The children next to Alistair who were relieved from running begin looking at Alistair as if he is some sort of monster. Unsure of where his stamina and mental perseverance comes from.
Some console themselves believing that they only faltered because they were caught off guard, and given the opportunity again they could easily last longer.
However, some of the students who recognized their own limits begin to feel threatened by this bald kid who outperformed them. Knowing that everything is a contest to discern the regular students from the extraordinary, they make a mental note of him.
The drill instructor decides to implement the method that he was subjected to early on, the plan of "the protruding nail gets hammered down". He consoles himself with the thought of "This will also be beneficial for this young man seeing as his resolve is already so strong."
He decides that this is no longer about needing to establish who is on top, but more of a punishment for being tardy. Every teacher knows that this school pits it's students against each other as competitors. So sometimes, they will stoke the flames of jealousy in each student by picking a "favorite".
This is done entirely on a case by case basis though, some teachers oppose this way of thinking, while others embrace it. This drill instructor just belongs to the latter category.
As today's class is almost over. He claps his hands in a slow applause while saying to the children,
"Congratulations are in order students. You have been subjected to something that is called blood lust! Now while that may seem foreign to some, others have already undergone training for it such as this young man."
He singles out Alistair with admiration in his eyes, "You can all tell just how serious it is to temper your resolve. If someones will is not strong enough to withstand their opponents blood lust or killing intent, then they will be finished before they are even able to lift a finger."
He nods in a satisfied manner, "Yes, you can definitely learn a thing or two from this young man. He knows how to properly stand out!"
Every students eyes immediately switched from pity that the boy was forced to endure the blood lust, to jealousy and shame that he stood out more than them. While some students reflect on their inadequacies, most of the students begin formulating plans on how to force Alistair down to their level.
After going over a few details about the syllabus the drill instructor allows them to rest for the remaining ten minutes of class, and exits the room to attend to other matters.
Alistair is standing in place looking out to his surroundings, losing himself in his thinking of his next class and what he is going to do for food today. He remembers the delicious tasting 'Rough Special' and is unable to contain a giddy smile of anticipation.
Just as he was thinking of going back to the slaughter house or not for more food, he feels a force hit him in the shoulders and he falls on his backside.
He looks up to see a group of students looking down at him, two boys and one girl. Just as he is about to get up from the ground he hears the girl who stands out as the leader say,
"Don't even bother getting up! You think you're some big shot just because you can last a bit longer than us in some jogging. I'll have you know that I'm the one who is going to be in the ascended program! I have to be in it! So I don't care why you are trying to make me look bad but I won't forgive anyone who gets in my way."
Alistair looks up at her in pure confusion and after a moment of speechlessness he asks, "Uh...I've only been jogging because the drill instructor told me too. Did I do or say something to offend you by any chance?"
The girls face turns a slight shade redder from anger as she says, "Oh please! Anyone could see that goofy smile showing how proud you are of yourself that you managed to get praised by the director. I'll tell you now, my family is not something that should be trifled with!" She flashes a majestic three headed lion insignia of her family that is embroidered on her uniform.
She looks him over a couple of times and then smiles assuredly to herself. "Seeing as how you do not even have an insignia explains why I don't recognize you. Some no name kid who does not know what's good for him should really learn. Stick to the military program as all you will ever be is cannon fodder."
Her scathing tongue that she is feared for by her colleagues goes into full affect as she tries her best to demoralize Alistair into taking a back seat in class. She puts her hands on her hips and puts on an arrogant grin. Alistair scratches his head and asks,
"Your in the same class as me, doesn't that mean that you are in the military program as well?"
Her smug grin is immediately frozen on her face as he stutters to retort with a flushing face, "T-T-That's just because I am working myself up from the bottom on my own merits! When one is next to people who are worse than them, then they will shine even brighter!"
She states trying to hold up her image of the victorious person in power. Which immediately comes crashing down as Alistair says, "Oh...So by yourself you're not that special then?"
He says as he slowly lifts himself up from the ground. She huffily states, "I am! Just remember to not get in my way!" As she storms off, the two boys by her side glare daggers at Alistair only to follow closely behind her seemingly to console her.
Alistair notices there are only two classes needed to attend for the basic level of the military program. The first class being combat training, the second class being general education. Going over things like history, mathematics, English and other topics.
General education passes by uneventfully after combat training, with only awkward glares being given to Alistair from time to time from the students who shared the previous class with him. There are new students in this class that he had not seen in Combat training.
He later finds out that each class can have people from different programs taking them. They take the classes that pertain to their each individualized fields.
As class ends Alistair finds himself with free time as it was only orientation today. He notices that his stomach has not given him that awful pain he experienced around this time yesterday. It would seem the gaps in between each fit of hunger grew after each time he consumes.
Not needing to eat, frees up a major portion of his day. With the free time he finds himself with, he decides that the best way to secure food that he can eat and other necessities would be to earn more points on his card. To do that though would require him to skip days, weeks, or months without food.
With how unpredictable his eating habits are though he recognizes how fast he needs to solve this issue. Left with no other option he decides that there is one place that he must familiarize himself with if he wants to survive here, the mission hall.