The class was already full, the cadets and the instructor have already arrived. 'I think I might have made a bad first impression' I thought, as the instructor was giving me an especially mean glare and while some cadets watched with amusement, some watched as if it were none of their business.
"It's just the first day and you are already slacking off" the instructor stated with a fierce frown.
She was a tall beautiful blonde woman in her early twenties, but I knew better than to judge age with appearance. For all I know she could be over a hundred years old.
"I apologize", I said sincerely, though the tone of my voice sounded indifferent. And it wasn't because I was trying to sound so, but instead because I couldn't express much emotion. I feel it vividly, but can't express it well, whether from my face or through my voice and expressions. I could see the instructor wasn't pleased with my tone, though my apology seemed to take her attention off me and back to the class.
"Today is the first day so there won't be anything major. We'll start with introductions. My name is Evelyn Cornwell but you can call me Instructor Cornwell. I'm your homeroom teacher for this year, and may be throughout your stay in this academy" she said introducing herself. "I'm a one starred rank 1 bloodline holder" Now that, her bloodline rank, was what made the originally silent class to explode in chatter.
-What!!!!!? she's like one of the top powerhouses of humanity" a student shouted in awe. But I couldn't blame him, even I was suprised, if my emotions were normal, my jaw would probably be touching the floor. 'Rank 1' I thought. To be honest when I awakened, It hasn't even occurred to me to think about what rank I would really reach.
There was a talent cap, according to your talent, you might end in rank 4 without being able to condense more stars to reach rank 3, heck some stay in rank 5. As for my talent cap, well I'll just have to wait and see. I was a three starred rank 4 and I wasn't feeling any restrictions in getting further, so a problem for future me.
"Silence!!!" Instructor Cornwell bellowed. "You can marvel about my rank later, but now I'll take your attendance" she said after the class quieted down. And after that you can move to the combat class. Classes will start in full swing tomorrow" she said.
She started calling the names in descending order starting from rank 200. Soon she came to my name.
"Rank 178, Adam walker".
I answered "present" calmly, and hearing my voice she glared at me again. 'Seriously what is wrong with this woman, didn't I apologize?' I wanted to throw a fit, but the thought that she was a rank 1 threw the thought out of my head.
I didn't care who rank 176 was, but when she called 177,
"Rank 177, Levi Stone"
I saw a red haired guy answer "present".
'Hmmm, that guy I met earlier' I thought.
"..."
"Rank 37, Adrian Peterson"
"Present".
"..."
She went on like that, she even called several people from the big seven, they were all in the top fifty.
"Rank 10, Gabriel snow"
"Present".
A guy with snow white hair answered.
"Rank 9, Aurelia snow"
"Present".
It seems this girl and the rank 10 guy are siblings. They had the same features, I mused.
"Rank 8, Hori Tokito"
"Present".
'He seemed to be a commoner, but he ranked in the top ten, which means his strength is no joke' I mused.
"Rank 7, Owen Hargreaves"
"Present"
A boy with the generic brown hair and eyes answered with a sly grin. He was pretty handsome but his features do not distinguish him in a crowd.
"Rank 6, Ashley Wellington"
"Present" a beautiful golden haired girl answered with a crisp voice.
But the one I was waiting for was that girl, 'I haven't seen her answer 'present' so far. So she must be in the top 5' I mused. I wanted to know her name, I wanted to know who she was.
"Rank 5, Victor Crimson"
"Present" a boy with red hair and crimson said in an arrogant tone. This was the third Crimson member called.
"Rank 4, Damien Ashbourne"
"Present" answered a silver haired blue eyed guy with a cold voice. 'Talk about zero degrees' I thought seeing the guy's cold expression.
"Rank 3, lily Greatwoods"
"Present" answered a green haired girl with emerald eyes. From her tone she was the bubbly type. 'Gosh I hate those types'.
"Rank 2, Quinn Darkheart"
Present answered a boy with obsidian black hair and eyes in a quite voice. I didn't even notice him until he was called, just like the other Darkheart that were called.
After hearing the rank 2, I wasn't stupid enough to not realize who was rank 1, which means she is Aurora. 'So she's a De Silva huh. Aurora, has a nice ring to it' I mused as I once again took a glance at her. Though I was in the far back so I could only see her back.
"Rank 1, Aurora De Silva"
"Present" she answered with a tone that bordered between cold and emotionless.
"That brings us to the end of today's class. Your combat class starts in the next hour and a half. You are to go to the class labelled 1-Alpha on the ground floor. See you tomorrow" she said just before she stepped out the door.
After she went out the cadets also started moving out some in groups and some alone.
"Are you just gonna sit there looking all lonely?" the red haired guy Levi asked as he made his way over to my seat.
"Who says I'm lonely?" I asked.
"Your face says it all" he replied. I remained silent and after a while he asked "Aren't you gonna move out!?"
I glanced at him with a deadpan look and he said "I meant everyone is moving around to tour this facility".
"Class won't start for another hour and a half, won't you get bored sitting just like that?" he asked. 'He sure is persistent' I thought amused.
"No, I'm used to it" I replied. After a while, "fine then I'll stay here with you" he said. So we sat down like that doing nothing. After half an hour, I was....bored. I wasn't used to shit, I just wanted him to leave me alone. So I did the next best thing, I entered meditation and continued the condensation of my seventh star, which would make me a rank 3. I've already condensed three fourth of it.
In the bloodline plane, time flew faster, it was only a few minutes to me but outside almost an hour had passed. I opened my eyes to the the red haired guy also engrossed in meditation.
After a while, I shook him slightly, "it's almost time" I said as he opened his eyes. "Oh, lost track for time for a moment" he chuckled. We were among the last to reach the combat grounds and behold the instructor was David Blake.
"This is the first combat class of the special class" he began with a bark. And I will be your combat teacher for the year", he bellowed.
"Seriously, we have to spend the whole year with this guy as our combat instructor?" a voice grumbled. If I remember correctly his name was Owen Hargreaves, the rank 7.
"What did you say little runt!?" unfortunately, the cadets weren't the only ones that heard him. The instructor bellowed at him.
"I said it's good that we have you as our combat instructor for the whole year" the guy shamelessly replied with a sly grin.
"Hmmm, thought so" the instructor grunted.
"Now that's not how a noble behaves" Levi who was beside me muttered. "And you know all about nobles?" I asked. "Not really, I just know more than the average man" he replied. He was definitely hiding something, but I didn't press him. After all I barely knew the guy, today was our second meeting.
"Now, those who want to be weapon users, move to the right and pick any weapon of your choice from the weapon rack. They are all silver ranked artifacts. The rest to the left" He ordered.
The moment he finished speaking, some moved to the rack and picked a weapon of their choice.
Most of them I recognized were from the great families or other noble clans.They all probably already use a certain weapon already since the moment they reached the rack, they picked without hesitation.
Aurora picked a beautifully carved longsword, the silver haired guy picked a spear and green haired girl picked a bow and arrows.
Levi and I moved to the left where there was a vast array of weapons. Ranging from swords, spears, daggers, bows and a bunch of other weapons. Though my bloodline falls on the abstract category, one of the strongest, if not the strongest category, the entrance exam taught me that I need a little edge.
I stood pondering about what weapon to pick before my eyes settled on a pitch black hilt, with a long silver blade. It was a thin sword, no more than 70cm long and most especially, it was sturdy as well.
It felt just right in my hand, from it's weight down to it's colour and sleekness, in short, it's aesthetics and design were marvelous.
A/N:
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