The hallways were packed with dozens of students rushing to the combat room. The mummers spreading was full of excitement, nervousness, and anticipation. This one moment could determine their future depending on what rank they possibly get during the evaluation, and it was especially important during school and next school year.
"I have to at least be C-Rank!"
"I know, man. I wonder how this evaluation even works."
"I think they'll put us up against different tests, like physical tests, and then use some type of special machine to scale magic power."
"Ahh, makes sense. Always some type of fancy machinery involved in this school."
The chatter was lively, no surprise to Keir, who was lightly jogging to catch up to Lucas and Tasha, who weren't very far now. "You guys!" He called out and stopped in the middle of the two siblings. "Ah, Keir! We've been waiting for days!" Lucas said melodramatically, as if was dying waiting for Keir to return.
Tasha rolled her eyes at her brother's dramatic behavior, but was secretly amused, "Alright, alright. Enough of the whining. We've only been waiting for, like, five minutes." She said, and in response, Lucas grumbled and instead ignored her in favor of Keir.
"So can we get going already? I'm kinda nervous honestly…" He muttered. Keir couldn't blame him though, he himself, despite his secret system, was nervous, but not as much as he would've been in the past. "That's pretty understandable. This'll mark our first step into the real adventurer world. I heard we'll start with our rank evaluation and then move on to real adventurer licenses before the portal outing next year." Keir gave his knowledge of the situation. He didn't know much, but he knew enough that it was a very important step towards the future.
"Yeah…I really hope we can at least get F or C-rank, It'll be better than rank E." Tasha commented, making the boys recall the ranking system. E-rank was the lowest rank anyone could get. You'll be allowed to attend portal and vortex outings in school, but after graduation, that E-rank individual would probably now get any job offers or guild offers that can get them into the military or a decent adventurer guild.
Keir thought about it and hoped that the system increased his power enough to be over E-rank. It has only been half a day since he got the system, and he still had room for tons of improvement. But on the other hand, what fascinated him about the system was how rewarding and beneficial it was. Keir had gone from struggling against bullies and more, to defeating someone like Leon.
Speaking of Leon, it was as if the universe was reading Keir's mind. Five figures were walking past, surrounding three main figures… one being Leon, who was covered in bandages. He walked with a frown on his face. The second figure was a short, blue-haired girl, her sweater wrapped around her waist, typing on her phone and laughing at Leon in the process, "Can't believe you lost to that hooded guy back there. You couldn't handle roughing up two runts and getting those credits?" She mocked playfully, her eyes tearing up with laughter. Leon grumbled, but didn't speak as the third and main figure silenced the two.
"Enough! I'm already in a bad mood because of that…" Bradley said, his usual cocky tone replaced by one of irritation and displeasure, aimed at Leon, who lowered his head in shame. "You're lucky we have this evaluation, otherwise, I would be ripping your head off." The other five unknown students followed in silence, obviously just being some random lower members of The Loaners.
Meanwhile, Lucas gulped and Tasha went pale. They weren't expecting to see the person they escaped so soon, Leon. But they knew that what they did earlier would only temporarily give them safety. Leon's eyes suddenly darted towards the two siblings, his eyes widening with anger, "It's those two brats who were with that hooded figure!" He called loudly to Bradley and the girl next to him.
The two followed his gaze and found the two siblings, who were frantically trying not to dart away at the sight of Bradley himself. However, Bradley's eyes landed on the third student standing next to the two, his eyes narrowing in recognition. "Oho? Is that ability-less Keir I see?" That same, cocky, mocking, and snide grin covered his face. "And you're with those two who owe me some credits. You're just asking for one of those good beatings I always give you."
The two siblings exchanged glances as they noticed that Bradley seemed familiar with Keir, way too familiar. "K-Keir, you know Bradley..?" Lucas asked shakily, hiding behind Keir like he was his protector, which made Tasha scoff, even in this moment of tension. However, Keir felt a bubbling feeling churning deep within his heart and stomach. It wasn't the fear, the horror, nor the pain he felt in the past. It felt like…anger…
The group approached and stood in front of the trio, Leon glaring specifically at the two siblings, the girl sucking a lollipop like nothing was happening, and Bradley, wearing that grin on his face. "You actually bothered to come to the rank evaluation. Oh wow, and here I thought you couldn't get any more pathetic." He laughed, clapping his hands in a slow, mocking manner. His words and actions earned a few laughs amongst his little gang.
"Don't you get it? I've been trying to get you to understand this for years!" Bradley stepped closer, standing face-to-face with the boy he tormented and beaten for years, placing a firm grip on his shoulder. "You'll never be anything important in your life, Trash." Keir kept his gaze on the ground. The situation wasn't anything new. So he found himself almost instinctively avoiding Bradley's gaze. However, he realized what he was doing, the feeling burning and waiting to spark after so long.
Keir's hand came up and gripped Bradley's wrist with surprising strength. "Keep your hands off…" His tone dark, as if he was a different person. Bradley, momentarily startled, yanked his hand back with a strong jolt, rubbing the red mark on his wrist. "What the hell was that? This weakling could never touch me…let alone leave such a grip mark…" Bradley thought before shaking it off, growling in anger. "Bastard…How dare you touch me!" He started, but was quickly cut off by the waves of student's rushing to the combat. The confrontation was at a standstill as the rank evaluation would begin soon.
Bradley scoffed but knew he had to let it go for now, "I'll see you soon. And I know your rank won't be anything impressive." He got the last word and signaled for his men to follow him, entering the combat room for the evaluation. Lucas released a breath he didn't know he was holding in, trembling slightly as he came out from hiding behind Keir. "That was…intense…" Tasha also felt the tension releasing from her shoulders and turned to Keir. She had watched the interaction closely and noticed a few things.
By the interaction, both sides were close, close in a bad way of course. Tasha put the context together and spoke to Keir gently, "So you do know Bradley…" In response to her words, Keir waved it off dismissively, not really wanting to talk about it. Seeing that, Tasha didn't have the chance to ask because he didn't want to seem like she was being insensitive. Lucas stepped in with a jump, wanting to lighten the mood a bit, "Enough of that! Let's go before we miss the evaluation!" Keir chuckled and followed behind Lucas, who joined the ocean of students, along with Tasha.