Jor ran away, bursting through the exit doors and out into the moonlight. He didn't think his face turned as red as the time he was set on fire by the Fire Crawlers. The last he saw of her was a surprised expression. It didn't matter. He just wanted out, to get back to where the elderly couple lived. It was good, safe and without monsters and deadly magic trying to take his life. The world wasn't about to get him, not there. And certainly no girl with a beautiful smile.

When he made it back, Jor slept on the floor, next to the bed.

"Breakfast is served!" Sarah made bacon, sausage, eggs, and placed a spot of black coffee. Jor added a few sugar cubes and milk into his own steaming mug. "Eat up, dear. You are far too skinny."

The island table of black marble housed Benny, and finally Sarah, once she put the food on the table. It was a wonder why there weren't any servants or magical constructs to serve them, considering their advanced age. Magic, probably. It seemed to be able to do anything.

"So, I think we need to know your name, don't you think?" Benny placed a crisp white paper in front of him, and a ballpoint pen. "Do you think you can write your name?"

Jor looked up to Benny with a blank expression. He had no idea how to write. Sure, he knew the language, but he wasn't taught the letters. His parents had no knowledge of letters and numbers, they were simple peasants.

"Ah... you haven't been taught." The discomfort passed quickly when she looked to him with a knowable gaze. "I had the liberty of applying you to the academy. Normally, getting you on such short notice would be a little difficult, but the president is a friend. She would make an exception for you."

Sarah smiled proudly. Well, Sarah sure looked smug about it. He supposed she should be if she had the political connections to make that happen. Jor had only come to admire that about her. Her husband grinned painfully, though he certainly looked embarrassed.

"You start in two days." Sarah simply replied. "Of course, you will be tested before any allowances can be made, but before that, your health will be examined to ensure you have no deficiencies before the start of the term. So be prepared!"

"I thought we talked about this! I don't think he's ready. He certainly looks strong, but surely he's not good enough to attend the Diadochus Academy," Benny grimaced, as he rubbed his brow. "He'll be ostracized, and considered persona non grata by his classmates, even should he pass. A miracle itself to accomplish for a boy without a lineage of nobility or sects. The boy is a complete unknown, without history, or possibly even a unique class to accommodate his abilities to compete with the other students."

"I have made up my mind," Jor looked up, Sarah with her firm tone. "I have prepared all your baggage, and I have made sure you received a room in the dorm. The academy shall provide everything if they understand the consequences."

Benny groaned louder. "You didn't threaten the executive board... did you?"

Sarah looked up, surprised. "Threaten? Dear, you have been reading into this far too much. I just... gave a suggestion."

"The fact of the matter is," Benny exasperated. "We don't even know what level the boy is, or what class he has. We need to assess his class and level, not to mention his health. The boy looked like he's been through a warzone and back."

"The school has resources to help," Sarah waved the matter aside. "The school should figure him out, and place him where he's needed. Besides, I have a feeling he would surprise everyone."

"And how do you know that?"

Sarah smirked. "Oh, call it a woman's intuition."

As they continued to bicker between one another, Jor was lost in his own world, as he gobbled down his breakfast. Who was that girl? The girl with the dark hair, and crimson eyes. She played beautifully, beyond even his own ability. Jor had barely kept up, as their tempo crescendoed. Just who was she?

"What do you think of the idea?" Benny turned to him, clearly frustrated.

Jor nodded along, absentminded as he was with his own thoughts.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Great...," The older man sighed. "The boy's probably lost in the conversation. Wasn't even listening to us the entire time."

"Excellent! The president shall arrive soon. I already sent the message." Sarah bullied forward.

"... Of course, you have." With a deadpan voice, Benny stated.

The man looked about ready to give up on life.

Jor's attention was elsewhere. All he thought of was the girl with the crimson eyes. Her features were sharp enough to cut glass. But it was her eyes that caught his attention. That gaze was as cold as the deep depths of the Antarctic. She plagued his thoughts, and it hadn't left his mind even when he woke up the next morning, along with a headache. Just there, lingering.

It was the next day when he was received a visitor, as he ate his lunch.

"So, you're the boy." It was an older, strict looking middle-aged woman. Her rainbow-colored hair tied up in a neat bun, and her skin was without wrinkles or blemish. She wore a black and white, gold-buttoned military suit, of some kind. Everything she wore looked expensive.

Yet, despite her beauty, there was a kind of fierce intelligence hidden behind those blue orbs. She was overwhelming in confidence and persona, and more intimidating than beautiful.

"The Elibets have a long-standing relationship with our king, and to have recommended someone to one of the greatest schools in this country," The woman looked down upon him with contempt. "Well... suffice it to say, you've caused quite the stir in the king's court."

Jor blankly stared up at her.

"Yes, they did say you weren't much of a talker," The woman said. "Still, I think I should introduce myself. I'm Isobel Black, the current president of Diadochus Academy."

She paused, as she looked down at him, seeking something. Jor ignored her, stuffing more food into his mouth. Her lips thinned in displeasure or surprise. There was little care left in him to give.

"Boy, look at me while I'm speaking." The cold demand in her voice would have had any other stand erect, eyes wide with fear and uncertainty. There was much to fear from a woman with such power and influence.

A woman of high nobility, birthed and raised in the highest upper echelons of their society. Her words may break, or uplift one beyond the confines of their status, and had the ear of their king himself.

It must have been a new experience to be ignored and dismissed by a snot-nosed brat quarter of her age. Her pride took a hit.

"I said look at me while I'm speaking!" A mountain of invisible pressure descended upon his body. Along with it, came the sheer invisible heat.

An instant. A moment of time where time didn't seem to move, but so much more happened. The woman's gilded broadsword appeared out of thin air and held before her horizontally. She was fast. It saved her life, for her sword blocked his fist on the flat end of her blade. An entire section of the wall behind her was simply gone, as she was bodily flung through the brick walls.

Her feet slid across the grass until she found her footing. Isobel's eyes widened in surprise, yet quickly fled to replace it with resolve. The sword swiftly came up, held in a stance. Waiting.

Jor ignored her, as he turned to clean up the mess left in their brief, but destructive fight.

Isobel scowled. She was ignored. Again!

Isobel relaxed her stance, and her sword dispersed in motes of light. "What the hell are you?"

He didn't answer.

The woman turned to the frantic elderly couple as they hurried over, and bowed. "I apologize for my behavior. It was most improper. The academy shall reimburse for whatever damages occurred. But, the boy...,"

There was the maddened gleam in her eyes. "I want him."

Benny scratched his head and sent a questioning glance to his wife as if to say, 'You wanted this.'

"Ah, well, that's alright," Sarah nodded toward the boy. "What can you tell me of his abilities?"

"Extraordinary. Supernatural!" Isobel simply said. "His level is nearly similar to my own, a master! And while his technique is... nonexistent, the strength overcompensates his ability to simply power through his opponents. I thought my sword was about to break!"

"He's a prodigy, then?" Benny asked.

Isobel scoffed. "A prodigy?" The gleam in her eyes deepened. "He hasn't mastered any fighting arts, technique or skills of any kind. The boy's just a pure brawler, and a ball of rage wrapped up in stupidity. I saw multiple openings in the split second he threw that punch. In fact, he has no skills! The boy's so unpolished it would take a decade at least to ensure the boy doesn't die from stupidity. But... he has experience. He has fought monsters before, but not humans. I could see that as clear as day. I want him. Scholarships, room, and boarding, food? He'll get all of it. And if it means paying out of my own pocket, then so be it. I shall not lose a child to rival masters!"

The elderly couple was stunned, but it was Sarah who responded. "Well... you're certainly passionate about him."

Isobel glared at the boy. "The king shall be notified."

"Well...," Benny exclaimed. "Shall we get some lunch?"