The air in the room came to a stand still. Not a single noise can be heard other than the sound of heavy breathing. Jaws wide open from shock, the burly man can't fathom what just happened. It was nothing flashy. No explosion, no special effects, just a clean tearing of straws. As if he was not facing a magically enhanced straw dummy and just an ordinary pile of hay, his hand went through it's chest in one go. Even the young master seems to have a surprised look. Is this supposed to be this easy? His body might be fit, but this seem too good to be true.
Sounds of heavy steps drew closer. The atmosphere got heavier with each step. He can feel his intimidating aura behind him. Did he do something wrong? Pulling his hands out of the straw dummy, he finally turned to look at him. The burly man didn't paid him a glance but examined the straw dummy.
"I can't feel any magic enhancement in this training dummy. There is also no magic engraving either. Diana... Did you messed up and put the wrong one?"
As if an invisible pressure hit the receptionist, she felt weak on her knees and fell. With every second, it's as if they can feel his anger materializing.
"I-I believe I made no mistake sir! I will personally examine and bring a new one!"
With no further delay, the receptionist called Diana ran as if she was trying to escape. With no one else in the room, the burly man's gaze landed on the Young Master.
He looks frail in his standards, nothing capable of destroying a training dummy with brute force. Not to mention, he never felt the movement of mana. This young lad never used any magic in that punch.
Diana soon arrived with a new training dummy. This time, the burly man personally examined it before putting it infront of the young master.
"I apologize son, but I would need you to hit this again. As a token of apology, if you can recreate what you did earlier, you don't need to take other sub test and can go in your merry way."
It went exactly the same. With a simple punch that seem to carry the power of a normal person, he tore through the straw dummy. The magic engravings disappeared as if it's not even there.
The burly man actually smirked and laughed heartily, giving a good smack in the back that almost made him spit blood.
"You passed. Nice one kid. I don't know how you did it, but I will be seeing you in the academy."
With a laugh, he disappeared through the corridor.
"C-congratulations sir! You passed the test. Just follow me back at the counter and fill in your details to receive your official seal. Then you will be given your dormitory number and can now join the other students at the orientation room."
Her gaze appeared to be more respectful, keeping her head low while leading him out. At the counter, a maid outfit caught his eye. Fingers twiddling and eyes curiously looking around. When she caught the sight of him, she immediately smiled and ran to his side.
"Did it went well young master?"
"I passed."
Her eyes turned to two crescent moons, hands clasped with a blissful expression. She's not the one that succeed, and yet her happiness is too genuine. The young master was taken aback.
"I knew you could do it young master!"
"T-thanks."
Elise dealt with the paperwork while he silently watched behind. Even here, he can't escape his past. The name Haruto Kobayashi is cleanly written on the paper. Soon, the scribbling sounds on paper finally finished and he received his official seal. It was more like a pin with a dragon coiling around a planet engraved on it.
"Please follow me to the orientation room."
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It was noisy. Too noisy. As if he went back to his highschool days. This is what they called nobles? Elise left to transport their belongings to the dormitory. Servant's aren't allowed in the orientation room anyways. Atop his hand is a scroll of paper that contains the necessary information needed for the orientation.
White, brown, black. Blonde, red, blue and white. The students are full of diversity. Scanning through as if trying to find anything familiar, nothing caught the eyes of the young master. Just loudmouth group of kids that is slowly getting on his nerves.
"H-hey. My name is Adrian. C-can we be friends?"
An outstretched hand appeared infront of Haruto. His eyes glanced beside him. It's a blonde haired kid. His blue eyes glisten with innocence. Teeth clamped on his lower lip gently with heart beating fast from nervousness. He made up his mind to stay true to the promise he made to his mother; he will make lots of friends in the academy.
Haruto stared at the hand, maintaining his silence. He forgot that his age at this moment is merely around 15 years. Some of the students here such as this boy even appeared to be younger. Unfortunately, he's not really interested dealing with kids. Looking at the boy, a memory of his younger self flashed. He could see himself, with the same outstretched hand, with the same nervousness. It just irked him more.
"Oh, you don't seem to want to be my friend... sorry for bothering you."
With a small embarrassed smile, Adrian retracted his hand. His confidence took a hit but he never gave up. Haruto watched him walked to a different set of people, repeating his words yet hit with the same weird stare. With each rejection, his steps slowly falter, his stammering grew heavier and his confidence slowly diminished. Of all people in here, nobody seems to want to be his friend. One last try. He made his way to the loudest group in the room. Perhaps they are friendly despite their fierce look.
"I-I am A-Adrian I uhh- I uhmm- C-can I- we b-be friends?"
The group went silent and stared at him. The loudest one that seem to be the group leader stared him up and down.
"Who's this kid? Scram!"
"I-I can we be-"
Adrian's words got caught in his throat when he suddenly got shoved on the ground.
"Are you deaf? Fuck off! I hate pretty looking guys like you. It make me sick! You should be thankful there's a lot of people here."
"S-sorry"
It was a small commotion but nobody seem to care too much. Some laughed while some felt pity yet nobody stopped it.
Head down low trying to hide his tears. Retreating in shame back to his seat beside Haruto. Haruto just looked at him or a second. It was none of his business.
The leading speaker soon arrived with some papers in hand. Her beauty and majestic aura involuntarily stopped all commotions as all eyes went to her. Hair as white as snow sways in the wind with each steps full of grace. The sound of her heels hitting the concrete floor sent a crispy clack. She reached the podium and adjusted her glasses before scanning the room.
"I am Anastasia Snow, an Ice-attribute professor at Asterion Academy. Today, you will be the second batch of students to be successfully enrolled in the Academy. I will guide you through the academy layout, introduce essential information about your subjects, highlight important facilities you can use, and explain your main routines as a student at Asterion Academy."
There's a lot of things to take note. In an hour, Haruto learned of the things he already knew. He already played the game. He know most of the places you need to take note of. Although playing it and experiencing it for real is different, most of what he knows didn't change. He just need to refresh his memories. The main things he did took a mental note, is the training facilities that students can use as well as the Student Council that handles student related matters. There seem to be a divide between Magic and Physical instructors as each has its own building. He also received a student handbook that has tips and instructions for students with the layout of the academy with the facilities labeled.
As for the other things, it didn't matter for now. He just needs to meet up with Elise at his dorm room.
He's on his way to the dormitory when he heard something. Laughter. It was the same irritating loudmouths in the orientation room. It came from somewhere a little far in the forest near the perimeter of the academy. It was faint. Haruto felt puzzled as it was quite far but he still managed to perceived it. There was a soft cry accompanying those laughter.
It was none of his business. He doesn't want to be caught in troubles he doesn't need to, specially since he is now in an unfamiliar world. He was gonna take another step when the image of that blonde kid flashed in his mind. He knows who's voice that is. No matter how faint, he somehow knew who those voices where. This body seemed to have been gifted in hearing. Still, it doesn't matter to him.
But why does with each step, his rage keeps building up? Those laughters seemed to deformed to familiar voices he knew very well. There is no one near him yet those laughters sounded near his ears. Images of people he once called friends pointed at him. Laughed at him. Mocked him. He just can't take it anymore. No matter what, he will make those laughter stop.
He turned around and made his way through the trees.
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"AHA! This bastard looks pitiful! Whose family created this bitch? Just pretty face with no ability."
"Don't be too harsh on him. His kind is still the easiest to rob. Our families' income still depends on them you know?
"Shut up! If someone hears your loudmouth and we get kicked out of the academy, I will personally bury you."
"Says the one that's been laughing so hard. Just make that guy submit fast. Just beat him harder! We still need to find more suitable lackeys."
Three students wearing their own thug like clothing banters as if the blonde boy on the ground is not worth their attention. He writhes in pain, bruises ran across his cheek and arms with faint traces of blood from his nose. He shouldn't have tried to help. He shouldn't have tried to join the academy to make his mother proud. It was too scary. All the people that he met never seem to want to befriend him. It was nothing like at home. He wants to go home.
"Wait, someone's coming!"
Something was fast approaching in the distance. It appears to be something with black haired student running at full speed. His feet trampled bushes, uniform ripped by some torns. He doesn't seem to feel the bloods from scratches as he keeps on running with no pause.
The more he gets near, the clearer the rage in his face. What did they do? Is he this kid's friend? The sight of something running at them full of rage triggered their fight or flight response. If they didn't do something, that creature might rip them apart.
"H-hey! Stop! Don't come near or I will blast you!"
The voice that has been laughing earlier now carries a hint of nervousness and fear. He raised his hand and a fire brewed out of nowhere. There is now a palm sized fire ball floating on his hand. Meanwhile, the other two immediately stood farther from the scene. Despite the warning, the student never stopped. He's hellbent on closing in. He's only a few steps away when the thuglike student finally made up his mind.
"You bitch I don't care who you are! Get roasted!"
With a flick of his wrist, he was aiming to smack his face directly with the fireball. There is no way to dodge at this point blank range.
"Dumb- huh?"
It did not hit. The student somehow ducked to the side underneath his outstretched arm, and before he knew it, there is a fist in front of his face.
*thud*
As if not satisfied enough, he straddled him and kept hitting punching him at full force as the other 2 watched horrified under a tree.
"S-stop! You're gonna kill him!"
Oh. Haruto came back to his senses. His raised fist is bloodied and underneath him is a face bruised with a bleeding nose and busted lips. He lost to his rage and now regrets it. What should he do now? What is the next best course of action? He might get expelled as hitting another student outside of permitted fights is liable for disciplinary judgement.
Haruto looked around. Aside from the two cowering under a tree, there is also that blonde kid laying on the ground. If he used him as an excuse, he might receive some leniency. Unknown to him, the student beneath him stirred a bit.
"You piece of shit... Die!"
The necklace under the student's uniform glowed. In his hand appeared a massive fireball a third of the size of a human. It suddenly compressed into a small orb of blue fire in a span of a second before he once again smacked Haruto's face directly. This time, it hit. An explosion occurred like a grenade, throwing Haruto's head back.