Izzy called out to Ruben. Just as he turned to see who had called him a girl in a blue uniform blocked Izzy from his vision.
Professor Mien urged Ruben forward and Izzy tried to brush past the girl in front of her.
The girl grabbed her arm and shoved her back.
" Where do you think you're going, trash!" she spat.
Izzy could see the girl was quite good-looking. The girl's entire being seemed to embody the word arrogance and Izzy immediately disliked her.
" Excuse me," Izzy said and tried to walk past again only for the girl to slam her palm into her chest and Izzy flew back.
People walked passed without care and as Izzy got up she met the eyes of the people around her. To say she felt completely small at that moment was an understatement.
Never before had she seen such expression's from people before. They looked at her as if she was an ant and some even deliberately bumped into her causing her to fall.
The blue-uniformed girl stepped close to Izzy and looked down at her.
" Why is trash like you here? You're not supposed to be on the eastern campus."
The girl kicked Izzy's shoulder, " Go now trash! Before I beat you to death".
Izzy got up, feeling a dark anger stem from inside her chest. She wanted to fight back but something told her that if she did, she would be at a disadvantage.
"Go" another student stepped forth, he held the other girl back. It was a boy, he had long blonde hair and an expressionless face.
" Maripa, have you stooped so low to pick on the commoners?" The boy said.
Izzy turned and walked away hearing their conversation as she left. She had held her left arm and bowed her head walking away. The amount of humiliation she felt was like anything she had felt before.
Izzy held back the tears forcing their way through as people bumped into her, other whispered, while others laughed.
The pressure was too much and Izzy bolted away. She had never been a victim of bullying before. She had seen it happen to other but never to her and suddenly felt a kind of intense fear well up inside her.
' Human' Thoenymphi's cold voice sounded as Izzy found a secluded voice in the garden to sit down and curl up.
' You have never experienced true hardship before, have you?'
Izzy's silence was enough of an answer for Theonymphi who had watched the events unfold.
' This is the way of this world. If you want respect you need power.'
The number of times Izzy had heard that she was 'weak' and needed that she 'power'. Made her want to explode.
' You cannot live your life seeking others out to solve your problems', Theonymphi was talking about Izzy trying to rely on Ruben and even himself.
' Even if I am your servant, I will not stand for a weak master'.
The more Theonymphi spoke the more anger and frustration Izzy felt. She drew her knees into her chest and sulked.
In the garden, Izzy could here the signs of a fight in the distance and looked up. She crawled near the open area of the garden to see two students wearing green uniforms fighting.
" Alder I'll not let you win again!" a student with a bald head said. He hummed lowly and deeply and water emerged out from a series of symbols that floated in the air.
The water surged forth towards the other student who held a sword. He lightly ran his finger along the sword causing it to glow. He cut through the water and slashed towards his opponent.
Izzy saw him unhesitantly stab towards his fellow student and could see that he had the intent to kill. The surrounding students cheered them on as the bald student quickly blocked the sword with water.
The sword was pushed back but still managed to draw blood.
" No fighting!" A voice declared and the student's eyes widened and they scattered. The two students engaged in battle ignored the warning and continued to fight.
The person who had issued the warning was a teacher. He was old and blocked both attacks with his bare hands.
The two students were brought to their knees as a strict aura emanated from him.
" You know the academy rules" he bellowed and the two boys quivered.
" We're sorry elder" the pleaded, bowing their head.
" Fifty lashes for each of them", the students who had fought were dragged away and Izzy felt like she didn't belong in this academy.
The 'safe' learning environment that the system had mentioned did not seem so safe. Izzy felt that she stepped out from one dangerous situation in the forest. To an entire world of danger in the academy.
" Come out," the elder said and Izzy stiffened.
' Is he talking to me?'
She had no time to even react before the elder appeared behind her and grabbed her by the collar.
' These people are so violent!' Izzy lamented.
He held her effortlessly in the air.
" Hmmm what is an orange ranked student doing here?" He asked and Izzy avoided his heavy gaze.
" Ummm... I-I got lost" she stuttered " But I'll leave now".
She squirmed in his grasp but the man stared at her.
" You're just a peak Specialisation phase. So why do I sense another power around you?"
' I think he sensed me' Theonymphi said. Izzy chuckled, " Ahhh elder you may be wrong. I have no other power. I'm just a weakling. Ha ha ha".
" Hmmm, I'm never wrong. I can sense celestial power around you".
Izzy cursed at Theonymphi for attracting this guy's attention. She gulped as the elder let her go and she landed on her feet.
" Well, I'll get going." Izzy bowed and practically bolted away.
The elder watched as the girl ran away and narrowed his eyes at her. He had clearly felt a heavenly aura around her. He wondered if he was mistaken but watched her until her figure became smaller and then disappeared.
" Crap! We were almost found out!" Izzy breathed as she rested her hand against a wall.
' I know. He must've sensed me through our connection.'
" How is that possible?"
' He seems very powerful. My power can only be sensed by those of my kind or someone highly skilled. It may also be that my power has leaked out as a consequence of our bond.'
" So can we stop that?"
' Yes, only if-'
" Only if I become more powerful" Izzy finished with a sigh.
" Alright. I'm gonna become powerful!".
Izzy was tired of lacking strength and after her little experience in the academy. She knew that if she didn't gain strength soon. She would become prey for these vicious people in the academy.
Izzy refused to be prey and take any form of bullying.
" Theonymphi, where do we start?"