't know how to answer the question... What should I say? Whatever... Lets just turn a blind eye.

"I know this may sound weird, but I'm an "A" grade Death type..." I respond with extreme embarrassment.

"Death type? So you are a deviant like me!" Alice said.

"That's good." She mumbles.

Now... I wasn't supposed to hear that, but because of my improved senses, I heard that loud and clear. I don't really want to be in a relationship at the moment... I mean we all remember what happened to my "first" ever, but I'm not that good looking... Why would anyone try? Unless I'm overthinking it...

*Stephen doesn't know that he's actually very good looking... It's just that he went to a school where everyone had a very good background and face.*

That aside, she seemed to have just shrugged off the fact that I have an affinity with... death... It truly is embarrassing to even think of.

The new school was in sight, and might I say, this is one enormously beautiful school.

As we walked down the path to the announcement zone, there were hundreds of eyes looking at us. I don't know how this didn't click in my head right away, but Alice does look really beautiful... I might need to stay away from her so I don't drag any unnecessary attention.

When we get to the area everyone is lined up in rows. The new principal makes his move.

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"Good afternoon young challengers, my name is Michael Hanes and I am your new principal in this hell hole." The principal says.

The words that came out of his mouth each made your heart rumble.

"Everyone here knows that this is the best school in the nation, but don't let that go to your head, because from what I know, all of you are as weak as a normal human, You won't be able to protect shit." The principal says.

This guy is nothing like my old principal, I like this new guy.

"You all already know the premise of this school, but I'll vaguely retell you. This school was built to teach little snobs like you to be someone who is able to kill the Ethereal and protect the humans from extinction." said the principal.

I really like this guy, he seems to be a war hardened soldier... But that may just be a guess—

"Now I am a war hardened soldier, and from what I can tell, you guys wouldn't even last an hour out on the field. There is death on the field, there is blood all over the ground, there are freaks of nature all over the field. We are here to make sure when you step foot on the field you don't piss your pants." The principal remarks.

What's with everyone cutting me off?

"One last thing, here in this school, authority is given through strength, not name. I don't care if you are from a big time family or a former garbage man, you are all same in the eyes of the school. You cannot use your name as a strength— the Ethereal don't care if you have a Lamborghini or not, they care if you have strength and so does this school." the principal said with a straight face.

Ha... at least all the stuck up spoiled brats won't be able to throw their weight around... unless they are a stuck up spoiled brat who's strong, that would be fucked.

"This school has teachers who specialize in a single element, so we will be grouping everyone according to their elemental affinity," said the principal.

HUH?! GROUPS?! I'M DEATH!!

People started moving towards their designated zones.

The principal with a confused face, "Child... go to a zone where you belong."

"There is no zone that fits me..." I reply

There are multiple deviant zones, but they two are split, there is a lightning zone, that's where Alice went, there is an ice zone, there are many zones. But there are no zones with 1 person, there's at least 30+ people in every zone. I'm the only person without a zone!

"Bring me the spreadsheet." the principal orders to a faculty.

"What is your name child?" the principal asks.

"Stephen, sir. Stephen Wilson." I responded.

The principal looks through the spreadsheet," Wilson, Wilson, Wilson... There you are Stephen Wilson. You seem to be... Is this supposed to be a joke?"

"No sir. On the trial it showed that answer sir." I responded.

The principal was about to speak, he looked quite angry, but then a mysterious man went on stage to whisper something in his ear.

"You've got to be kidding me... Stephen, I'll assign you to Lightning." said the principal with a disconcerting eye.

Who was that man? What does he know about me? Hold on... lightning? coincidence...? I think not.

As I make my way to the lightning field, I get thousands of stares, all are cold. That aside, I think I need to lay low... people I don't know of know about me.

"Oh My God! Stephen, we are in the same class!" says Alice.

There is one main element, but the number of students in the class is subjective, they may need 2 or 3 deviant classes for the element. Same elemental placement and same class placement... It's as if God is saying something... I wonder what could it be—

"Indeed we are!" I replied back.

The principal speaks once again, "I have two things to say before we release you to go home. One: There will be 6 classes in a school day: Home Room, English Language, Ethereal Language, Basic Training, Lunch, and Specialized Training. Two: Dorms have been created and I recommended, no I strongly recommend you dorm at the school, it will be free and the food will be free. There are two buildings, one for the Women and one for the Men. That's all, dismissed."

I started my jog back home.

I'm definitely going to the dorm, but it is going to be quite weird dorming with people other than my family...

Once I open the door to my house, I am once again greeted with my family at the door.

I won't be able to see this anymore either...

Once I was in I gave my family the brief down. It went quite well, but then the important topic came up.

"I'm going to a dorm at the school." I said.

"Really? Why don't you stay with us? The school isn't too far from home?" mom anxiously says.

"If a little bird never leaves the nest, how will it fly without its nest?" I replied back.

"Are you sure? What if you get hungry? What if you get homesick? Who will make dinner for you? What if you get sick? what if—" I cut off mom while she spoke

"You'll be the first to know mom, trust me everything will be fine! If I have even a little problem, I'll come straight home to you!" I quickly say.

"Everything will be fine!" I say as I hug her.

I head up the stairs and get ready packing.

"That's what your father said before he left..." she very lightly said under her breath.

As the day goes on, I come down for my last dinner at the house.

"Stephen, are you sure you want to go? It's safer at home!" Mom exclaims.

As I chuckle I say, "Yes mom, I want to see the outside world."

"Bro, I'm going to do my physique test next year! Don't be mad when I pass you!" Shella remarks.

I smile and say, "Lets hope you are strong, then you can help me protect the house."

this laughter I'm feeling at the table, I won't feel for a long time, but I must grow as a person.

We finish up dinner, and I head upstairs and get ready for bed.

"Sweetie, one last time, are you sure you want to go?" mom asks.

"Yes mom, I need to." I say with a straight face.

She walks away, having a light sniffle...

*Morning comes around*

I get ready to go, as I make my way to the door, I say goodbye to my family one last time.

"Be careful sweetie, remember if you have any trouble, you come straight to me!" mom says.

"Yes mom! Shella, protect the house for me while I'm gone, you got that?" I say.

"Yes Sir!" Shella responds.

I walk out of the door and make way to the school, this truly, is now the beginning of it all.