— The Next Day, 8 a.m. —
The auditorium's heavy doors swung open under my light push, revealing an empty class. My brows knitted at the sight, as I clearly remembered the class schedules saved on my phone.
A general class would be held from 8 a.m. till 12 p.m. The general class would cover everything we needed to know about becoming a guardian.
However, this was not the only class available—it was just the only mandatory class.
There was still the martial arts class, political science class, diplomacy and relations class, business studies class, war strategy and command class, and so many more subjects that would help build us up as more than just guardians.
However, those classes were optional. A student had to register for them by choice, and it wasn't mandatory to register for any, so it wasn't uncommon to find students who were only involved in the general class.
Yet with all that freedom and spare time, they couldn't even make it to the only general class on time?
I felt disgusted.
My gaze scanned through the hall and eventually settled on Miss Joanne's petite figure situated behind the podium, her gaze pinned on me.
She was dressed in a yellow suit. Considering she wore a yellow floral gown yesterday, I was beginning to think this color was her favorite.
"Don't worry, the class usually gets filled up before 8:30." She seemed to perceive my thoughts, which made me a bit uncomfortable.
Regardless, I shrugged off the feeling and shut the doors behind me before walking into the classroom. Without responding to her words, I found a seat somewhere at the center—not too far from the front row but not too close either.
Thud! Thud!
Just as I sat down, I heard approaching footsteps and my brows furrowed slightly while I raised my gaze. It was Joanne approaching with a somewhat reluctant expression.
It felt as if she was second-guessing the idea of approaching me.
[You don't carry an inviting body language nor do you speak like someone your age. It's only natural she would feel uncomfortable approaching. But to do this even while feeling uncomfortable, I suspect she's about to sell you some bullshit.] Lyxor explained.
"How are your injuries from yesterday's sparring session?" Miss Joanne's words came as soon as Lyxor was done speaking.
My response was withheld for a while as I gazed at her face intently—I was trying to understand what she was playing at. My memories of her indifferent expression while the fight happened were still clear in my mind.
She didn't try to stop the fight even after I took the third hit from Alex's attack, and she only escaped each time I retaliated. So why try to fake concern now?
What is she playing at?
"I'm alright." My response was brief, and she didn't like it.
Her brows furrowed, but only for a moment before the expression vanished.
But such an important reaction never escaped my eyes. Her disdain for me was hidden behind her soft gaze, but I could see it clearly.
I knew she hated that she had to be polite to this honorary Baron who could end up as one of the strongest figures in the country in a decade's time.
This bitch was playing the long game.
I stared at her in the eyes, hoping she would leave, but to my surprise, she approached and sat a few chairs away from me.
"Congratulations on your performance yesterday. You earned yourself millions of fans, and I'm one of them." Miss Joanne said, and my brows tightened.
'What the hell does this lady want from me?' I couldn't help but wonder.
"Okay." I nodded slightly and pulled out my phone.
With no other choice, I decided to surf through dozens of messages from Sergeant Skull that I had ignored in the past. At this point, I just wanted this lady to leave me alone.
I'm tired of listening to her bullshit.
"I also don't want you to take what happened yesterday to heart." Miss Joanne's words made my eyes reveal a violet flash. "We care for all our students equally. Mistakes were made yesterday which may…"
Joanne froze as I glared at her with murderous intent. I clenched my fist hard, and a burning violet light blazed in my eyes.
"I'm tired of listening to your bullshit. I know what you are. You know I know what you are, so why go through all this trouble to feed me trash?"
The fury in my eyes didn't match the calmness of my voice. Miss Joanne was clearly shocked.
"Buddy!" A familiar voice shattered the tense atmosphere.
It was the fat kid from yesterday, grinning at me like a child who had just found his mother in a crowd.
Honestly, the joy on his face scared the shit out of me.
"We will continue our discussion later." Miss Joanne rose to her feet, but I didn't bother looking at her.
Quickly, I buried my face in my phone, inwardly shivering at the haunting footsteps of a child-sized hippo running over in my direction.
Thud!
The chair beside me squealed as the kid sat down, and I could feel his weirdly excited gaze pinned on me.
"You were really cool yesterday!" The boy screamed. "I'm Ralph."
His chubby hand entered the corner of my vision, and I let out an exhausted sigh before turning to meet his gaze. There was this child-like innocence in his eyes that reminded me of the way Lia looked at me.
"Ralph Ashford." The kid said and kept his hand outstretched.
My gaze lowered to his hand before returning to his face.
"So?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
What does a kid who has clearly been overfed to the point of obesity want with someone who only had his first good meal two days ago?
Ralph wasn't as stupid as he looked. He noticed the change in energy and slowly lowered his hand.
"You really don't like me," Ralph mumbled audibly. "Why?"
Buzz!
I was taken aback by the question, mostly because I had never thought of it. Why would I hate a ten-year-old who knew nothing outside the life that had been shown to him?
Am I supposed to blame him for the tragedies I have suffered?
Truly, this question disarmed me.