Present day,
Acheron showed up for school on Thursday but Akeno and Sakura noticed something was weighting on his mind.
Acheron appeared to be on autopilot, his response to their questions were short and mechanical, they thought it had something with the call he got on Tuesday and why he was absent yesterday.
So, they decided to leave him alone and let him figure things out on his own.
Acheron was staring out the window as usual, but this time the report he got from Rose left him a bit shaken.
If what she said was true, he might have to take a leave of absence from the school and personally travel to get rid of the problem.
Today was test day, but Acheron never even looked at his test until they got the 10-minute warning that time was almost up.
Acheron snapped out of his day dreaming and gave a quick scan through the test, he picked up his pencil and with lightning speed he filled out the answers.
At this point, most of Acheron's classmates were already finished, so when they heard writing coming from his direction, they turned their heads only to see Acheron's hand becoming a blur as he wrote his answers.
Some shook their heads in ridicule, while others were indifferent to what was happening.
They didn't think much of it, Acheron had only been in class for 4 days, well, 2 days if you don't count yesterday since he was absent and today since there is no lecture.
This scene was constant for the remainder of the day, every time the warning that time was almost up, Acheron was seen filling out his test at lightning speed.
For clubs, Amazoness looked on while he trained, but even she noticed there was something wrong. To her, Acheron's body was present, but his mind was not, and it showed in his archery.
Though, he still never missed, there wasn't that same ferocity from last time, his shots were slow and mechanical, like he was a robot with auto aim, she felt a little disappointed in his performance and left before the hour was up.
Acheron went straight to home after school, he posted himself in the command center and went over the reports he had received the day before.
Rose didn't know what had gotten into her Acheron, but she was worried all he did was go over autopsy reports on a string of brutal murders that were currently happening in London.
Acheron took a deep breath before looking at Rose's worried face,
"Keep an eye on what is happening on this case, there are currently 12 murders with the same M.O, I have my suspicions on who is behind this but I need to be sure before getting myself involved, wait for the lab results from the London coroner, do not get our people involved in any way, okay?" Acheron said
"Yes, Acheron-sama…. But could you explain what is happening?" Rose said,
"I made a promise that only I would ever get involved when it comes to 'them', it's the reason why I have forbidden to look into the mutant underground in London" Acheron said to Rose
Acheron leaned back in his chair before putting both his hands on top of his head, "If the murders get to 20 victims, I might have to go and exterminate the problem"
'To think that after nearly 550 years, I might have to be directly involved with them again… I really hope they resolve this themselves before I have to get involved' Acheron thought.
"Also, keep an eye on the church, don't let them get a wind of this" Acheron said,
Finally standing up and putting the current happenings in the back of his mind, Acheron left for the 4th floor, he wanted to prepare himself in case he did have to leave for London.
Friday had finally come; the school campus was rolling in excitement.
Today is the day one student faces against many, in an almost impossible challenge.
Acheron was also feeling excited, the events from the last couple of days had dampened his mood but fighting always cheers him up.
Acheron sat in his chair with his usual smile, while his classmates talked about the incoming fight.
Akeno and Sakura walked in, Sakura had a pouty face on while Akeno, noticing that Acheron seemed to be back to normal, a beautiful smile blossomed from her lips.
"Good morning Acheron" said Akeno with excitement in her voice, it seemed she was excited to see him.
While Sakura seemed to be mumbling angrily about how unfair the world is,
"Good morning" Sakura mumbled.
"Good morning girls" Acheron said, "What is wrong with you, Sakura?"
"Didn't you check the overall scores of the tests this morning?" Akeno asked,
Acheron shook his head,
"That's right! We had those test thingys yesterday, I almost forgot since it didn't take long for me to finish them… don't tell me she is mad because of the score?" Acheron said
"HOW? How did you do it?! How did you get a perfect score when you never even paid attention in class?!" Sakura exclaimed while gritting her teeth in anger,
"Are the answers written in the clouds?!? Is that why you are always looking up at them?!"
Akeno and Acheron could help but laugh as she raged her complaints,
"What did you expect? I am unparalleled" Acheron said,
The rest of the day, Acheron continued to be nagged by Sakura about his test scores and how he studied, Kotone was back bothering him about marriage and singing duets, while Amazoness was sneaking around keeping an eye on him.
Acheron had noticed Amazoness's antics but wasn't sure why, he didn't think they ever met before so, he just ignored her.
Classes ended and Acheron headed straight for the Colosseum, he had changed in one of the locker rooms and appeared in the arena.
He wasn't wearing his black cloak, the one he usually wears in the archery club, instead he was wearing a black track suit with a purple lightning design.
The Colosseum was rapidly filling up, almost all every student wanted to witness this moment, it was the most exciting thing that has happened here in recent years.
Rose appeared in the audience, she came to watch over Acheron and stop him if anything bad happens, she trusts him, but she knows his true nature for she has personally witnessed it.
Sakura, Akeno and Kotone realized who just sat next to them, they weren't sure if it was intentional or it was decreed by a higher being in control of their fate.
The stage was set, all that was left was for the referee to show up and the last of the challengers to arrive.