Once again, Diaman stood on the raised stage before the floating orb, but this time the AVA staff was behind the monitor while the Headmaster and Mr. San stood as the audience, waiting to witness Diaman rank.
"Place your hand on the orb." The AVA staff said while tweaking some controls.
Diaman's palm met the cold orb surface. He took a deep breath.
"Okay." The AVA staff continued. "Don't try to force out your mana, the orb will do that for you."
"Ready?"
Diaman looked at the Headmaster, his hands clasped behind his back as he watched him closely. 'I can't activate AETHERPHAGE now, he might notice me using mana. I'll wait till the orb activates.' He turned to the AVA and nodded. "Ready."
She flipped the switch of the orb and it began to whirl. The cold orb surface began turning warm. He didn't feel that pull at first, just the orb powering up.
He timed it perfectly, waiting for his flare.
Then he felt it. His body jerked as mana flowed from his mana veins. He felt the movement through his veins slowly.
'My cover.'
In six seconds, before his mana would pour out his palm, spiking the reading, Diaman activated AETHERPHAGE and measured his mana flow.
[PARASITE INFESTED]
AETHERPHAGE. (ACTIVATED)
VECTOR: SELF.
He had better experience to control his mana now than before from his fight with Tratex. He managed to stop mana flowing to the severed hand.
So it wasn't hard for him, AETHERPHAGE made it even easier. He squared his shoulders, staying relaxed as he let the orb do its job. It wasn't whirling wild like his first test, but it glowed bright. 'It must be working.'
After some minutes, the orb's glow died slowly. Diaman disengaged AETHERPHAGE. Once the orb fully turned off, he removed his palm from the orb's surface. Mr. San's eyes narrowed on Diaman. He turned to the AVA staff.
"What's the reading?" The Headmaster walked towards the AVA staff.
"From the amount of mana released and the pressure..." Her eyes still stuck on the monitor, reading the numbers and variables. "He's an S rank, not SS."
'Yes, it worked.' Diaman smirked. 'S rank is better, at least for cover.'
"But from the former reading it showed SS rank, not S. And it didn't react like before." Mr. San questioned the AVA staff.
"I don't know why, but I checked the system, there was nothing wrong with it."
The Headmaster then spoke. "S rank isn't a bad rank, even if I had expected something higher. Ten S Rank students in their set." He laughed. "This academy indeed attracts elite students." The Headmaster turned to leave, he didn't fancy S rank.
"Can I go now?" Diaman came down the stage carefully.
"Yes, Mr. San will take care of the rest," the old man said before continuing his leave.
Behind the monitor, the AVA staff bent closer to the screen. Her eyes were still stuck on the display. Her fingers tapped the keyboard like she was desperately searching for something in Diaman's reading.
Diaman noticed it but shrugged. He slipped his hands in his pockets, and as he was about to leave, he heard her voice.
"Something is wrong." She straightened up and her eyes met with Diaman's.
Diaman halted. Mr. San went to see what was wrong.
The Headmaster, who had already stepped out, walked back in. "What's the problem?" The old man's eyes narrowed.
"His class, it's unknown." She added, making Diaman feel shivers down his spine.
"How?" Diaman asked.
"The machine is trained to study and know every mana class. If it's Elemental, Alchemy, Summoner, Enchanter, even Necromancy." She paused, catching her breath. "Yours is unknown, an ability never known or seen in our world."
'I guess I'm the only parasite mage.'
"Interesting." The old man stroked his beard. This was the first time such had ever happened, making Diaman special.
"Diaman, what's your ability?"
Everyone went silent, waiting for his answer. 'I could say I'm a parasite mage, but that will still draw attention to me. I'll just deny it, say I don't know for now.'
"I don't know!"
Mr. San and the AVA staff were confused. They glanced at each other, but the Headmaster wasn't convinced.
"Then when did you activate your mana? Everyone gets their awakening at 10. You don't have any memory of a time you used your power as a kid?"
Diaman shook his head. At least he wasn't lying now. In his former life, magic was just fantasy.
"That's a rare class of late bloomer. Especially for an S rank."
"But I can't blame him. Maybe if he attended from first year, he would have good knowledge of the type of ability he holds." Mr. San added.
"You're right. Diaman?"
"Sir?"
"You can return to your class. I'll discuss further with your teacher."
"Okay, sir." Diaman obeyed the Headmaster and returned to his class. He badly wanted to hear what they would discuss.
Parasite could have been his solution, but he couldn't infest the Headmaster without him noticing, and he never wanted to use his parasite on humans.
So he resigned himself and walked to his class as instructed. His hands slipped into his pockets. He walked down the empty hall with his head down, a habit he couldn't fully get over. 'What class do I have this period? Hmm.'
Footsteps drew closer. Diaman raised his head to see who it was.
Before him, a group of people all dressed in black. Diaman's body tensed immediately when he saw them. He clenched his fist. 'Who are these?' As the figures got closer, he noticed they were wearing Toven's uniform, but all black. The girls wore long skirts sweeping the ground with veils over their faces, leaving no skin exposed. Only a single boy was in their midst. His dressing was similar, baggy trousers and a hat with a veil covering his features.
He stepped aside so they could pass. They walked past him without looking back. "Who are those?"
"Vampires. Damn aura farmers."
Shira leaned against the wall, watching a video on his smartphone.
"Probably your first time seeing them."
Diaman nodded. He looked back, the figures vanishing at the hallway's end. "No wonder they're dressed like that. Protecting themselves from direct sunlight."
"Yep! Their drip kinda sick, right?"
"Aren't you supposed to be in class?"
"Yeah." Shira pushed off the wall. He checked his phone screen once more before slipping it into his pocket. "But I came to know your ranking."
His answer made Diaman smile. "I'm S rank. Your new rival," Diaman said playfully.
"They got CCTV footage from the bus station of the kid who saved that bus when it entered. They got his face on camera."
Diaman kept his face neutral, hiding the worry Shira's words just gave him.
"So files are getting checked so they find who the footage matches, and, "
"—Why are you telling me?"
Shira smirked. "I don't know. You tell me. Why you look a little familiar with the viral video."