And then... I collapsed onto the ground from the shock.
(Nekrios)
Okay, this is way too much. I hated my high school, but this?!
Alright, let's give it a shot—like I have any other choice.
(Lethia) (smiling mischievously and looking at me like I'm some kind of research project)
Yes, boy, and remember—I'm not just a Seer. I'm also a teacher in the sorcerers' division.
So yes, I'll be putting you in my class.
(Nekrios) (still lying on the floor)
Wonderful. Just what I needed—a teacher obsessed with my species.
(Arclemos)
Aha...
You'll learn a lot here. But get up—your first class will be with the warriors.
You'll be fighting there, so move!
(Nekrios)
Fine, I'll go. But if I fall asleep later during sorcery class, don't blame me!
Then suddenly, Mr. Arclemos grabbed my shoulder, and in a flash, we teleported—
Right into the academy's training arena, where I'd be training with the warriors.
And guess what? Kaeron was there too, obviously, since he's a warrior.
(Kaeron) (looking at me in surprise)
Huh, you've been placed with the warriors?
Not surprising—you've got decent physical ability.
(Nekrios) (exhausted)
Umm... hate to break your fantasy, but that Seer, the one obsessed with my kind,
She actually placed me in the Hunter division.
So I'm supposed to—
(Kaeron) (interrupting quickly)
Wait—wait a second!
You're in the Hunter division?!
Do you even know what that means, dammit?!
(Nekrios)
It means I'll be... hunting and going on missions?
(Kaeron)
No, tentacle-boy.
It means deadly missions—just for you.
Sometimes with a team, but mostly solo, especially when the target is a non-intelligent, deadly creature.
And team-based when the objective is a valuable artifact or item protected by many enemies.
So please—I'm begging you, and I don't do this often—
DON'T act recklessly or without a plan! You're in the most suicidal division there is!
A chill ran down my spine.
I gulped—loudly, twice—from the sheer weight of the warning.
And just as I was about to mentally process the disaster I was in...
The combat instructor stepped in.
(Instructor) (walking with incredibly strict eyes)
Listen up, scum of this year's new batch.
I'm Instructor Viktor.
Remember that name well, because you'll be screaming it in pain every night.
He then paused mid-stride, as if looking for a student to torment,
Turned sharply and locked eyes with me.
(Instructor Viktor) (coldly, without a smile, like a U.S. army general)
You there—pale skin. How and when did you get into this academy?
Aren't you a Thanalith?
The kind that went extinct centuries ago?
(Nekrios) (nervous, stammering, waving my hand)
Y-Yes, sir... I am one.
I'm from the Hunter division, and I was sent here by Director Arclemos to attend this class first, sir.
(Instructor Viktor) (thinking, narrowing his eyes)
The Director himself, huh?
Alright. I'll make sure you suffer even more than the others.
Since you're a Hunter...
NOW—
Stand in formation!!
Pair up!
I immediately picked Kaeron—he was the only one I knew among the warriors.
And honestly, dear reader, wouldn't you do the same?
(Instructor Viktor) (firmly)
Alright, now act like this is a life-or-death battle.
Use everything you've got, students!
START!
Instantly, all six of my bone tendrils shot out into attack mode,
aiming straight at Kaeron.
They swayed left and right, stretching out like they were warming up before the battle.
(Kaeron) (visibly nervous, trying—and failing—to hide it, remembering his swords always break against my tendrils)
A-Alright then, let's begin. Just... don't go overboard.
Actually, I should say—don't you all go overboard, since you apparently have minds of your own...
(Nekrios) (nervously waving my hands)
No, no, don't worry! I'm terrible at fighting, ha ha—
Before I could finish my sentence, my own tendrils dragged me forward and launched a violent attack at Kaeron.
Tendril #1 cut through the air like a swift arrow, aiming right for Kaeron's forehead—
He blocked it masterfully, but a crack formed in his blade from the force.
Turned out, tendril #1 wasn't aiming to kill.
It was a distraction.
Because while Kaeron was focused on that, tendrils #5 and #6 slithered beneath our feet,
grabbed him by the ankles, and hoisted him up into the air like a weightless doll.
But Kaeron was a strategic fighter—
He tightened his grip on his sword, lifted it high, and hurled it at me like a spear.
It shot toward my chest at terrifying speed.
I tried to dodge, but the speed and distance made that impossible.
Tendrils #2 and #3 attempted to intercept the blade, but failed to reach in time.
At that moment—
Something within my body moved on its own.
Time slowed.
Everything around me blurred.
My brain raced.
My reflexes surged.
I grabbed the blade mid-air—not fully, of course, since it was razor-sharp.
But I pushed it off-course just enough to avoid a fatal hit.
The sword slammed into the ground beside me.
Panting heavily, my heart pounding from the fear,
I stared at the blade still trembling beside me.
Meanwhile, Kaeron was still dangling upside down from tendrils #5 and #6,
and the others were closing in to finish the fight—
But before they could strike...
(Instructor Viktor) (whistles sharply, commanding)
The fight is over!
Everyone, return to your positions—NOW!
The strictness in his voice was enough to make my tendrils obey immediately.
They dropped Kaeron to the ground like the instructor had some kind of aura...
Or maybe he was just that terrifying.
(Kaeron) (crashing to the ground, shouting)
AHHHHH!!
Ugh, dammit, that was so weird. How did I fall for those damn tendrils?!
Next time, we'll see who wins, tentacle-boy!
(Nekrios) (even more nervous)
H-Hey, don't blame me! You know they've got minds of their own!
Talk to them, not me!
(Kaeron) (angrily, gritting his teeth)
You idiot, you want me to talk to bones?
Seriously?
(Kaeron) (still fuming)
Whatever… Anyway, what did you think of your first class with the warriors, Mr. Hunter?
(Nekrios) (grinning, eyes gleaming with excitement)
Honestly? It was amazing!
Dangerous, yes—but I've never felt that much adrenaline before!
Not even when I was being tortured to death!
(Kaeron) (staring at me like I'd lost my mind, slowly speaking)
Right... Now I don't know if you're an idiot...
or just way dumber than you look.
(Nekrios) (still pumped, bursting with energy)
Oh, don't worry—I'm just really excited!
Anyway, I've got to run. Time for the sorcerers' class—
Bye-bye now, hahaha!
And with that, I bolted through the academy halls straight toward the magic classrooms.
Why?
Because I was finally going to learn how to control magic.
A dream come true—
For me, at least.
Not for you.
To be continued…