"What's your name?"
" Deren Kelston."
"Age?"
"16."
"Your Race?"
"Wulfgarn."
"And your class?"
"Kaleeki."
"Alright, sign here, and here. Now go to the second floor, door on your left, to get your smartwatch."
"Thank you."
"Next!"
Now standing in a straight line amongst other students waiting to be screened, I gaze ahead at the staff calling out to the next person, which was my sister.
The staff member looked up, pen poised, and began the routine questions.
"Name?"
"Glory Prairie."
"Age?"
"17."
"Race?"
"Human."
"Class?"
"Aeromancer."
The staff member nodded, handing her the registration form.
"Alright, sign here, there, and there. Now go to the second floor, door on your left, to get your smartwatch."
"Thank you."
Answering with a nod, "Next!"
I stepped forward, and some students threw glances my way.
I flashed a confident smile, thinking to myself that it was probably due to my dashing good looks.
But Echo, promptly shut down that notion.
{Oh please, it's not because you're good looking that have them intrigued,
It's more likely they're wondering if you're a vampire who's forgotten to drink blood this month, given your alarming pallor.}
I shot back, 'Seriously Echo, can't you just be one my side for once'?'
{I'm always on your side, it's just that your ego doesn't have enough fortitude to handle a healthy dose of reality.
Besides, someone needs to keep your inflated sense of self-importance in check.}
My face twisted in mock offense.
'So, you're indirectly saying I'm not only egotistical but also dim-witted?'
Echo's reply was swift and merciless.
{Exactly. I mean, who else but you would think their pale skin is a result of 'looking handsome'?}
I chuckled and shook my head, giving up on arguing with Echo's sass.
'You know what, forget it. I'll just bask in my own delusions of grandeur.'
With a grin still plastered on my face, I approached the staff member, ready to get this over with.
"Name?"
"Eden Prairie."
"Age?"
"17."
The lady paused and for the first time raised her head during the screening process to look at someone, and it had to be me.
"You're the Prairie's Twins?"
Ah, I let out a sigh that could be heard from a mile away. 'fuck my luck,'
The moment she mentioned that, I began to hear hushed murmurs from the students nearby.
"I knew he looked familiar, isn't that the infamous Eden Prairie?" one student whispered.
"Who's he?" another student asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Isn't he the one they called a child prodigy or something?" a third student chimed in.
"And doesn't he look like a vampire or something? I mean, have you seen his skin?" a student near the back whispered, eyes fixed on my pale complexion.
"No way, I heard he's the one who peaked early and then lost his touch," someone else said.
"I heard he was a genius in multiple areas, but... oh wait, I remember now, he's classless," a student near the front said, voice barely above a whisper.
"What does that even mean?" another student asked, confusion etched on their face.
"It means he doesn't have a magical class," someone explained. "Like, no elemental affinity or anything. Maybe that's why he looks so... drained."
"Maybe he's just anemic or something," another student suggested.
The murmurs continued, with speculations ranging from "Is he adopted?" to "I bet he's got some dark secret."
I stood there, taking it all in, while Echo chimed in internally,
{Well, this is fun. Enjoy the attention, Snowflake.}
The staff member, however, seemed unfazed by the commotion as if she wasn't the one who started it in the first place and continued with the routine. "Race?"
"Human," I replied, trying to maintain a neutral tone despite the mumurs that were still going on.
"Class?"
The staff member's eyes lingered on me for a moment before I responded, "Classless."
She nodded, her expression unreadable.
"Alright, sign here, and here. Now go to the second floor, door on your left, to get your smartwatch."
I signed the form, handed it back, and received a nod. "Next!"
I shook my head, chuckling at the absurdity of the situation.
Seriously, even for a third-rate villain, this dude was popular – come on! What did they mean by "Am I adopted"?
"Like, seriously?! Don't I have the same white hair as the rest of my siblings, mother fuckers?"!!
If it were the real Eden, he would have thrown a tantrum there, possibly one that would have echoed throughout the entire school.
Anyways, that was none of my concern now because there was something that happened in the game after the screening process – it was the next phase to determine your rank in the school, and I was more than a little worried.
{And what's that?}
'Nahh, you'll find out soon enough, I don't want to jinx anything.' I said, coming to a stop in front of the stairs.
Didn't the lady say the second floor, door on my left? I looked around, slightly disoriented, the fluorescent lights overhead casting an eerie glow on the sterile hallway.
I spotted a student nearby and walked up to them – a girl with her back turned to me, intently examining her new smartwatch.
The device seemed to be mesmerizing her, and she didn't notice me approaching. "Excuse me," I said, trying to get her attention.
Startled by my sudden intrusion, she turned around and... froze.
Her eyes locked onto mine, and she stared at me with an unreadable expression, her face a mask of surprise and curiosity.
I raised an eyebrow, wondering if I had something stuck on my face or if my hair was a mess.
"Is there something on my face?" I asked, trying to prompt a response.
But she didn't reply.
She just kept staring at me, her eyes scanning my features as if she was trying to memorize every detail.
I turned to Echo internally for help, 'Echo, a little help here, what's wrong with her? Is there something stuck on my face?'
Echo's response was laced with disappointment and a hint of amusement.
{Are you really that dense?}
I raised an eyebrow, confused.
'What's that supposed to mean?'
But Echo didn't respond, leaving me to wonder what was going on.
The girl's gaze was starting to get uncomfortable, and I shifted my weight, trying to break the silence.
"Uh, sorry to interrupt, but could you tell me where the smartwatch distribution is?
The lady said second floor, door on my left..." I trailed off, hoping she would snap out of her trance-like state.
The girl blinked, slowly coming back to reality.
Her eyes darted around, as if checking to see if anyone else had noticed our exchange. Then, in a soft voice, she replied, "Y-yes, it's just... right there."
She pointed down the hallway, still looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and something I couldn't quite describe.
I nodded, thanking her, and headed in the direction she pointed.
As I walked away, I could feel her eyes on me, burning with an intensity that made my skin prickle.
I didn't look back, but I could sense her gaze lingering on me, like a whispered secret.
What was going on with that girl?
And what did Echo mean by Was I really that dense"?
I had a feeling I was missing something, but I didn't know what.
******
"Seriously, is this line even moving?
We've been standing here for close to two hours now,"
A girl, with long, curly brown hair tied up in a ponytail, with bright green eyes that sparkled with frustration, and her petite frame that seemed to vibrate with anxiety complained, her voice laced with frustration.
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her eyes fixed on the slow-moving line.
"Calm down, just two more checkings, then it's our turn," a boy replied, his tone soothing. "We've survived this long, what's a few more minutes?"
The girl let out a huff.
"Easy for you to say, you're not the one who's practically vibrating with anxiety.
I just want to get this over with and get some sleep already."
The boy stood tall and relaxed, his short, golden-blond hair sticking up in every direction as if he'd just rolled out of bed.
His warm, brown eyes, with a hint of golden warmth, crinkled at the corners as he smiled, trying to calm the girl down.
A small scar above his left eyebrow added a touch of ruggedness to his features.
He wore a faded blue shirt with a few buttons undone, revealing a hint of a silver necklace underneath that glinted in the light.
His dark jeans were worn and comfortable, with a few threadsbare spots at the knees, and his scuffed sneakers suggested he'd been walking around for a while.
A silver watch on his wrist gleamed subtly, complementing his casual yet put-together look.
"You're not exactly known for your patience, are you?"
The girl shot him a look. "Hey, I'm patient... when I have to be.
This situation just calls for extreme measures."
The boy raised an eyebrow. "Extreme measures? Like what?"
The girl thought for a moment before responding, "I'm considering starting a petition to speed up the screening process. Or maybe just loudly singing a protest song."
The boy laughed.
"I don't think that'll help, but I'm sure it'll be entertaining."
The girl playfully rolled her eyes.
"You're not helping."
As they chatted, the line inched forward, and they slowly made their way closer to the front.
The girl continued to grumble, while the boy kept her calm with his easygoing demeanor.
As the line continued to move, the girl stepped into the room, she was handed her smartwatch, and exited, her movements swift and efficient.
The boy followed closely behind, but his progress was momentarily halted as he collided with someone who was leaving the area.
The boy's eyes widened in apology as he took in the striking features of the person he had bumped into.
A boy that stood tall, his pure white hair gleaming in the fluorescent lighting, and his face was a masterclass in chiseled perfection.
His features were so finely crafted that they seemed almost otherworldly, as if he had stepped out of a Renaissance painting.
His eyes, a piercing shade of blue, gazed at the boy with a bored expression, as if the entire interaction was beneath him.
"Ah, I'm sorry," the boy said, his voice laced with genuine apology.
"I wasn't watching where I was going."
The boy's gaze lingered on the other boy for a few seconds, his expression unreadable. Then, without a word, he turned and walked away, his movements fluid and effortless.
The boy watched him go, slightly perplexed.
"What was that about?"
the girl asked, her curiosity piqued.
She had been observing the exchange from a short distance, her eyes narrowed in interest.
"I don't know, I bumped into him by accident, that's all," the boy replied, shaking his head.
"He seems like quite the character, though."
The girl nodded thoughtfully.
"I think he must be a highborn noble, from the way he carried himself.
He seemed bored, like none of what he was doing here was important.
That kind of air is usually reserved for those with breeding and privilege."
The boy raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.
"You say the word 'noble' like you're not one yourself.
Stop hanging out with me; you're starting to think you're a commoner."
The girl's face lit up with indignation, her voice taking on a playful yet pointed tone.
"Hey, don't say such words, mister! You're not exactly one to talk, given your propensity for getting into trouble.
And who says I'm the one hanging out with you? You're the one that's always dragging me into your harebrained schemes."
The boy chuckled, a low, rich sound.
"Ah, but that's where you're wrong, my dear.
You're the one who's always following me around like a loyal puppy, eager to lick my wounds and fetch my slippers."
The girl's eyes flashed with mock anger.
"I'm not a puppy, and I don't fetch slippers! I'm a force to be reckoned with, and don't you forget it."
The boy grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of forgetting it. You're a force of nature, a whirlwind of chaos and unpredictability.
That's why I love having you around – it's never dull."
The girl rolled her eyes.
"You're impossible, you know that?"
The boy shrugged, his smile still plastered on his face.
With that, he stepped inside the office, leaving the girl to smile wryly in his wake.
******
As I stepped down from the second floor, I mouthed a silent curse.
'What the fuck?'
I thought to myself, my mind reeling from the unexpected encounter. Did I just narrowly escape death, or was it j
ust a close call? The adrenaline rush still coursed through my veins, making my heart pound in my chest.
{Was that the Justin Bridge you were talking about?}
'Yes, that was him.'
I couldn't believe how exactly the scene had played out like in the game.
Well, almost exactly – I hadn't mustered the courage to cause a scene or alter the course of events.
Instead, I had stood frozen, my shock rendering me mute.
When he apologized, I had simply stared at him, my mind blank, before turning and walking away.
He probably thought I was rude, but I didn't care.
I was just relieved to have escaped the situation without any further complications.
But Echo's words brought me back down to reality.
{No course for celebrating yet, you said you died in the first arc of the game, we're still in the first arc, and it just began, so anything can happen.}
I couldn't deny the logic, and a sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach.
Just then, my sister approached me, with a playful pout, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"What took you so long?" she asked, her tone laced with mock irritation.
Her small nose scrunched up slightly, and her lips curled into a cute, exaggerated frown.
I chuckled at her antics
"Sorry, I got lost for a minute, that's all."
She raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. "Alright, you're here now. Let's go."
We fell into step together, heading towards the scheduled gathering place within the academy.
After everyone had collected their devices, a text had been sent out requesting all first-year students to gather at a specific hall.
The message had been clear and concise, and we had all been instructed to arrive promptly.
As we walked, the corridors began to fill with students, all heading in the same direction.
The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and anticipation.
We followed the crowd, merging into the sea of students flowing towards the hall.
As we arrived at our destination, I was taken aback by the sheer scale of the structure before me.
Instead of a hall, I found myself standing at the entrance of a colossal Coliseum that sprawled out like a giant behemoth, its vast expanse covering an area equivalent to four football pitches combined.
The enormity of the venue left me breathless, and I wasn't alone in my astonishment.
Many others around me wore similar expressions of wonder and awe, their eyes wide with amazement as they gazed out at the massive arena.
We all stood gathered around, our collective gasps and murmurs filling the air, until suddenly, the atmosphere seemed to ripple and distort, like the surface of a pond struck by a stone.
A woman materialized out of thin air, her presence commanding attention.
She was a statuesque figure with long, flowing silver hair that cascaded down her back like a river of moonlight, each strand seeming to shimmer with an ethereal glow.
Her eyes were an piercing emerald green, with vertical pupils that gleamed like polished gemstones, radiating an aura of wisdom and authority.
Her features were finely chiseled, with high cheekbones and a small, pointed chin, giving her an otherworldly beauty that was both captivating and intimidating.
Upon seeing her, the purpose of our gathering began to fall into place.
In the game, after the screening was complete, players had to pass two exams to determine their ranks in the school and the route your character's story line will follow: the written exams and the practical exams.
The written exams were straightforward, testing your knowledge of magical principles and spellcasting techniques.
Questions would range from the intricacies of mana flow circulation to the complexities of spell disruption, such as
"Describe the optimal method for circulating mana flow in a spell to maximize its efficiency" or "Explain the theoretical framework for disrupting a seven-layer spell without causing unintended collateral damage."
However, the practical exams were a different story altogether.
They were inherently unpredictable, adding an element of excitement and terror to the proceedings.
Sometimes, players would be divided into teams of four, tasked with completing a specific objective or overcoming a challenge that would test your skills, strategy, and ability to work under pressure.
At other times, your character would be sent into artificial gates created by the school, where you would face off against mana beasts in a battle of wits, skill, and magical prowess.
The students who accumulated the most points would emerge victorious, but the path to victory would be fraught with challenges and uncertainties.
What terrified me, however, was the randomness of the practical exams.
In the game, there was one particular route that I dreaded above all others – The Battle Royale*