Chapter 6

Emerald Rose was born with everything on her grasps. She has all the things she wants and does anything she likes. Basically, she was born with a golden spoon on her mouth. Even with the things she owns, she is never happy with her life though. Her image, her semblance and even her weapon was made to look exactly the same of their most famous hero of the clan, Ruby Rose.

When she was born, the entire Rose family was ecstatic due to her arrival. It was the new century and her arrival only signifies a new chance and beginning for the family. As she grows older, people started to notice something really amazing about her. Her eyes are exactly the same as Ruby Rose. The same silver eyes started to proudly show its glory towards other members of the family. It was said to be a great weapon towards the Grims which only intensified the frantic attention she is getting.

At first, she was happy and very grateful towards her family members but as time goes on and she started to discover her semblance, she can’t help but feel like something is wrong. All the attention and affection showered towards her started to feel disgusting for her. For her, all those attention seems to be directed towards someone else and she was no one but an image of one of their greatest ancestor.

She started to hate all the attention and hated all those people surrounding her. Soon, she felt like she is not living her life and someone else is living for her. People treated her like the ancestor because of how much she resembles her. Her despair only strengthens when they made a scythe with the image of Crescent Rose in mind for her weapon. At that point, she knew that she will never truly exist as Emerald Rose but just a copy of Ruby Rose.

She just started to accept things and trained really hard to match those expectations reflected on her father and mother’s eyes. She grew stronger and stronger as she gets older and finally left other kids of her age behind in terms of skills and ability. Jealousy started to seep into the heart of those kids due to the constant comparison of their parents towards Emerald. The kids started to isolate her more and very soon after, Emerald found herself with only a scythe in hand with no one else.

When the time that she graduated her middle school, she felt more isolated from the world. No one will take a chance of conversation with her due to her fame and name. No one dares to even take a seat together with her which only made her sadder as time went on. She took the first and topped every record there is but there is nothing that made her happy. All she has is power and skills with a life which she feels that is not even her own.

When she took the entrance exam for the Beacon academy, many people’s eyes were focused on her. The teachers as well as the headmistress paid special attention towards her and made sure that her treatment will be the best there is. When she arrived at her room, it was spacious and very well decorated with all things a lady can ever ask for. Sadly, the only thing that she really wants is not given in this time too. She only longs for someone, to share her existence even for a brief moment.

The accident that happened back then at the cafeteria is such a shock towards her. At first, she wanted to really talk and do change things in this academy life. She meant to say new and good things but all her mouth uttered are condensing and ridiculing words. She really regretted it and threw her food like a brat due to her disappointment and people only perceive it as her being angry for being disturbed. She really wanted to cry at that point but she can’t do that and fail her family with just little things. She decided that she will just fulfill everybody’s wish and pick up little happiness along with it when it presents itself.

Aside from that, she knows that she has major issues about weak people. She hates weak people right and straight when she first learned about how the world works. Weak people can only cling to stronger ones to take on their problems. They back stab those that helped them due to jealousy which they don’t even have the qualification to envy. If they just stop and try harder, for her, they can actually change their status and yet they wallow in weakness and continued to pull those that wanted to advance. To her, being weak is a mistake.

Because of that, she even eliminated the straggles among the examinees. She stayed just to eliminate those which do not even have the qualification to become huntsman and huntresses. The fight between the strange boy and the six people actually made her more interested with the guy who tries to be low-key, yet he was standing out too much. It is funny for her but she can only have that shallow happiness in life and she is willing to take it in everyday she can.

Emerald left the scene after knocking up the four people. She thinks that these people do not deserve a chance for greatness at all. It was six versus one and they pitifully failed. Their presence will only hinder those qualified people in the academy. For her, these people will only stimulate the appearance of Grims with their constant failure which will bring more negative emotions in their heart and finally turn rouge.

Rouges are hunters and huntresses which do not use their talents and ability to defend humanity but craves for more power whatever the cost. Those are the most dangerous people out there compared to the naturally hostile Grims which you can see at first glance. These backstabbing people, Emerald hates them the most.

She starts to travel again but not to the direction where the goal is. She wants to hunt some more trash before finally going through the examination. This way, she can show off her skills and earn reputation for the Rose family while eliminating those weaklings. She started to watch the battles between fellow participants from the sidelines. Sometimes, some people will succeed in stealing the relic from the original holders of them but some also failed and they were mercilessly squashed by Emerald after when they started to turn their sights to other people.

The hunt did not last for long as the announcement saying that there are only three more Relics inside the forest that is not yet submitted. Emerald walked the forest broadly and unhurriedly. She wants to invite people to clash and fight with her to prove their worth. She does not mind giving another relic for those that will dare to challenge her. Even if they lose, at least for her, they showed courage and effort to change their fate. Sadly, once again she was left disappointed as none dared to block her path and people only watched on the sides as she advances leisurely towards the goal.

People thought that since it was Emerald Rose, no one will dare to raise a hand towards her. If there really is a fool that will dare, then he/she will be having bad blood with the Rose clan. Besides, there will be two more Relics that need to pass through the area to get towards the goal. They thought that they will just let emerald pass and ambush the remaining two pairs that holds the relics.

Emerald stepped into the platform where a teacher is sitting with a table in front of him. Emerald handed a crystal pawn towards the teacher without saying anything. The teacher accepted it and wrote something on his tablet. Then he nodded to Emerald like saying that it was done.

When she was about to step down on the stage, the headmistress suddenly called her out.

“Miss Rose, please wait a moment.” The headmistress stood from her seat.

Emerald looked at her without saying anything and no emotion shown in her face. “First of all, you still don’t have a partner and I can’t even pair you up with anyone since you made sure to not make any eye contact toward other participants without a pair yet.”

The headmistress is having a teasing smile on her face as she leans her face closer towards Emerald’s face. “You have the same silver eyes.”

Emerald’s face instantly changed and a fire of fury ignited in her eyes. She has heard that phrase so many times and every time, it riles her up to no end. She was sick of being constantly compared to someone which existed more than a few hundred years already. Just when she was about to explode, the headmistress laughed out loud.

“The rumors are true! She really has other expression when you say those lines!” The headmistress is laughing while slapping the shoulder of the man who announced the start of the exams. “Look Clyde! She looks feisty isn’t she?”

“Reena… stop these actions right now! Your image!” Clyde said as he tried to stop the childish acts of the headmistress.

“But it’s amazing you know? I can control her expression just like that! So easy!”

“That easy is starting to unbound her scythe! Student please calm down!” Clyde said as he tried to drag the headmistress away.

“Wai wa wait!” Reena said hurriedly as Clyde starts to drag her. “Please put out the two relics for others to take!”

When those people that have no Relics heard what the Headmistress said, all of their vision gathered at the body of Emerald. They are hoping to get the last two relics whatever it takes but who would have thought that it will be carried by Emerald already in the platform? Various expressions started to emerge from these people. Some people started to flare up due to anger because they think that Emerald is such a greedy fellow. It is enough to get one and pass but taking another is clearly provoking the popular anger. Some people started to regain some hope as they already gave up to this test. With how many people are waiting on the spot, they don’t even have the chance to struggle for the last set of relics.

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Amidst of all various gazes concentrating on her, Emerald is still angry about the lines of the headmistress. She took out two Relics from the pocket attached to her belt and showed to the public. The people gasped in both amazement and anger. Those that passed also thought of taking one more relic for safety measures but realized the consequence of it. They are amazed on how gutsy this lady is. Those people with angry looks clearly are infuriated with Emerald’s actions. They thought that if only Emerald did not take those relics, it could have fallen on their hands and they are now chilling with those that already passed the exam.

When everybody is intently looking towards those relics, Emerald threw it on the air suddenly. People thought that she is giving it away to whoever is lucky to pick them and make it towards the platform but suddenly, Emerald unbound her weapon from its gun shape and morph it to a scythe and slashed the relics. In everyone’s horror, the relics not only split in two but started to disintegrate.

Everyone was shocked and actually many jaws fell down because of what they seen. The hopes of those that did not manage to take a relic disintegrated right in front of them. It was the ultimate wakeup call that they failed.

In the middle of all this, Emerald left the stage and disappeared into the crowd of students that already passed the exam. Everyone split apart and let her advance without hindrance. She disappeared right after and people were left standing there dumbfounded.

“Hateful!!!”

“Bastard! Slut!”

Voices started to mix and more angry shots started to emerge one after another. People that spent their time waiting towards the last stop of the exam are nearly going insane due to anger.

“Headmistress! She destroyed the relic! We should get another chance because she broke the rules!”

Ellis watched all this silently. He arrived at the top of the platform by forcing his way in and sweeping anyone that blocked his path yet he watched as Emerald Rose advances leisurely without any obstacle. At first, he thought that the world is too unfair but he can’t do anything about it. The next events that unfolded before him only confused him more. He can’t understand the excessive behavior of Emerald Rose even how much he tried to think about the reason behind those actions. She can pass without any trouble and even no effort at all yet she did something so hateful and became public enemy number one.

Ellis watched the crowd raged on and started demanding thigs. They are growing rowdier and rowdier as more seconds go. Ellis sighs and looks towards the twins beside him with amusement. The twins are frozen in the spot as they watch the scene. They nearly took one more relic and they could have been the target of all this animosity if not Ellis telling them not to. Beside the twins, two more people complete the group.

A red-haired girl is holding her staff vigilantly and seems to be looking for an opening to strike while staring intently at the silver-haired guy. The silver-haired guy is having a cramped expression on his face. He would have never expected that he will be the one to bring the crazy girl and pass the test with his very help. He plans to ditch the girl since she has no relic but he forgot that their gazed locked more than one more time which actually made them a pair. The heat of their conflict made them forget this point and now he has to think of a way to live together with the crazy girl as his teammate for the next four years.

Ellis laughed at this silently. It is really funny watching people with this kind of interesting predicaments. As the surroundings grew noisier, Ellis plans to leave the scene already when the headmistress once again took the limelight.

Those that failed are still complaining and all when the headmistress pats the mic a few times before speaking.

“For those that did not have a relic, the journey is over! Please go home and good luck next year!” She said cheerfully only fueling the anger inside those that failed.

“That is unfair!”

“Headmistress please reconsider! This is such a shameful event! I will tell everyone I know if you don’t revoke your decision!”

The headmistress listened to all of them but her expression did not change for one bit. People also noted this and the teacher beside her sighed regretfully.

“Reena be lenient ok?” Clyde said out of nowhere.

Ellis can’t understand what he means until the air in the surrounding seem to vibrate. He felt tremendous aura being discharged towards the air which makes breathing hard.

“When was I not lenient?” Reena, the headmistress tilted her head trying to look cute. It would be perfect if only people did not start gasping for breath.

“See? No one died.” She said in a casual manner and made everyone in the surroundings; even those that passed the test consider their entry towards Beacon academy.

People started to lose consciousness for some reason and soon everything went silent. Reena got off the stage as she leisurely walks back towards the direction of the Beacon Academy.

When those that failed started to wake up, they can only cry on the spot due to failure. Now they need a reason to tell their respective homes why they failed the test. Some people just stared at the sky blankly and some just sighed and accepted defeat but their eyes did not get clouded by defeat but determination to try again.

Ellis saw all these and made sure to remember this moment. He wants to record all those emotions being shown by people both good and bad. He doesn’t know why but he just feels like remembering this moment is something worth doing. The feeling of the victor and the defeated actually differs this much. He is not that ignorant but he got to admit that he only knows so little outside from facts pertaining towards Lutton town. How people act inside the kingdoms is truly foreign for him.

He looked at both at the victor and the defeated one last time before following the crowd the managed to pass the examinations. The day is quite eventful for him and thinks that these kinds of days are the days that he wants to have in his life. New things to learn, new moments to remember and new people to meet, those things might be too much but he will be greedy in asking anyways.

When all the students gathered inside the hall, Ellis can more or less deduce that the number of students that actually passed numbers only around fifty. Ellis wondered why since there were lots of relics or places relics should have been when he picked one. When he looked around, people are quite skeptical about the same thing as he is and are looking around the same way.

“Hey… since you don’t have a pair what are you going to do?” Jake, once again is the guy who just loves to strike up conversations.

Ellis looked at him for a brief moment before turning back his gaze towards the stage. Jake wanted to say something more but the crowd started to quiet down and Jake was forced to follow them. Ellis saw the headmistress Reena once again with a playful smile along with two teachers on both of her side.

Reena looked around before her gaze settled on some students and winked at them playfully. The kids, including Ellis blushed on how random the headmistress can act.

“So I noticed that most of you prefer to be lone wolves.” She said in a cheerful tone but anyone can see that she was quite displeased about it.

“I specially made the rule but some people just traveled straight without looking for a pair or avoid others like some disease. But… I will not criticize you at this point since you passed fair and square.”

Ellis breathes a sigh of relief when he heard what the headmistress said but before he finishes his moment, the headmistress snorted cheekily at the microphone.

“Too bad for you I will still pair you up whether you like it or not… so here is what we will do…” The grin plastered on the headmistress’ face is quite irritating at this point for Ellis.

“People who handed the same type of Relics will be paired. Those that obtained relics but chose to be alone will be paired with someone with the same colored Relic. To complete the group of four, I especially made four of every relic since I know a bunch of you will be too cheeky and think they can tackle everything alone. I will tell you now and you brats will only suffer defeats which you might not be able to make up for.”

Reena snorted in a disdaining way while looking at those students that handed relics without pair. “I am saving your asses so be sure to send me dozens of roses when you graduate. With all of that, let’s announce the naughty pairs!”

Clyde took the microphone and started to call the names and people started to go up to the stage one by one after being called. People with same relics were paired and those that took a pair obtained two more people completing their group of four.

Time went on and Ellis name was finally called.

“Ellis Moon…” Clyde looked around when he read the name. “Come up buddy.”

The air seems strange as people started to murmur some things.

“Is it the traitor Moon Clan? They are still around?”

“No way, that was three hundred years ago… maybe just an unlucky guy with the same surname.”

“Where’s the guy? Is he from that cowardly clan?”

People are whispering here and there but Ellis confidently walked towards the stage. Those kids in front of him made way for him without causing trouble but their silent snickers actually feels offensive and quite irritating for Ellis. He prepared himself for this event but it still does not make the matter easier.

When he is finally standing on the stage, people only whispered more and more. Ellis tried to block them out as much as he can but it was actually hard surprisingly. He has some resentment towards the ancestors of the Moon clan but in the end, they are his family so it actually hurts when people slander them like this.

Clyde looks at this and he knows that he made a mistake. He should have been more professional but he has a bit of history with the Moon clan. He can’t help it but now he is feeling quite a bit guilty since he knows that the kid will be isolated mostly because of his mistake. He started to think of a way to diffuse the current situation and he finally found something. He hastily coughed to take back the attention towards him and to continue announcing names.

“Emerald Rose, please come up on stage.”

This time the air seems frozen as the people suddenly fell silent. They all remembered how gutsy this slim and doll looking lady of the Rose clan. They saw her actions through some monitors that the teachers use as the way to watch the events happening inside the forest. They saw how Emerald crushed people like crushing bugs and they are quite apprehensive of her more than the infamous Moon clan.

Clyde actually thought that he salvaged the situation but he only made it worse. Two of the most infamous person suddenly becomes a pair. He is now having headaches with how unlucky their stars are with how they became a pair through this way. One person from an exiled clan and one from a famous and well-respected clan is suddenly a pair. He doesn’t know what will become of their futures but he can only resign to what actually happened.

“You two will be a pair for the next four years so I hope you two lone wolves will try to at least get along with each other.” Clyde can’t help but worry.

He can see that Ellis tries to be low-key and Emerald on the other hand is too anti-social with how she acts.

“The last members of your groups are also a pair which took a crystal pawn.” Clyde said and looks towards the crowd once again.

“Sarah Lie, Robert Brooks. The four of you will be team SEER. Lead by, Sarah Lie.” Clyde said with more enthusiasm than normal. Inside his head, he wishes all the luck that Sarah Lie will be able to handle two trouble makers.

Reena looked at all of this and she can’t hide the excitement hidden in her eyes. She was the one who adamantly took measures for the King to pardon the crimes of the Moon Clan or family now. She also took the shield artifact and took all the responsibility in handling matters concerning the problematic Moon Clan. She knows the whole truth behind the exile of Moon clan and it is not just as simple as the Moon clan abandoning humanity during the most crucial times. There are always two sides of the coin and she just happens to know of it.

“Once again, it is turning to be an interesting year.”