"Doesn't he look good, Sir Edward?"
The bodyguard glanced at me. His clothing was rather tight for a bodyguard. His necktie seemed just fine; it wasn't dirty or crooked. He looked like a real gentleman in a nice suit. The shade of his suit was a deep black, and I could see nothing beyond his sunglasses. But that didn't matter.
"Indeed," Edward replied. "He doesn't smell like trash compared to earlier. Not to mention, your hair looks good now, I suppose."
With his hands on his hips, he looked me up and down. His lips were straight, as were his brows, but his eyes were intensely focused on my entire appearance. Just how intense was that glare? Jeez.
I sighed, curling my lips to one side. A strange giggle escaped my lips.
"I already know; I've been handsome from the start, after all!"
I straightened my posture, placing my hand on my chest as I stood on tiptoe. I smiled smugly at him.
"Just shut up. We're back at the academy. Get ready; the firstcomers have to take a test."
His tone deepened, and his eyebrows furrowed as he walked towards the gate to talk to the guard.
I looked up at the sky. It was beautiful—not too bright and not cloudy—just a lovely view. I turned to my right and saw the academy.
It was enormous; the façade resembled a massive, rectangular-shaped house. The front of the building had many windows on the top floor.
The boys' uniforms looked... bland. They wore a white polo that reached their wrists, a white t-shirt beneath the polo, and a navy blue cardigan adorned with their school symbol on the left. Lastly, they sported a red necktie.
As for the girls, it was similar, except with skirts and knee-high socks. Looking at the lower floors...
I noticed yellow neckties that stood out. Below those were green neckties. What?! That seemed to indicate the grade system was based on floors. This is so... lazy!
The school symbol looked mediocre—just the academy's front view and a crown at the bottom. It seemed rushed. Is this really the same academy this so-called "Prodigy" attends? This is ridiculous!
My body flinched as I glanced over my shoulder and met Edward's gaze. With a frown, my arms fell to my sides. I held his stare, my lips curling to one side.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
I looked with disgust.
"Why in the hell would you pinch me?!"
Some spit landed on his face.
"You weren't answering."
He raised his hand to wipe his face, then wiped his hands on his pants. He raised them again and handed me a map.
"What's this for?"
The silence was suffocating as I examined the map. I glanced back at him, opened my mouth—
"What do you think, genius?"
"Just die."
My eyes darted back to the map and scrolled up and down.
"This is the academy?"
"Yeah, that's where you'll sleep and learn, doofus."
The map showed the entire school in a diagram. In the center was a large arena, surrounded by buildings. The left and right sides of the arena looked like apartments.
My eyes twitched. Apartments? I looked at the academy and noted the two tall buildings. A similar image flashed through my mind. Better not think about that—I'm already out, right?
Edward tapped my shoulder. "Are you okay? You're shaking quite a bit." He raised an eyebrow.
A sigh escaped my lips as I focused on the map. The rectangular section at the bottom was the actual school, and the top section was the teacher's office. Blah, blah, let's get this over with.
"What's next?" I asked, glancing over my shoulder.
"Test." His expression was... blank.
The silence grew awkward as I gazed into his eyes. I opened my mouth, "But I haven't had any education?"
"It's a different type of test, doofus. It's a free-for-all type of test. You'll do just fine, trust me." He smiled and reached his hand out to my shoulder.
"Are you being serious?! I can't even fight! On the ship, you were rambling about how I killed a knight when I hadn't done that!" I gasped for air as I held my breath.
"You saw how scared I was when they were climbing the ship, right?!" My face turned red. My face was red, my fists clenched, and my face almost near his.
Instead of replying, he smiled even more. He kept his mouth zipped, what's with him and silence?!
"Trust." Lips curling both to his eyes.
Trust him he says! How can I possibly trust him when this all seems impossible?!
"Look, I can't just magically learn how to fight! I'll get destroyed there, you hear?!"
I raised my hands and lunged at his clothes, gripping them tightly.
"Why-"
A bell rang so loudly that I couldn't hear for a while. I looked over to my right, the walking students were heading downstairs.
"Finally."
He raised his hand and slapped my hands off of him.
"The test will soon begin, follow me." He turned his back and started walking. Each step served command and dominance. His footsteps echoing, his arm swaying calmly.
The pathway we were walking on was dirty, I looked over both sides once we passed the gate. Dead grass all over.
Ahead was the entrance, not to mention, everything in the academy looked old.
We entered the academy and the first floor was the cafeteria. The room dimmed; I looked at the ceiling, but there was no light. I looked ahead and all of the students were bowing their heads. A black-haired student walked up to Edward and bowed,
"Hello, Sir Edward!"
He walked past him, making our way to the exit. My head turned over my shoulders, the student was still bowing. What did this person do to gain this much respect?
The students nearby jumped out of their seats and opened the door for us. As I stepped outside, a strong wind hit me, sending my hair flying and exposing my forehead.
A heavy feeling settled in my chest, and it felt as if my entire body was weighed down. I saw the dorms, the teacher's lounge, students gathered on the roof, and almost everyone was cheering for Edward's arrival.
My heart raced, and my legs felt unsteady. I glanced at him; he wore a confident expression, which only made me feel more inadequate standing next to him.
My hands were a bit unsteady as I raised one and tried to smile.
"Holy…"
I glanced over at him, in front of him were students gathered up in the arena. He paused and turned to me with one side of his lips reaching his eye.
"You ready?"
"Absolutely not. Bring me home!"
"Let's go."
I scratched my head and just followed him. I stepped into the arena and looked at Edward for instructions.
"Alright everyone, you already know what to do. As usual, three hundred students. The first, one hundred students eliminated goes to 1st year. Two hundred, 2nd year. Same with 3rd year."
He breathed in, holding his breath, and opened his mouth.
"Start!"
"Wait, what do you mean by eliminated?!"
I dashed back and bumped into a student. He raised his fists and lunged his fists towards me. I ducked and jumped out of his reach. I rolled over to the ground, I raised my head and a person flew above me.
He was out of the arena, he rubbed his butt and groaned.
"Darren Jade, Eliminated. 1st year, section E."
My eyes gazed at him and the dots just connected all at the same time. I'm done for…!
I crawled towards the corner, holding my head down while the others fought for their ranks. That's right, I'm a coward! I'm proud of it, actually, I don't care anymore! Fight well, everyone…
"Hey Maic, Stand up you dumbass! What are you doing on the ground?! Fight them dammit!"
The other students turned their heads on me and footsteps were echoing. It was going closer, every step felt like it was in a rush.
Escaping from the crowd, a black-haired guy was running towards me. His mouth opened, and smoke came out of his mouth. Blue strands started popping out of his face like veins.
His hand was small; rather, his figure was small. But his eyes… It's sending shivers down my spine.
He raised both his hands beside his head in a cross-like pose. Icicle started forming from the tip of his fingers, a small blade.
"Are you trying to kill me?!"
I stood up and dashed to the side. My eyes fixated on him, I kept my guard up and raised my hands to block.
She stepped in hard and pivoted towards me, her right arm ready to lunge toward my face and destroy my brain!
I tripped over my own feet and he fell with me. In a split second, he grabbed my collar and slammed me on the ground. He sliced my cheek, just to be interrupted and thrown away by a continuous fire blast.
I sat there like a duck. Is this really how it is supposed to be? But… 1st year isn't that bad… Right? Yeah… I can just walk out and be a 1st-year student!
I felt my butt vibrating, my hands, and my feet. Everybody felt it, too; some tripped, some just stood, and some kept fighting.
I looked at my back, there it was, the grass. Just one more step, and I'll become a first-year…
"Free knockout!"
A green-haired, monster-looking person shouted as he threw bricks at me, driving me to the edge. Bricks kept appearing in his hands and he kept moving forward, but with each step, the throwing force became slugger.
I gritted my teeth, the brick hitting my face and abdomen. This guy pisses me off. I sighed, so this is how it's gonna be..!
Damn it all! First year or not, I'll play your game!
I stood up once again and sprinted from the sides. I looked at the middle of the arena, analyzing an opening to interfere.
I may not know how to fight, but I know how to think. I think…
The icicle guy from earlier… he's struggling against someone. I grinned.
Perfect!
I dashed towards them, both of them about to punch each other. I gathered all of my courage, took a heavy breath in, and kicked the back of his knee.
He faltered; I pivoted to the right while preparing my left hand, and I punched him right in the gut. I stepped back, and both of them paused.
I dashed toward the icicle guy, grabbed him by the waist, and put him on the ground. The other guy raised his hands and fire emitted on the palm of his hands. I threw myself on the ground, lifted the icicle guy in front of me, and threw him in front of the blast.
Once that was done, I threw him to the side and used my legs to spring toward the fire emitter. I swung, he weaved, stepped in, and punched my ribs. He grabbed my collar, dragged me down, hit my face with his knee, and did an uppercut to my chin. I flew back, and the ground shook once again; then, a wave of concrete moving like a tsunami came right at me.
I grunted, my body not moving. The waves of concrete weigh heavily on me. I was pushed out on the edge of the arena. I lay there, my body full of bruises. I tried to stand up, but my arms shook.
I glanced in front of me, the icicle guy in front of me, his fists up. I blinked and opened my eyes. I was facing the sky, my hands on the ground. I glanced over at my side, it was the grass.
"Maic, eliminated. 1st-year, section E."
… Crap.