"Your first class is on the second floor, room two-hundred and three," Clare said. Zylus started rushing into the academy.
"You can't be late. Lateness invites suspicion, and we don't want that." She added.
He nearly collided with the door. Inside, every student had already gone to their respective classes, except for Zylus.
A sound from the announcements screamed out to every student inside the academy building, "Attention all students and teachers. Class will begin as follows, in one minute."
"Shit," Zylus muttered, taking the stairs two at a time, until finally reaching the second floor's base.
The academy had two floors, and his first class awaited on the second.
"Which room did you say again?" Zylus asked in a hurry.
"Room two-hundred and three," Clare replied, slightly out of breath.
"Perfect," he muttered with a smirk as he stood right in front of the wooden, enclosed door. "Calm yourself, I've arrived."
He took the metal doorknob and twisted it around; a satisfying clicking noise filtered into his ears as he pushed the door open.
Zylus started walking in with the utmost confidence, preparing for his first day at this academy. As he entered, the room fell silent. The teacher stood at the front, eyes fixed on his papers.
It was split almost evenly between girls and boys, and looked like the stereotypical high school classroom. Separated by the 'Cool kids,' the 'Nerdy ones,' the 'Lustful types,' and of course, the 'Nobodies.'
Some students leaned back confidently, others avoided eye contact, and a few watched him openly.
Zylus walked in calmly, as whispers ran across the classroom.
"Oh my gosh, he's so hot."
"Did you see him?"
"He's gotta have an S-Class affinity, there's no way he doesn't, right?"
While the girls feined over his physical appearance, the boys thought otherwise.
"Not even that good looking," One of them said, lying back.
"I think we should handle this guy outside, the three of us. Let's see what he's really about."
"Agreed."
"Why does he get all the girls?"
"It's whatever, it's the talent that'll show, don't you think, Lucas? You have an SSS-Class Elemental affinity after all."
With this said, the teacher hushed the class immediately.
"Attention everybody," he sounded almost lazy, but every student listened, "Sit down anywhere, just find somewhere to sleep." The teacher's eyes had red fills in them, as if he was about to fall asleep, "Call me, Mr. Cruz." He said, but not many cared.
A nerdy boy looked upwards at Zylus. He pushed his glasses up, only for them to slip from his fingers and fall to the floor.
"You're in the way, punk. You made me lose my feet over that nasty breath." The man, proclaimed as Lucas, said, "Remember me, Lucas Wain." He demanded, preparing an action into slamming the nerd's desk.
"Stop it." Zylus caught Lucas's wrist effortlessly as gasps filled the air, "Let the man be." He said in a serious demeanor.
"Lucas." A girl's voice called out quietly but firmly, her gaze stared meticulously towards him.
Lucas blushed, then looked away. "Hmm." He let out a soft grump.
"Class's starting." Mr. Cruz's voice felt demanding even if it was lazy.
Then, everybody went back to their seats. Zylus decided to sit beside the nerdy individual, who wasn't surrounded by anybody at all.
"Anyways, class, today we'll be talking about Elemental Techniques, oh wait, didn't I forget attendance? Hold on, give me just a second." As the teacher began, Zylus already dozed off.
He never went to school, so for Zylus, this was like a kindergartener attending a grade twelve mathematics class.
"What's your name? Mine's Zylus," he stared at the nerdy kid, intrigued.
"M-My N-Name…" His eyes darkened, "It's nothing much, I mean, Fred Forless." Fred began shaking.
"Why so nervous?" Zylus asked, "Let's be friends, show me around this place later."
Fred then glanced downwards, "So he's one of those types as well." He whispered. "Using me for his personal benefit."
"What was that?" Zylus curiously asked.
"N-Nothing-"
"Fred Forless?" Mr. Cruz cut him off, calling his name from his attendance sheet.
"Zylus Von Astrea." The teacher called out another name, so similar to our protagonist, yet he couldn't help but wonder who it was.
"So… you're going to answer or what?" Clare's voice appeared once more in Zylus's earbud, "We changed your name slightly; it had to be done, so they literally can't suspect you. Your new name is Zylus Von Astrea." She said, taking a sip of water. "Fuck! I just spilled water all over me."
"Here!" Zylus called out ecstatically, "Idiot." He smirked; that message was aimed at Clare.
"Now that attendance is done, we'll start the lesson about…" Mr. Cruz paused for a moment, "Elemental affinities? Yeah, Elemental Cores, there we go…"
Fred sat at the bottom left corner of the classroom, while Zylus sat on the seat to the right of him. The sun from outside the window pierced their view, as the constant noise the teacher made on the chalkboard hummed, matched by it in perfect harmony.
No girls sat really close to them, but some of them were trying to get through to Zylus. Lucas sat on the seat all the way across from them.
"Heh, let's see you catch this for a change," Lucas whispered, crumpling up paper on his desk.
Skkk.
As Lucas threw a garbage piece of paper towards Fred, Zylus caught it, his senses reacted, just for that fraction of a second. It wasn't as quick as his reaction time as a Demon, but it was fast enough.
Zylus smiled right at Lucas, sticking his tongue out, widening his right eye with his middle finger. His whole demeanor stood for, 'Fuck you.'
For that entire hour, Zylus and Lucas were going back and forth, almost as if they were kids; it was pretty embarrassing, really, but the real challenge was just starting.
Ring!
"Period switch." The announcements called out, "The teachers won't be replaced, the homeroom professor will be with their class for the rest of the semester. Classes will be the only thing relocating here."
"Period switch already?" Mr. Cruz questioningly whispered, "Colosseum, here we go." He seemed ecstatic about it, as if he were a fighter.
"Zylus," Clare said quietly, "Do not trust anybody, and do not fall for anybody, be yourself."
"I'm a Demon, you don't have to tell me twice."