Johan was walking up and down the room. Nobody said a word. A maid was sitting on his bed alongside Videl.
"So, what do you think we should do, Videl?"
"I'm fine with whatever you're going to do. A traitor is a traitor, though."
"Hmm, well then, how about we cut of her hands, since she wanted to kill me with them?"
The girl looked up with tears in her eyes. She couldn't let her pride go, though and looked down again, with a determined expression on her face.
"I will take the punishment."
Johan stopped for a second, before he went to her and held her chin up.
"Wow, such honour. Very rare, these days. You sure, you don't wanna talk instead?"
She shaked her head.
'Death over dishonour. A classic. What should I do? She definitely got hired by somebody. Who would let a girl like her do something like that? There has to be somebody who wants me dead for some reason.'
WE CAN USE TRUTH SERUM TO GET THE TRUTH OUT OF HER. YOU CAN GET IT AT THE BLACK MARKET EASILY.
He didn't want to kill her because he knew that it was somebody else's doing.
'What information can you see about her?'
Cebrina Hoedra
Age: 14
Attribute: Earth & Water
Rank: D
ATK: 25
DEF: 23
SPD: 27
MANA: 32
SPA: Mud Slide (B+)
Ability: Gathers Earth and Water to create mud slide. Extremely effective against greater masses.
Limits: Cannot use ability because of low Rank.
'Fourteen? Isn't that impossible? Why does she have two Attributes?'
WELL, SHE COMES FROM AN AREA NAMED 'SOUTH OF NETHER'. IT WAS A ONCE PROSPEROUS LAND WITH GREATER MASS THAN NOW. THE GREATER KINGDOM OF NETHER. IT SPLIT INTO THREE PARTS AFTER MULTIPLE FAMILIES MADE COUPS AGAINST EACH OTHER. FIRST THERE WERE TWO PARTS; BUT LATER THE BIGGER PART SPLIT INTO TWO AS WELL. WEST OF NETHER, EAST OF NETHER AND SOUTH OF NETHER.
'What's 'Nether''?
IT'S A LARGE SEA THAT IS IN THE UPPER MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY. THERE ARE A LOT OF RESOURCES WHICH ARE USUALLY RARE TO FIND. WELL, THE OFFICIAL NARRATIVE IS THAT IT WAS A DISPUTE BETWEEN FAMILIES BUT THERE IS MORE TO IT. IT MIGHT ALSO INVOLVE OTHER COUNTRIES.
THE REGION OF NETHER HAS A LOT OF FOREIGN PEOPLE THERE AND THEY ACTUALLY HAD NO PROBLEM LIVING AMONGST EACH OTHER. THE PEOPLE OF NETHER, BROWN LONG HAIR, WITH BROWN OR BLUE EYES. THEN THE ZERANIANS WITH A DARKER TAINT AND MOSTLY GREEN EYES. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE DARK ELVES. THEY ARE VERY HARD TO FIND THOUGH. NORMAL PEOPLE HAVE NOT SEEN THEM OR KNOW OF THEM AND IF THEY DO THEN THEY MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEAR.
RUMORS SAY THAT DURING THE COUPS ESPECIALLY THE DARK ELVES HAD LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. THEY ORCHESTRATED THE WHOLE THING. SINCE THEN THERE ARE CIVIL WARS AND CORRUPTION AMONG THE NETHERIANS AND ZERANIANS.
‘So she’s a netherian.’
YES. THE NETHERIANS HAVE THEIR CEREMONIES MOSTLY EARLY BUT THEY TAKE LONGER TO DEVELOP THEIR ABILITIES.
THE PROBLEM NOW IS THAT SHE COULD HAVE ALLEGIANCE TO SOMEBODY FROM SOUTH OF NETHER. WE SHOULD DO A BACKGROUND CHECK.
‘You’re right. I’ll call somebody from the family.’
YOU SHOULDN’T TELL ANYTHING TO THE FAMILY YET BECAUSE WE STILL DON’T KNOW WHO THE MASTERMIND BEHIND YOUR BROTHERS DEATH IS. THESE THINGS COULD ALL BE CORRELATED.
‘Uf, I can’t say shit. Whatever.’
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“Nah, I think you’re to valuable right now, Cebrina. Videl lock her up in an extra room. I’ll take care of her on my own.”
“As you wish. But my Lord, why did you call her Cebrina? Her name is Lisa, isn’t?”
‘Hmm?’
Cebrina held her head low. Johan raised her head again. He could sweat pearls on her forehead.
“Don’t worry about it. This is gonna be interesting.”
…
In the morning, Johan went to the academy. Not only were the announcements for the annual fighting tournament but also the Maid Convention was planned for later that day.
‘Woah, that’s a giant crowd there.’
People were gathering around a giant TV monitor which had the rankings for last year on them.
ANNUAL RANKING TOURNAMENT
RESULTS PREVIOUS YEAR:
1: Kaiser (RL High)
2: Artur Reis (Euros Academia)
3: Manuel Händler (Trimonia)
4: Harsetti del Luna (RL High)
5: Nick Dreißler (Hofmann Academy)
…
8: Reece Brock (Euros Academia)
…
100: Top G
Over tens of thousands of students participated in the tournament. Coming over from different corners of the country, they gave it their all to rank as high as possible. The participants ranged from first years to third years as college had three years of duration.
Looking at the top ten he realised that two of them were from Euros Academy. The reason was because almost fifty academies sent their best students but since Euros was known for its high position among academies it was a given that they had two people there.
‘Wow! These are the top students who fought last year.’
The list showed the two names of Euros academy. One was an A+ Rank already and the other one had a A- Rank. They were destined to become great figures like elders or perhaps even patriarchs.
“Woah, guys look, that’s Reece! He made it into the top ten.”
Reece Brock was walking with a smug face slowly but steadily alongside his crew. Students were looking at him, admiring his achievements. His muscular physique combined with a buzz cut made him look like a menace. He was a natural born predator. The cunning fact about him was that he was in his second year when he placed rank eight last time. The only one who was a second year and had ranked in the top ten was Kaiser. He ranked first and was announced the undisputed king of the tournament. If Reece and Kaiser were to repeat their achievements again they would be written in the history books of the tournament. Every Ranker in the top ten was a third year and would graduate after this last tournament.
The other one who was from Euros was Artur Reis. He placed second after losing to only Kaiser. It was a formidable fight. Artur didn’t go down, so points had to be calculated. Though it was a clear victory from Kaiser’s side.
THEY ARE THE EPITOME OF THE NEWBIE RANKERS. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A NAME FOR YOURSELF THEN YOU HAVE TO TRAIN HARDER THAN ANYBODY ELSE. YOUR CURRENT RANK IS B- WITH A B RANK ABILITY. TO COMPETE IN THE TOURNAMENT YOU HAVE TO AT LEAST HAVE A B+ RANK TO GO AGAINST ANY OF THE TOP RANKERS.
‘Well, with your training it should be counted as already done, right?’
THE TRAINING IS INDEED VERY GOOD BUT THAT’S NOT ENOUGH. THE GATE WILL GIVE YOU OPPORTUNITY TO GET SOME USABLE ENHANCEMENT ITEMS.
’Sir, yessir.’
It was the first time Johan got a feeling of sensation, other than when he fought Bahamut. Looking at Reece he saw somebody who would devour everything in his way to get what he desires.
‘Is this a taste of power?’
AIGHT LIL BRO. NOW YOU GOING A LITTLE TO FAR.
‘Wow! Is that how you talk to your host? Should I punish you? Now that I think about it, you’re becoming more… like a real person I guess.’
FIRSTLY HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PUNISH ME, CUHS? SECONDLY I AGREE THAT MY MEMORIES ARE COMING BACK SLOWLY SINCE MY SYSTEM IS UPGRADING.
‘Woah, this fast?’
WELL, MY PRIMARY FOCUS IS TO AIDE MY HOST. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING SO FAR. YOU’RE ALSO BECOMING STRONGER.
‘Hmm… it seems class is about to begin. Let’s go.’
…
Entering class, Trimur noticed different stares from all sides of the classroom. On the first day it was Mike but now multiple people kept staring at him. He gulped.
“Mornin- Huh? What happened to you, Trimur??”
The teacher looked at him with worry in her eyes. His forehead had a big bandage on it.
“No-Nothing. I was just experimenting with my ability and made a mistake. It’s nothing big.”
Laughing it off he went to his place and sat down. Some students next to him giggled and looked at him with pity.
‘These pieces of trash! They’re just glad that it’s not them getting targeted.’
“Well then, let’s start with today’s lesson. We’re going to discuss the topic ‘Are men better than women?’ extensively. Mike what do yo…”
The lesson ended relatively quickly because of the engaging topic at hand. Every student left the room the moment the bell rang. Only the teacher and Trimur remaining in the room, the moment was to be taken for a talk between twi people.
“Ahem, excuse me teacher.”
“Hmm? Trimur, what is it?”
Standing idle for a moment, not sure what to say, Trimur mustered up the courage to ask.
“I have been… having problems with a student… students lately. You know Mike from class, he has been targeting me for the past two days. Also my roommate who seems to be older is also doing the same.”
The teacher looked at hin with concern.
“What are you saying? ‘Targeting’ you? How? Are they… the cause for the wound on your face?”
Looking at her with a little bit of embarrassment, he nodded slowly removing the bandage.
“Haahh!!”
Shocked by the sight, the teach put her befire her mouth.
“Oh my god!”
She took a step back.
“Wha- Why did they do that?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t do anything.”
Trimur looking at her shocked expression, realised that maybe telling her would make him some points.
“Well, actually… I saw a girl getting beat up at the school entrance on the first day. So I decided to intervene. It... didn’t go as planned, though." He scratched his neck and tilted his head to the side.
After a couple of seconds she looked him in the eyes and said: "Well, shouldn't have messed with the wrong guys, b#tch!"
...
"Huh??"