The dark aura was still blinding me after that terrifying sentence. I could hear nothing but the voice of clear blade slashes, but I wasn't able to move. This was the first time in 12 years. I was always strong and better than other kids, I was always in a spotlight, but coming here, I am a mere insect. I can't take it anymore.
"Bring..." My breathing shifted from slow to very heavy. Still, I shouted, "Bring it on, let me show you what we call power in this world."
Dead silence. All the guards, every other child, were staring at me. But I was scared inside. But suddenly...
"Raven," a voice with some authority—what was his name, Arashi? I can't move my body, but in front of me, the black fog is being separated by a clear blue line of a cut and a sound of a thunderstrike right into my ears.
"What? What is happening?" I took a step back, a cold sweat breaking from my head to my neck. I turned my head.
The scene gave me a heart attack: Arashi's katana was drawn by just one cm, but behind him was a colossal figure of a pitch-black dragon with the eyes of the universe.
"Well, well, pleased to meet you, the genius of the dark: Arashi Ushimoto." The same terrifying voice that came before the fog took over spoke, but with politeness.
"Not pleased to meet you, Nyx Sensei. Nyx, you are delaying the admission process. Step aside, as my hands are itching to kill someone." Arashi spoke like his intention was clear and his words were true.
My whole power scale shattered. He was looking like if he would breathe heavily, his lungs would explode, but whatever this power is, I know he is the strongest in the room.
"Definitely, I am willing to do so, but a slave is a bit too much," Nyx—he said, right? I finally turned to see who it was. She was a girl, and on her back was a twin blade of black glass, but before I could speak, a bag of money landed on her shoulder with extreme accuracy.
"This should do the work. Guard, mark this defect as an anchor for Team 0. Two S-grades and one E-grade," she said deadpan and vanished instantly. I was the king in my mother's arms, but a servant here, and I can't do anything.
I wanted to turn to talk to him, but a hand grabbed my hand. It was warm and reflecting safety. I turned to see a very pretty girl who was glancing differently from the crowd, but also my childhood friend: Pearl. And also, who is the other S-rank?
This is shameful for me.
"You are no one's servant," she said with softness and a bright smile, but I too knew I was no match for him. I turned to just bow to him, but he had picked his belongings himself and raised a hand in front of me.
"You are not a scumbag. In this world, those who have the will are the strongest. Myself, Ushimoto Arashi,"
He said it. I expected him to be rude, but he was the opposite. His face was stone, and his whole body was scarred: nail beds empty and currently bleeding, his whole hand has scars from healing, one eye closed with a heavy scar. He raised his hand.
"Nice to meet you, Arashi. My name is Zorian Sterling." I was shaking. Pearl was shocked; she had never seen me break like that, but... but I raised my hand. "But remember, I am born to surpass you and become the world's strongest." Yes, but could I get the context??
For a few seconds, Arashi's eyebrows were raised, and he turned to Pearl, who was looking at him with pure hate in fear that he would hurt me.
But she was also really confused about what was happening. Before any one of us could speak, the guard came and said, "Master Arashi, you three are the last team left." I was shocked. Just a second ago, the room was filled with children, but now... I turned my head; the place was empty. Some had gone to the Worker class, while some to the Arcanist class.
"You will know everything in about time. What was your name again?" Arashi said politely. I turned my head. The Worker class would never know anything; they will be just— "Zorian," I replied. I am thinking too much; I must trust the process.
I turned to Pearl. "I will be fine, ok??" I turned my attention and started walking with her, forgetting Arashi, and asked, "When did you become that strong?" I asked with a teasing smile.
"This isn't the problem," she said with emotions, but fear. "That Arashi boy, his sword had a scent, an ancient, powerful demonic—" I interrupted. "Don't think that much. We don't know anything yet, nothing about these people. Their power, just wait to see what time has left for us," I said, and there was a huge silence for a second. "I think you are right," she said with trust in me.
And we both—I mean Arashi had caught up—we all got the IDs. My rank was E, but they both had written S-rank, and we started walking towards the Arcanist class.
I never thought that a space-aircraft-like thing would ever exist and be this long. We have been walking for like 15 minutes now! Beside me was walking Pearl, who was very attentive and observing everything for my protection.
But my eyes were locked center on Arashi. His face was the peak masculine figure that people don't have till 30; he is just 12. What kind of hell has he gone through?
I was busy thinking this, but another door came.
"Huhh?" A man in royal robes opened the door and said, "Why are you guys so late? All others have taken their companions; only three are left. You are lucky, come on in, pick yours up."
"Companions??" Pearl said in shock, but entered the door.
Behind her, Arashi gave me a nod to enter the door, and he entered after me.
In the room were no more than 3 mythical creatures that are the fantasy and imagination of people on the ground.
"The name is Kael, and I am the keeper of all these creatures. The 3 creatures you see have different traits and powers, but share two things the same: loyalty and power to resize their body," he said directly to our face and took out three papers. "You can take any one of them, but they should also agree. This is the contract, sign it."
Before I could speak, Pearl said, "Resize?" Her eyes lit up. She snatched the paper and signed it. "Here, I signed it. Can I pick now??" she said to Kael.
"For sure," Kael said.
I, following her, signed it, and all this time Arashi signed the last.
We all went near the creatures. They all were awake and were looking at us innocently; they were not adults. I assume they were born a few weeks or months ago.
"The baby dragon you see is Vyrm. The baby Pegasus is Astrael, and the baby hawk is Kyris," Kael explained to us, but before he could end the sentence...
Kyris flew towards me and sat on my shoulders. "I guess I am taking that," I said with happiness.
"Aww, so cute. I am taking my Astrael," Pearl said with curiosity and with extreme happiness.
"I guess the little lord of Ushimoto will get a dragon," Kael said while looking at Arashi. I, and Pearl who was petting Astrael, also looked at him.
"Yes, he has no choice," Pearl said with hate. Arashi ignored her and stepped forward.
"I don't know if you could understand this, but it is my duty so I must say it. I can't promise you a shelter nor treat. I am not powerful enough to save you yet. I crave emotions, and that is why I promise, if you will become my friend, I will protect you with my life." His words were filled with emotions.
We all stood quiet for a long time, but then Arashi raised his hand and made a fist. My heart sank; the few-month-old dragon looked terrifying. But my face, Pearl's face, and Mr. Kael's face changed shape; our jaws dropped to the ground.
Vyrm, the literal dragon, raised his pitch-black five-fingered hand and gave a fist bump to Arashi.
A smile broke onto mine and Kael's faces, and seeing my face smiling, Pearl relaxed and also smiled.
Vyrm jumped to Arashi's shoulder and opened his wings to scare Astrael and Kyris. As a result, Kyris from my shoulder flew into my hand, and Astrael shrunk himself and got into Pearl's pocket.
"Hahaha," Kael laughed. "Typical dragon behaviour. From here you are officially going to meet your sensei, as nothing more is left, and go start your TRAINING."
The hallway we were walking down was dead silent. We didn't stop moving, although my legs were tired; we—I mean they—were focused on their new friend.
Not more than 5 seconds after, we were standing next to a gate which had the label of TEAM-0. "Finally, we have arrived. I was tired of seeing other numbers than 0, and I finally arrived." It was the joyous words of Pearl as I turned to her. Her glare was locked on Arashi with a smell of hatred, but Arashi was ignorant, and for the first time in the day, he was the first one to enter.
I ran behind him, but to my surprise, Pearl grabbed my sleeve and said,
"Zorian, I don't know why, but you keep doing this," she said with a smile and concern.
"Do what??" I asked with curiosity.
"Ohh, Zorian, you must have done some research, but I don't want to spoil anything as you hate lectures," she said with a smile before she could say another word.
[Vance Kaze - POV]
I was walking down in this hallway after a long time. I haven't walked here since I was a student myself.
Although I have been appointed in a special case, this batch has two S-rank Arcanists, so it will definitely need an M-rank to handle them both in the same team.
As I walked down the hallway, I could see two figures talking. They must be my team, and there must be teasing.
"I think it is a lot uncommon, setting a romantic variable at 12, right? Zorian Sterling," I said. My face was rock cold, but I let my FLUX leak into the air.
The air around us gained a physical weight and purple colour, which was no problem to me, but they were constantly fighting the environment to not get pinned down.
"In the class, now," I said right away. Without letting them say anything, I released the pressure and they both vanished.
Zorian is not the S-rank, then who?
I opened the door. They both were scared, that is why they were sitting straight and not even looking at me, but I got my answer of 'Who':
Arashi Ushimoto.
I entered the class and said, "My name is Vance Kaze, widely known as the dragon hunter. I welcome you all to this new phase of life, but my special welcome to the GENIUS OF THE DARK."
Zorian is impatient. Although a rank of worker, he has a king's will; he straight up asked, still in face, "And can you please mention the name of this genius, Sensei?"
Pearl, who is cold-hearted, but I can see a clear sense of protection and keeping Zorian safe, although jealous for Arashi, as she said, "Sorry, Sensei, Zorian asks an obvious question. Who else is in this room? If not me, not you, then who is in this room?? Common sense, Zorian."
...In this chaos between both of them, my both eyes were on him. He was silent and looking at the clouds, as you can obviously see nothing else.
"Very well, if I don't get an answer, I believe I should be patient," I said, showing no emotion, but I should definitely let them settle.
After a few minutes of silence, I began. "I am not a history teacher, so I am not gonna give you lectures and notes to study. My students make progress through a practical approach, but before that, I must clear three things: 1. You are different from normal people; 2. Your body works on flux, the definition of which I will give you later; and 3. You must never talk about this with anyone," I completed.
"If you are done, Mr. Dragon Hunter, when are we going to hunt the rats??" said Arashi.