Standing in front of the mirror stood a brown-haired boy with sea-blue eyes. Clay was brushing his teeth while thinking about the matches he watched together with Weng.
'It sure was exciting.' Clay thought yesterday evening Weng and Clay watched some more recorded matches before a nurse visited them. They both got discharged because their injuries were mostly healed up, and there weren't any heavy injuries left.
Weng asked if he could share the videotapes with him and Clay gladly accepted. He walked back to his dorm and directly entered his bedroom to lie down on his bed to sleep.
[8.39 AM] He glanced at the clock on his watch. The lesson starts at 9 AM, and it was a history class explaining the major incidents that happened across human history. He spat the cream on the sink. "Hope today goes well..." He muttered.
***
Waking across the early morning corridor, Clay could see students walking to their lessons which started at the same time as others. It was better to be much earlier than late. Opening the classroom door, he saw a few students already seated waiting for the lesson. He found the same seat he sat in before being empty and decided to sit there, which was at the far-left back. He sat down and glanced at the early students, there were around ten or fifteen or so. He then suddenly thought of something.
'Huh, didn't those troublemakers fight for a seat fight for nothing, and even got scolded..' Because everyone can sit wherever they want, a privilege to the early comers. But he shook his head, he should not care about other's businesses.
While waiting for the class to start, he put his hand inside his jeans pocket and took out a black device, or more precisely the 'music device'. He almost forgot the device he charged yesterday, but he remembered it at the last minute. He took out the buds and placed them inside his ears. "Let's see..." He clicked on the power button, showing the manufacturer's logo. –SapplE MUSIC After a few seconds or so, a list of many dozens of songs was displayed.
"Wow.." Clay was speechless while scrolling through many classical songs, they even existed some that he hadn't heard about. 'How did my dad even find this treasure.' Clay chose a song and clicked on the play button.
[Be Alright - Dean Lewis
0:01 ●------------------------------------------------------------- 3:15]
He slowly lost himself to the song...
''Hey!'' A sudden shout startled Clay from the song. Turning his head to his left he could see a boy staring at him. He had light-brown hair and light-green eyes. Clay was slightly confused, who are they he wondered? The song also ended at a good time, so he could hear properly now.
He asked the boy. ''What is it?'' ''Leave this academy.'' He spoke with a threatening tone, he was staring deep at Clay's sea-blue eyes.
''...Huh?'' Clay became confused. He then asked for confirmation. ''Why?''
''Don't ask the reasons...''
''What if I decline.'' He asked. Instead of answering Clay's question. He spoke. ''We can assure you that your life here at the academy will be miserable, and your family will also be pressured into ruins.''
''Haa...'' Clay was flustered. ''Who are you?'' He asked. There was suddenly a random boy who showed up and threatened him, who would believe that? ''I am rank, 212, Mike Bates, friends with Mark Atlas. You have offended the Atlas Family's successor and us ---'' He spoke proudly and arrogantly but stopped because someone's hand landed on his shoulder.
''Who dare?'' Mike looked behind him, but his mouth was about to open closed instantly. He recognized that person. Short black hair and black eyes.
Weng Xiao, rank 32.
"Wassup.." Weng Xiao greeted with a menacing smile. "What are you talking about here?" He asked.
"Nothing, we just nicely asked if this student over here needed some help at the academy.." Mike spoke professionally like he was used to this. "Oh, but my ears heard something else though..."
Weng Xiao spoke while twitching at his ear. "...Just leave." Weng Xiao spoke again. Mike repeatedly nodded his head. "Yes." He then quickly left.
"Haaa..." Weng sighed. "I hate those kinds of people." He muttered before turning his attention to Clay who was staring at a peculiar spot.
Clay stared at Mike who ran away towards his front seat, which was just beside Mark. 'Atlas Family...' Tight clenching his fists. How much does he want to ruin his life? Now, he wants to kick him out of the academy his parents worked their butts off.
He looked at Mark and then saw something that caught his attention. Under his eyes were dark circles, clearly meaning that he has a lack of sleep. 'What happened he thought'.
"Sup!" Weng greeted, waking Clay from his deep thoughts.
"Hey..." He greeted back.
"Thank you for your help back there.." Clay sincerely thanked me. It would be troublesome without his intervention.
"You welcome," Weng spoke nonchalantly. "Right, let me introduce you to Kyle Touch!" He pointed to his left.
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Clay turned his head towards where he pointed and saw a boy seemingly appear from nowhere. He blinked his eyes. 'When did he appear?' He thought.
"Hey." Kyle waved his hand and greeted them. Kyle saw that Clay had a confused look on his face, and he answered. "I have stealth-type skills. It makes my presence hidden."
"Why do you have it active during the academy—" Clay asked but stopped because he realized. "You are practicing your skill?" He asked.
"Yes." Kyle simply replied.
"Amazing..." Clay spoke. "Training even in your daily life, but isn't that exhausting?"
"Yes." Clay nodded his head. It seems like Kyle is a simple man with a few words. There was also a sense of familiarity with his name.
"Oh, you might not remember but Kyle is ranked 9 for 1st years." Weng Xiao spoke like he read his mind. Clay widen his eyes hearing about what Weng said. He finally remembered where he heard that name, it was during the attendance.
They then talked about the matches yesterday again. Because it seems like the three of them shared the same interest because Kyle's voice was slightly brighter when they talked.
''Friends?'' Weng Xiao suddenly spoke changing the topic and looking at Clay.
''...Friends?'' Clay confusedly repeated the word.
''Yeah, let's be friends. We have talked a lot and shared interests, so let's become friends.'' He simply responded.
''Sure, we can be friends.'' Clay accepted, even though he was feeling confused inside them. Do people ask others to become their friends this way?
''Kyle.'' Weng Xiao spoke his name, without looking at him.
''Yes, I can be friends Clay. My only friend Xiao so it works.'' Kyle quickly responded, maybe too fast.
Weng Xiao put forward his fist. Kyle followed and also put his fist against Weng Xiao's fist, looking like a fist bump. Both of them looked at Clay, waiting for him to finish the final piece of the fist bump.
Clay quickly put his fist against theirs, finishing the three-way-fist-bump whatever you call it.
''Oh yeah Clay, call me Xiao as my friends do,'' Xiao spoke.
''Yes, I'll do that.''
And just as Clay said that the clock hit 9 AM.
***
Entering the busy and almost full classroom was Amanda, she was wearing an plain black shirt and blue jeans, while wearing glasses that created an unique attractiveness.
"Attention!" Amanda clapped her hands and shouted towards the classroom even though many eyes were already glued on her figure, especially the boys.
"Let's start with the attendance first.." She spoke and tapped on her watch displaying an hologram with names.
"William Aonsworth, rank 1"
"Here."
"Rank 3, Lucas Kael."
"Here." Lucas spoke.
"Rank 4, Rosette Everleen."
"Present." Rosette raised her hand and spoke.
"Rank 3, Lucas Kael."
"Here." Lucas spoke.
"Rank 9, Kyle Touch
"Here."
"Rank—"
"Rank 64, Weng Xiao"
"Present!"
Names after names were called out...
"Rank 772, Clay Crest."
"Here." Clay raised his hand and spoke.
"Rank 810, Henry Larz."
"Present!"
"Ra—"
Amanda subcounsily nodded her head after finishing the attendance. "It seems like everyone who are supposed to be are here." She spoke, she turned her head from the watch to her students, seeing their confused look.
"You might wondering where the rest of the students are. It's because they were sent home from the academy because of their low performance from yesterday."
Quiet gasps and murmurs was heard in the classroom.
"Quiet!" Amanda silenced her class, then she spoke again. "17 out of the 50 students in this class were kicked out. But they were mostly low-ranks."
"Your current ranking might be messed up now, but we will update it this week."
"Now enough of the announcements, let's begin the history class."
***
"Yawn~" Weng yawned in the middle of the lecture.
'He doesn't look like someone who was ranked in top 50' Clay thought while glancing at the person sitting beside him. It has only been around half an hour into lesson but Weng Xiao already looks tired.
"Weng Xiao." Someone spoke his name.
Entering the busy and almost full classroom was Amanda. She was wearing a plain black shirt and blue jeans while wearing glasses that created a unique attractiveness. "Attention!" Amanda clapped her hands and shouted towards the classroom, even though many eyes were already glued on her figure, especially the boys.
"Let's start with the attendance first.." She spoke and tapped on her watch displaying a hologram with names. Names after names were called out, until Amanda finished the attendance. "It seems like everyone who is supposed to be are here." She spoke, and turned her head from the watch to her students, seeing their confused look.
"You might be wondering where the rest of the students are. It's because they were sent home from the academy because of their low performance from yesterday." Quiet gasps and murmurs were heard in the classroom.
"Quiet!" Amanda silenced her class, then she spoke again. "17 out of the 50 students in this class were kicked out. But they were mostly low-ranks. Your current ranking might be messed up now, but we will update it this week. Now enough of the announcements, let's begin the history class."
***
"Yawn~" Weng yawned in the middle of the lecture. 'He doesn't look like someone who was ranked in the top 50,' Clay thought while glancing at the person sitting beside him. It has only been around half an hour into the lesson but Weng Xiao already looks tired.
"Weng Xiao." Someone spoke his name. "Miss Amanda, what is it?" Weng Xiao asked politely while looking at the beautiful middle-aged woman.
"I have a question for you, why are demons so feared?"
"Ah, eh?" Weng Xiao scratched his head. "...Ah! It's because they are aggressive and powerful."
"That's correct, but it's only a part of the actual truth. Demons are feared because they can exploit our emotions and thoughts, also called the seven deadly sins. Through that, they can control our actions, and cause chaos on our side."
Someone suddenly raised a hand. Amanda nodded her head toward the person. "What is it? Do you want to answer my question?"
He or William nodded his head. "I think that it's because the Demon King is powerful that they are so feared, demons are unpredictable and crazy, they can't be united and controlled unless the ruler above them is strong, strong enough to unite these. If not for the Demon King's power, the demons with their low numbers compared to humans would have lost. That's why the demon race is feared because the origin of it all is the king."
Amanda blinked her eyes twice and then nodded her head in agreement. "...You're right, but we can only speculate. You also sound like you met demons in person."
"Yes, I fought against demons in the past." William vaguely answered.
"..." Silence descended the classroom. Even though demons are not that many compared to humans, they are still strong that they can easily kill
Amanda decided to speak in the quiet classroom. "You mean people contracted to demons..."
William in the center of all the silence decided to answer. "...Yes, I meant demon contractors."
"What rank were they?" A sudden question was asked.
William looked a few seats to his left and saw a blonde-haired boy, Lucas Kael. "One that was much stronger than me, and the others around
"Haaa, weak. What did I expect?" Lucas snorted and spoke.
William sighed and ignored him. Lucas stared back at William but decided not to push him further.
Amanda glanced at the clock on her watch and then clapped her hands. "It's a break now,
***