Yesterday was hectic.
I got the new clothes and phone as promised. Since I have never owned a phone, it took me a while to understand how it works—mostly because Maria was trembling the entire time she was trying to teach me, and the other servants straight-up ran away whenever I looked at them.
The voice keeps telling me to always have this murderous look, and I need to work on looking more human.
After several hours spent in front of the mirror, I was able to put up a disinterested expression at all times. It was much better than the deadly glares and murderous gleam in my eyes each time I glanced at someone.
After devouring a feast for ten people alone, I quickly understood that the hunger I felt was insatiable. No matter how much I ate, I would always feel hungry.
The only difference was that my belly wouldn't hurt anymore—but the hunger remained.
But there was a good side to Devour. It allows my body to process and absorb nutrients as soon as I consume something. Just yesterday, I was thin and emaciated, but now my skin has a healthy glow, I was a bit buff, and my muscles were well-defined.
Even Bruce was shocked when he saw me earlier today.
Huff!
Exhaling loudly, I reopened the message on my phone.
"Get ready, I'm coming to pick you up by 9."
This was a text from Bruce Ainsworth. I still don't understand how he got my number, but who am I to complain?
What I found annoying was that he brought me here and asked me to wait outside until he announced my name.
This was very stupid to me.
"First impressions matter… I'll give you a superhero-worthy entrance." I scoffed, repeating the words he said to me before entering the auditorium.
[I believe he thinks you care about your classmates' opinion.] The voice said.
"Care about the opinion of people who have never spent a day in a mine?" I rolled my eyes. "These humans think too highly of themselves."
[Careful now, you are still human.] The voice chuckled.
First-year students of the Guardian Academy walked into the auditorium for their normal class, but they were shocked to see an unexpected yet familiar face.
"I know what's on your mind. Why did Doctor Bruce leave his busy schedule to meet you all this morning?" Doctor Bruce's voice boomed from within the auditorium.
[It has begun.] The voice said, and I nodded.
"Well, today I've come to personally announce the arrival of a new student—but not just any student," Bruce continued.
"Originally, we had four S-rated potential students, but today, I am proud to announce the arrival of the fifth S-rated potential student and the newest noble of the United States of America… Lucius Blackwater!"
Silence…
I genuinely expected an uproar from the students, but there was an unbearable silence on the other side of the door.
"Fuck it," I said as I grabbed both doors and pushed.
Bam.
The doors of the auditorium swung open, and I walked in. Today I picked a purple shirt with a skull design on it, black trousers to match, and finally, a black jacket as cover.
Everyone's heads snapped in my direction, their eyes widening when they saw me. In their eyes, I could see greed, disgust, confusion—even anger.
Several emotions were directed at me, but it was child's play compared to the murderous glares of soldiers pointing a gun at you while you hammer away in the cold, toxic mine.
Unfazed by the gaze of over fifty students, I walked in and picked a deserted part of the auditorium to sit.
[As an S-rated potential guardian with no background, many will try to hurt you—and many will try to use you. Be ready.]
'They will be disappointed.' I was aware of this and wasn't really surprised.
A nation built on the sweat and blood of millions of underprivileged citizens was bound to have opportunistic citizens.
"Well, that's all I came here to do. Welcome, Lord Blackwater… I hope you will live up to my expectations." Bruce Ainsworth said, and I casually nodded.
Bastard.
Students were enraged!
Everyone was looking for an opportunity to build a relationship with a renowned figure like Bruce Ainsworth, yet I was treating the man like air.
What even shocked them more was that Bruce didn't seem to care. He just smiled and walked out of the auditorium, occasionally throwing glances in my direction with a thoughtful expression.
Cough.
Cough.
The female homeroom guardian faked a cough to get the attention of her students as she walked up the podium. She was about 5'9" with a petite build hidden beneath a flowery yellow gown.
Her golden hair was tied back into a ponytail with a flower attached to the side, which created an air of purity around this lady.
"This is a pleasant surprise and a good way to start the week," she said while glancing in my direction—but what she met was my blank expression, which clearly made her uncomfortable.
She broke eye contact for a moment, glanced around a bit, then met my gaze once again.
"My students call me Miss Joanne. I am a support-type Guardian—or a sidekick, as most people call it—and this academic session has been ongoing for two weeks now. But I can assure you, you haven't missed much." Miss Joanne said, but she still got no reaction from me.
'Ehem!' she coughed awkwardly while pushing back a strand of hair.
"Well, we were meant to have our first combat class this morning, but we had to postpone due to Doctor Bruce's announcement. I believe this will be a good opportunity to get to know you better—and your ability." Miss Joanne said before hastily getting off the podium.
Only now did I bother to look at the other classmates. I realized everyone was dressed in tracksuits—except me.
'Fuck my life. I have to fight in jeans.' I cursed inwardly.
[It's not like there's anyone out here that can win against you. They're just kids.] The voice shrugged off my worries.
'Hello? I'm a kid too.' I rolled my eyes.
At this point, students were already leaving the auditorium, occasionally throwing glances my way, but none dared to meet my gaze.
"Hey… you can't fight in that. Come on, let's hurry back to the dorm." A voice spoke between sniffs.
Considering the cold air I put up, I was stunned someone had the guts to speak to me. Looking in the direction of the voice, my eyebrows twitched at the sight of a ball-shaped kid with untidy red hair and a runny nose.
He looked pathetic in his blue tracksuit and seemed like someone with zero sense of self-preservation.
I had a wild presence that made everyone instinctively avoid me, but this kid didn't seem to notice or care.
"Didn't you hear me? You need to change before the class starts." The fat kid said as he tried to grab my shoulder—but I nimbly moved around him and walked away without looking back.
While I didn't really care about the popular people in school, I also didn't come here to hang around with losers.
This is not a fairytale story.