After she finished her call, she turned to Bahadur.
"Well, we are done now. They should officially announce the members in a week. Training starts next month. Prepare yourself for a world of pain."
He shivered at the thought of next month, but he will have companions to join him in his suffering. He left and a few meters away were his classmates waiting for him. He neared them.
"Boss! What did she keep you for!?" "If she did something, we will help you get your revenge!" "Did she touch you anywhere weird! Please show where on this doll!"
"Silence!" he said stiffly as he could sense a threatening aura behind him.
Astrea was just outside the classroom, about to leave. However, she had to hear such slanders... It seems like they need some punishment next time. She looked at her students and put on a work smile. However, her eyes were very cold.
"Oh. Seems like you are very concerned about Bahadur wellbeing. But you should think about yours instead. We will have lots of 'FUN' next week. Hehe..."
The students shook badly. She walked in their direction and they made a path for her to go through. When they couldn't see her anymore, they all had the same thought, 'We are done for.'
***
A week has passed. The members of the inter-schools competition were going to be announced. All the screens in the school were tuned to the Assembly Hall of the first ranked school, Fortuna Academy. It was the winner for the last 50 years so it would be the one to host it.
Attending the ceremony, there were the ten headmasters waiting on stage. In the extremities of the row of seat, two gods were quarreling. One was Janus, the other was his most hated enemy, the lord of Fates, Karma.
"Oh my! Janus! What are you doing here? I thought you retired from the position."
"I never retired! I just took a holiday..."
"Hehe... more like you were so frustrated being second that you just gave up! But look at what happened! Your school is dead last for 168 years!"
"Tch! If it wasn't because you allied with the other school to suppress mine, it wouldn't be like this!"
"Ooh? So what? You weren't here to stop it. It is your fault that you ran away from competing."
"Nggh! Don't be too happy! This time, we will beat all of you!"
"Hmph! Don't dream too much. From what I saw in the thread of fate, it didn't change your loss."
"Don't be so sure."
"Loser."
The Lord of Fates left his seat while being glared at. He walks to a pedestal, made a short speech, and announced the composition of his team. The following persons did the same. At Janus turn, he surprised everyone with his team composition. The majority of them were from the worst classes, 8F.
"Bwahaha! What are you even doing!? Your solution is to use failures! You are really desperate! Don't forget! If they make trouble, they will be disqualified!"
"Hmph! Don't worry about that! I have a way to make them obedient."
"What? You will brainwash them? Don't forget, most of them are legendary being that won't be easily tamed."
"I told you. I have a way." assuredly said Janus.
Seeing him this confident, Karma began to be curious. He wanted to know how this brat would make rebellious youths participate peacefully.
He tried to look into the threads of fate. As he neared the source of Janus' confidence, he received a mental attack, which made him wince in pain. He was very surprised. The most powerful god of fates has been hurt trying to look at someone destiny. And it was only a warning, if it was a full attack, he couldn't imagine the consequences. He would have to caution his fellow fate's gods to not look into it.
But who could be the one to block him. He then remembered what Janus asked him a few weeks ago. There was indeed someone whose fate he couldn't completely see. He turned to look in the audience and she was there.
As a member of the tournament's committee, Astrea had to join in the announcement of the teams. She was one of two contributors to have made a last minute change in the team composition. The other being Janus. After he found out she would be training some 8F students, he had the bright idea to add more to strengthen the group. He also convinced the students as some of them weren't swayed by her.
She felt someone trying to look into her destiny earlier, seeing the Lord of Fates turn his sight at her, she confirmed it was him who did. She was impressed he didn't become a fool after receiving a mental attack from the universe. As expected of a god. She just looked on expressionlessly. On the inside, she gave up trying to hide her identity. It was getting bothersome. Let the problems come, she will take them on.
After the event ended, there was a small banquet in the evening. The teachers from different schools mixed together. Her master's reputation was well known even outside of the Arcadia. He had even provoked some of them during the tournament.
Her colleague accompanying her revealed her identity to his enemy. They were unhappy at the sudden change of members. They couldn't take their revenge on Janus but they thought they could on Astrea. But tonight was a happy event so they aren't able to act openly.
It was even more impossible as she was surrounded by a group of people trying to befriend her. However, they rapidly left as she began emitting a frightening aura expressing her annoyance. She knew how this kind of event would happen. She kept an impassive face and moved to a corner of the hall after filling her plate and glass.
As she busied herself to eat, someone sat at her table. It was a handsome man with amethyst eyes and hair like a river of blood. He seemed to be in his late twenties, like Janus. She recognized him as the headmaster of Fortuna Academy and the Chief God of Fates, Karma.
"Hello! Do you enjoy the food miss Astrea?"
"Mm. It's delicious."
"I'm happy it pleases you."
The two stop talking. She kept on eating while Karma tried to find out what she was. As she stopped caring about hiding herself, she just let him scrutinize her. Anyway, it's not like anyone is able to see through her. But the Chief Gods could.
"You aren't human."
"Oh. Great observation."
"You don't seem to care I found out."
"You guys are too curious. It could kill you. Well, it's not like I want to but if it intimidates you enough to leave me alone, it would be great."
"Then why continue to hide?"
"I'm not hiding or else you would have never found me. But I need to keep my human identity for now."
"Is it for the woman known as Cassandra Elysium?"
"Mm."
"Isn't she infected with the black vines? Can't you save her yourself?"
"It would only kill her. If it's Janus, he should do it smoothly."
"So you knew about him?"
"No, I just sensed he had the power to."
"So I can't convince you to change school."
"Mm."
"Sigh... seems like it will be difficult to win this year."
Karma just stayed, sipping his drink. Astrea completely ignored his existence and finished eating. She stood up to take a second serving. They continued like that until the end of the banquet.