Chapter Four
Ren’s POV
I awoke gasping for air, the searing pain still lingering as I rubbed my chest. I glanced down, observing my upper body, and noticed a strange mark in the middle of my chest—an intricate design with two lines descending down my body. Confusion swept over me as I wondered why these peculiar marks appeared, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that they were somehow connected to the dream with the ethereal angel.
Many questions flooded my mind about the dream: Why did the angel warn me to be careful? What caused that unbearable pain? What do these strange marks symbolize? Do they serve a purpose? Why did a dream seem to manifest in reality? Would I encounter that angel again?
With these questions swirling in my head, sleep eluded me. I prepared for school and set off, despite knowing I would arrive early. Today marked an event I had dreaded for over a week. My heart raced, my stomach churned with butterflies, and my legs trembled with each step.
After what felt like an eternity, I reached the school. I hurried to my classroom, the hallways feeling eerily unsettling, sending shivers down my spine.
Time dragged on as I awaited my fate—whether I would be expelled from this prestigious school or granted another chance. As expected, the class president arrived, thirty minutes before the bell. She possessed a unique demonic aura, rare even among demons.
Her gaze bore into me, discomfort prickling my skin. I was accustomed to being scrutinized for lacking what everyone else possessed—an Arkana. Today, however, fueled by the possibility of my impending departure, I mustered the courage to confront her.
"What?" I finally managed to ask.
She raised her hand as if casting a spell, causing me to flinch and stumble backward.
"Pffft… Hahaha," she burst into laughter, igniting a mixture of embarrassment and anger within me.
'This... bitch, who does she think she is, toying with me like this?'
"I hope you've packed your things because there's no way you're passing this test," she declared, extinguishing any remaining hope I clung to.
As I retreated to my seat, head bowed, I vowed not to meet her gaze again, not after she forced me to confront the harsh reality of my situation.
***
I awoke gasping for air, the searing pain still lingering as I rubbed my chest. I glanced down, observing my upper body, and noticed a strange mark in the middle of my chest—an intricate design with two lines descending down my body. Confusion swept over me as I wondered why these peculiar marks appeared, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that they were somehow connected to the dream with the ethereal angel.
Many questions flooded my mind about the dream: Why did the angel warn me to be careful? What caused that unbearable pain? What do these strange marks symbolize? Do they serve a purpose? Why did a dream seem to manifest in reality? Would I encounter that angel again?
With these questions swirling in my head, sleep eluded me. I prepared for school and set off, despite knowing I would arrive early. Today marked an event I had dreaded for over a week. My heart raced, my stomach churned with butterflies, and my legs trembled with each step.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
After what felt like an eternity, I reached the school. I hurried to my classroom, the hallways feeling eerily unsettling, sending shivers down my spine.
Time dragged on as I awaited my fate—whether I would be expelled from this prestigious school or granted another chance. As expected, the class president arrived, thirty minutes before the bell. She possessed a unique demonic aura, rare even among demons.
Her gaze bore into mine, discomfort prickling my skin. I was accustomed to being scrutinized for lacking what everyone else possessed—an Arkana. Today, however, fueled by the possibility of my impending departure, I mustered the courage to confront her.
"What?" I finally managed to ask.
She raised her hand as if casting a spell, causing me to flinch and stumble backward.
"Pffft… Hahaha," she burst into laughter, igniting a mixture of embarrassment and anger within me.
'This... person, who does she think she is, toying with me like this?'
"I hope you've packed your things because there's no way you're passing this test," she declared, extinguishing any remaining hope I clung to.
As I retreated to my seat, head bowed, I vowed not to meet her gaze again, not after she forced me to confront the harsh reality of my situation.
The bell rang, signaling the start of class, yet Mr. Araki was nowhere to be seen—a surprising occurrence, as he was never late. Suddenly, a wrinkled old witch materialized at the front of the classroom, as if she had teleported or been concealed there all along. Her aura exuded a palpable sense of danger, even as she attempted to suppress it.
"Greetings, you ungrateful brats. I am Mrs. Lee," she began, her tone dripping with disdain. "As the Demon Lord's retainer, I find myself burdened with the task of conducting this foolish test."
She turned her piercing gaze in my direction, and continued, "The Demon Lord and the school have agreed upon a new requirement: instead of expulsion, those who fail will meet their demise at my hands!"
Her casual mention of killing students who failed sent chills down my spine. Though I felt the urge to silence her, the memory of her overwhelming aura quickly dissipated that impulse.
As I resigned myself to what felt like an inevitable fate, an unexpected sense of calm washed over me. It was as though I had already accepted my demise. With no one to mourn my passing—my own parents had disowned me for failing to manifest an Arkana—I felt strangely at peace with the prospect of death.
***
We soon reached the training room where the test was going to take place, the dome looked bigger than before but it was just my imagination since I was going to die today.
I lined up with my classmates hoping not to stick out but that old coot Mrs.Lee had locked eyes with me and started listing the rules of the test.
* All test takers had to perform a successful Den-Sai that can be usable in the field
* If the taker fails then he gets exterminated by the Demon Lords Retainer Wang Lee
* The participant has three attempts to show a successful Den-Sai to the assessor
* Good Luck!
The tension in the air was so thick that it could be cut with a knife and the class president, oozing confidence, strode to the Den-Sai starting position. Her eyes locked onto Mrs. Lee with an unspoken challenge, daring her to look away. Mrs. Lee's stoic demeanor wavered momentarily, a flicker of surprise crossing her features before she regained her composure.
In a flash of movement, the class president blurred into action, executing the Den-Sai flawlessly, and effortlessly. The machine's assessment of a perfect score seemed almost inevitable. Even Mrs. Lee, known for her impassive nature, couldn't conceal her astonishment. "Not bad, kid," she conceded, her voice carrying a hint of begrudging admiration. Recognition from the demon king's retainer only solidified the class president's status as the epitome of perfection.
As the moments raced by, time seemed to warp until it was my turn to face the Den-Sai.
"–En? Ren? Are you with us?" The sound of my name snapped me back to reality, but the realization brought a wave of resentment. My class which were full of bastards was hoping for me to get executed.
'I guess this is it.'
Mrs. Lee's pitying gaze only fueled my frustration. "Good luck, kid," she offered, a mask of sympathy in her words, though she held no power to alter my fate.
With trembling hands and a pounding heart, I attempted the Den-Sai, each failure amplifying the ridicule of my peers and the disappointment in Mrs. Lee's eyes. Despite her reluctant offer of one last chance, the odds seemed insurmountable, a cruel reminder of my perceived weakness.
Summoning every ounce of determination, I took my final shot, the weight of my survival hanging in the balance. But as the marks on my skin ignited once more, burning brighter and more agonizing than ever, I pushed through the pain, willing myself to succeed.
When I glanced at the computer, disbelief washed over me as it displayed a score beyond a perfect one, surpassing even the class president. But before I could bask in my victory, agony consumed me, my body succumbing to an onslaught of torment.
The marks on my body blazed with an intensity I had never felt before, their searing heat threatening to consume me from within. As darkness closed in, I realized that even though I managed to see another day, the cost of it was making me have second thoughts.