A familiar face I wasn't sure I was happy to see stepped forward from the group of instructors.

I wasn't the only one to have a reaction. The silent C-rankers all began to whisper to each other.

It was clear that only a few knew that a former General would be coming to teach us this year.

While there were a few former high-ranking members of the defence forces in the academy, none of them had ever reached the point of General.

They were too valuable to be allowed to retire. Especially only to teach. Even in their last moments, peak S rankers like them were nearly unstoppable.

Drake paid no heed to the whispers as he took his place in front of us all.

"Welcome, Cadets."

The familiar voice didn't make me feel any more comfortable spending the next few years in the academy.

"As Headmaster Woods has said, I am former General Stuart Drake. I will not ignore that I am the first General to ever teach in the academy. You will find out the reason for this tomorrow."

That was interesting to learn. I had expected them to reveal the new types today. But seeing how tight-knit the C rankers were, they might already know about that.

It would be the other newly bound that would have yet to learn about the changes to the status quo.

"For now, I will simply repeat what the Headmaster has said. I am here to train you to be ready for the frontline. Something I know more about than almost anyone else in the Human forces. I will be teaching you to kill all those who stand before you. This is my only chance to turn you into the best fighters you can be. Both for yourself and for humanity. Someday, even that might not be enough."

The silence that followed after that pressed down on us all. The magnitude of that message coming from a former General could not be understated.

"It is with that in mind that we will prepare for tomorrow. You are all the elites of humanity. But even amongst elites, there are levels. Tonight, you will be having a small tournament amongst you. To pick who will be fighting in the exhibition match tomorrow in front of your entire class. The first example you can set for the other ranks."

That was something I hadn't been expecting. I didn't know much about the processes within the academy.

It was then that someone tapped me on my shoulders. Turning around, I found myself looking at one of the soldiers.

"You will not be taking part in this tournament. Follow me; you will be meeting with the necessary instructors."

That got the attention of the few people around me. What was equally conspicuous was the other soldier speaking to the other new Types.

As they got to their feet, I saw no option but to do the same myself.

That left me a little disappointed. I had wanted to see the level of power that my fellow classmates had. To see exactly how far behind I was.

I followed the soldier as the former General's explanation faded into the background.

I walked through the back of the arena. We were heading down into one of the training areas beneath the arena floor.

A few of the instructors I had seen before were waiting for us.

I was the last to join of the new Types. The path from the first row was a little shorter.

I hadn't noticed the Instructors leave before. I had been far too focused on the former General and the Headmaster.

There were only five instructors, each seeming to take one of the new Types to talk to.

My specific instructor was an older man with a more bookish look. I couldn't see the usual glint of soul armour. Making him one of the accomplished few who had earned a teaching position in the academy without soul armour backing them up.

That alone had earned my respect for the man.

"Hello, Kajus; it is nice to meet you finally. My name is Professor Wright; ever since I had heard of your Type, I have been eager to speak to you."

I only managed to understand his introduction before he went on talking. Despite his age, he had no lack of energy, catching me in a whirlwind of information that I could barely follow.

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I finally had to ask him to slow down a little.

"Quite, sorry about that. Got a little overexcited. You hold too much possibility for me to be calm."

I could only nod at that; after the day I had, I was glad to see someone excited about my Type.

"Since you, out of all the new Types, have the most unusual requirements. It will take a little longer to get your situation properly sorted. You will have extra classes with me, The Chief of Monster Biology, and Instructor Brown, the head of Monster Tactics. Apart from that, you will be joining Cadet Alexander in the Commander lessons. While we examine the safety and limits of your control. You will not be taming any more monsters for the next three months."

That was a lot of information I wasn't sure I was happy to hear. Both that I wouldn't be able to tame a beast for another three months, but also that I would be joining the Commander's lessons.

The taming was easy enough to understand. But why would I join the Commander Type in his lessons?

I hadn't missed his name either. While the Alexanders weren't as powerful as the Romans, I was still an ant compared to them. They were another clan that had at least one Commander in every generation.

There were not people I wanted to be on the wrong side. There was even one person on my parent's list in their family.

The family patriarch, Imran Alexander. A peak S rank powerhouse. One of the strongest Commanders in the world.

Before I could speak about my worries, the Professor continued.

"But not too worry, as long as the next three months proceed as expected. We can begin experimenting with your armour and taming abilities. You will have access to monsters with far greater potential than that of the Terror wolf. By the end of the year, you can expect to have every taming spot filled with a powerful monster."

That sounded better than I had been expecting. I wasn't sure if I would have to go out and find the monsters alone. The fact that I would have a full array of monsters under my control was appealing.

The Professor continued for a little while longer. But having long since been lost in my thoughts, much of it went unheard.

The Professor was interrupted by the Headmaster arriving.

"Attention, Cadets, on me."

The Professor looked a little disappointed that I was leaving but was quick to heed the order of the Headmaster.

I followed along with the others lining up in front of the Headmaster again. I hadn't recognised the man while he was making his first speech, but up close, it was clear that I had seen him before.

He had been one of the few standing around inspecting me after I had first awoken after the binding. He had been standing silently in the background. The only reason I hadn't remembered the striking man immediately.

He surveyed us for a few moments.

Giving me enough time to grow uncomfortable under his intense stare. He made it clear that even without speaking, he meant business.

He had looked a little kinder from further away. But his hard stare brokered no sympathy for any of us.

"I have administered this school for fifteen years. I have been a teacher here for many more. I have never dealt with anything like this. Every one of you poses a new and difficult challenge."

He let those words sink in for a few moments. I knew that was far more true for me than it was for the others. I could only think of Sarah causing close to as many difficulties as I would.

"I, nor anyone else. Knows what the Sages are thinking. This is the greatest change we have seen since the creation of the Will. We have given you the instructors we think will work best. But know that this will be a year of trial and error. We do not know what you are or what you might become. It will be up to you to help us define that path. You are all children of some of our greatest Soul Warriors."

I felt the eyes of all of the others fall on me after the Headmaster spoke about that. From the corner of my eye, even Emilia looked a little surprised.

"I trust you will have the courage and pride to trail your path. You will help lead the others who might join you in the future. This is only the start; you will face many challenges. I hope you can come together to help each other. For the next year, at least, you are unique. Only you will understand each other. I can not speak to how the others in your year and the others in the academy will react. But know that we, as instructors, are here to help you."

He let those words settle for a few moments. The weight of what was to come had been clear to me before. But it had never felt as real as it did now.

"Above us, your classmates are vying for a spot to exhibit their skills in front of the academy. I am afraid you will not get a choice in the matter. Tomorrow, each of you will step in front of that crowd. You will display a little of the skills of your new Type. There will be many of the upper echelons of humanity in attendance. This will be your chance to put the best foot forward for your Type."

That was a lot to take in, while I had expected to be put on display at some point. For it to be the very first day of the academy was a surprise.

Looking at the others beside me, they looked far more confident in the face of the display. That shouldn't surprise me; after all, they had a whole week to understand their new powers. The most I had managed to improve was today. Even then, I hadn't managed to do anything of note.

I would be relying on the surprise factor alone. The fact I could control monsters would speak for itself.

The Headmaster didn't have much to say after that, only telling us to return to our dorms and get a good rest.

While the Professor looked like he wanted to talk to me a little more, he obeyed the order of the Headmaster and left me alone.

The others left the underground arena with a lot more confidence. I congratulated myself for not staring too much at Sarah as she left. That, unfortunately, pulled my stare towards Emilia. Who had been giving me a questioning look ever since the Headmaster had spoken about our parents.

That was a conversation I didn't want to have. I didn't know the issue between my parents and her family, but the further I threw that down the line, the better.

I returned to my dorm before I realised. I had been lost in thought the entire walk back to the dorms. The others had stayed behind to watch the last of the exhibition matches. As much as I wanted to do the same, I had too much on my mind.

Tomorrow, I would appear in front of the world. There would be no hiding after that.

I had expected to have a troubled sleep. But once again, the day's exhaustion had me out before my head touched the pillow.