--
Name: Tristan James Whitlock
Age: 16
Race: Human
Bloodline: Human
Allegiance: East Victory
Profession Archetype: Combat
Class Archetype: Warrior
Rank: 2☆ Novice (210/300)
[Skills]:
• Intermediate Breathing Technique (Perfect 1500/2000)
• Intermediate Fighting Technique (Perfect 1500/2000)
• Intermediate Footwork Technique (Perfect 1650/2000)
• Fencing Lv.1 (Perfect 1450/2000)
• Shooting Lv.1 (Perfect 1400/2000)
**
A week has passed since the start of the second semester.
Nothing much has changed really. He just moved to a larger training room accompanied by more people; that's it. What he needed to do remains the same; it's just happening in a different environment.
Since then, TJ has fallen back into his usual routine, mainly consisting of training in both his waking and dreaming hours.
It's exhausting, yes, but it's also fulfilling. The fact that he could feel himself becoming stronger each passing day felt particularly rewarding.
He's past the halfway mark to rank up again. In nine days, he could do so again. His skills are also getting there, halfway past the next upgrade.
As for his other improvements, he's much stronger now, obviously, about half a star stronger compared to those at his rank. Furthermore, his mana reserves have also increased.
He's got about the same amount of mana that Lily had during their early days of awakening. Meaning that he's no different from a Fusion Class at this point. Alas, since he's got the warrior template for now, he can't take advantage of this. It's not until he reaches the Apprentice Rank that he can make use of this fully.
Sighing to himself, TJ stood up and was about to go to the showers. But before he could do so, a sharp screech rang throughout the room, startling everybody who was still around.
Sirens blared and red lights flooded the room, making everybody panic. TJ looked around and saw what should be the reason behind all of this.
"What? Oh no!"
He heard someone say. He looked over and saw that there's a person standing over the large sealed doors with one hand pressed onto the control panel. The red lights originated from there, and the person who touched it slowly began walking back in terror.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Before he could go far, three shadows appeared behind him. The student even stumbled onto them while walking back. Shrieking, the student turned around, only to be met with the cold and indifferent gazes of the professors, Mr. Eden, Adriana, and John.
Color drained from the student's face upon seeing them.
"I-It's not what it looks like. I didn't mean to do it!"
"Are we really that stupid in your eyes, hmm? Boy?" Mr. Eden's rough and gritty voice echoed across the room.
"Have you already forgotten what I said, that you all are being monitored in real time?"
The boy's face withered even more, realizing that there was no way out for him.
"What happened?"
TJ turned his head and looked at Sieg, who's only wearing his pants, hair still dripping wet, clearly a sign that he just got out of the showers.
"That guy touched the sealed gates for some reason. I don't know what he's thinking."
"Oh," Sieg deflated after hearing that. "Here I thought there was a fire or something; that scared me."
TJ also didn't understand the need for those loud and blaring alarms. He has no idea what's behind those sealed doors that made it necessary to be this loud.
He then heard Professor John sighing in disappointment before saying, "There's always one in every batch. Why can't you kids just follow simple instructions? It's not like we're demanding the world from you."
Adriana crouched to the student's height and said, "Our instructions were clear. None of you are to touch or even go near those doors. It's a simple rule, yet you dismissed it like it's nothing."
"We were clear about this, and since you broke the rules, you will be punished. Go home, son. You can return here in the next second semester."
"What!? N-no! That can't be! Please, no!"
"I'm sorry, child. But the rules are clear. I hate that this is the way you must learn this lesson, but you're going to have to learn one way or the other."
"In the professional world, the act of disobedience sometimes could mean immediate death. It doesn't matter how stupid or nonsensical the rule might seem; if your superiors told you not to do it, you must not do it. This isn't the first time you've heard this; you've been warned, but even after all that, you still disobeyed. Because of that, you will be punished."
Adriana's explanation wasn't just meant for this one student; it's a warning and a reminder to everybody.
Disobedience has a price. The world of professionals is clear about rules and regulations, and as budding pros, this was something all of them had to learn one way or another.
Suffice it to say, that student caused a ruckus. He cried, begged, resisted, and tried to reason out, yet no matter what they did, the verdict was final. He's expelled from this batch. He could try again next year.
Due to this event, everybody now looked at those doors like they were some monsters lurking in the dark. Some even swore to never go anywhere near that thing unless they're specifically instructed to do so.
TJ watched this all happen with some detachment. Actually, he shared the same sentiment as Professor John. How hard was it to follow such a simple rule?
It's not like the rule was just there because the professors were bored or just wanted to mess with them. They don't have that kind of free time. So, obviously, something was up.
He understands curiosity. He too was curious about what's on the other side of those doors, but that hasn't made him break the rules. And that's with him being cursed with the voices constantly nagging at him, too.
That event plunged the class into somewhat of a heavy mood. One that TJ wasn't really affected by.
After witnessing that event, he simply made his way to the showers and returned home afterwards.
**
Cough! Cough! Cough!
In some dark alley somewhere in District 13, a cloaked individual held onto the wall as he clutched his stomach, vomiting what he ate just a few minutes ago mixed with blood.
After retching, he wiped his mouth using the back of his palms, then he lifted his head. Underneath the hood of his cloak, the man's face looked twisted. His pupils hardened, veins bulged out of his forehead, and his jaws clenched.
He breathed heavily; his vision previously spun, but it was getting better. Still, the simmering emotions in his chest didn't calm down. If anything, it bubbled even more than before.
Dang!
His fist met the concrete wall, yet he wasn't pained from what he did.
"Damn you, Valerie! I swear by my name, you'll pay for everything!"
The name of the dean was uttered with dripping venom, making it clear that this person held a deep-seated grudge towards her.
This man was Ferdinand Welsh, father to William and the celebrated Spear Master of District 13.
Alas, his current appearance couldn't have been any farther from his usual elegance and nobility. The current him looked miserable and in pain. So much so that he hasn't shown his face in public for quite some time now, hiding under the guise of being busy with private matters.
And even when he goes out, he has to do so under the cover of the night and this cloak to hide his appearance.
It has been more than a month since Valerie paid him a personal visit to seek justice for her student. Nobody knows what actually happened between them that night, but now, it's clear that the Spear Master was injured because of it.
The extent of his injuries was unclear. But judging by how he uttered the woman's name with such hate and venom, it couldn't have been light.
"And that worthless son of mine...how dare he run away from home! After all I did for him!" Ferdinand gritted his teeth, clenching his jaws even more and punching the wall once more.
Ferdinand didn't know where that useless and ungrateful boy ran off to. He believed that William was just throwing some tantrums and would be back eventually, but it's been more than a month since he disappeared, and not even a shadow of him has been seen.
He even missed the start of the second semester, which greatly pissed off Ferdinand.
"Damn! Damn! Damn!"
Dang! Dang! Dang!
"Oye, fucker! Stop punching my wall, damn it! If you keep doing that, I'll punch you myself!!"
Ferdinand glared at the wall as if he were trying to glare a hole into it. Alas, he couldn't do that.
He was tempted, for a brief second, to take out his spear and stab this wall and skewer whoever dared yell at him from the other side. But the last bits of his rationality stopped him.
Instead, he sneered and walked away with a limp in his steps.
"You all made me do this. You will all regret slighting me!" He uttered while unaware of the dark fumes entering his ears.