The questions came like hail.
"How old are you instructor Seventeen?"
"Why is your name a number?"
"Are you single?"
"Whoa whoa whoa. Guys, slow down. Let me process my answers.", instructor Seventeen said. "Okay so for the first question. I am 24 years old. For the second question, my name is a number due to certain reasons and last. Yes, I am single.", he answered with a smile. "Also, no need to call me 'instructor' every time. Just call me Seventeen or if it is too informal, you can call me sir."
"Nice!", Minerva pumped her fist. "Wow, Minerva. I didn't know you had a thing for older men.", Ray said.
"I do not! It's just that our instructor looks hot.", she punched Ray on the head, her face slightly red.
Instructor Seventeen laughed cheerfully, "It's fine. I get a lot of these reactions.", he chuckled. "Now, how about you introduce yourselves? Like, your name, preferred weapon, and attribute. If you want, you can say your last name too.", he said.
Everyone in the class tensed at the last sentence. Seventeen noticed this, "I'm not going to treat you differently just because of your last names. Many of you are from families that have different magia techniques. So it'll be easy for me to teach you. Also, only the ones in this class will know your last name.", he explained.
"Oh", everyone relaxed. The first one to get up was, of course, Damien. "I am Damien McLeon. I have no obligation to say more to an inexperienced teacher.", he said arrogantly and sat down.
Arthur was amazed at his audacity to say that to a teacher. He looked at instructor Seventeen. He had a surprised look on his face which he swiftly changed to a smile, "Uh. Alright then."
The next one to get up was the elf brother, "Hello there. My name is Robin Sylran. I use daggers and my attribute is shadow", he said.
Everyone was surprised. The Sylrans are an elven Arken Family ruling Elveria. Arthur was surprised that Robin has the same attribute as Allistair.
His sister got up, "Hi. I'm Rhea Sylran. My attribute is water and my preferred weapon is a rapier.", Seventeen nodded, "The Sylrans. You guys are known for your woodland magia right?", The twins nodded. "That's good", he smiled.
The next was the big guy behind Arthur, "My name is Oliver Rye. My attribute is earth and I use dual axes.", he has a gentle voice despite his huge frame.
The next one was Ray, "Yo! I am Ray Callen, my attribute is lightning and I use chained blades!", he said excitedly.
"Looks like we have a lively one here", Seventeen chuckled. The twin sisters got up and introduced themselves.
The red-haired one started, "I am Flare Dragnia, this is my sister Clare. I have the fire attribute. But uh, I don't use a weapon.", she smiled sheepishly.
"I have the ice attribute and my choice of a weapon is a staff.", the blue-haired Clare said calmly. The Dragnias are another Arken Family and they rule Solaria.
'Looks like most of our class are from Arken Families', Arthur thought.
The white-haired girl stood, "I am Gray Aria. I have two attributes, ice, and blood. I use a polearm.", she said nervously. Everyone was looking at her in amazement, which made her more nervous.
The Aria family is an Arken Family descended from vampire half-bloods who can control blood. The blood attribute is pretty rare and only royal vampires or vampire half-bloods have it.
Arthur was surprised that Gray can use it along with ice.
"So, Gray. Does it mean you are a blood manipulator?", Seventeen asked her. Gray nodded. "That is amazing.", he complimented.
Minerva stood up next, "My name is Minerva Raven, I have the wind attribute and my preferred weapon is a bow and arrow."
"I presume you are the sister of Jack Raven?", Seventeen asked. She nodded. Except for Arthur and Ray, the others gasped.
"I told you she's related to him.", Flare said to Clare who rolled her eyes, "Alright, you made your point."
Finally, it was Arthur's turn. He stood up, "I am Arthur Night. My weapon is a sword, and my attribute...", he chuckled, "I don't have one.", he said in a confident voice. Just like Minerva, everyone was looking at him. "I like your confidence Arthur.", Seventeen said, impressed.
Flare blurted out, "So is Alice Night your sister?", "Shut up Flare.", Clare looked at Arthur apologetically, "Sorry about that. She's a huge fan of your sister.", she said. "It's okay. And yeah, I am her brother", he replied. Flare's eyes brightened.
"Okay so.", Seventeen clapped his hands, "That's all for the introductions. Does anyone have any other questions?", he asked. "Um, yeah.", Arthur raised his hand, "Sir, why do you look like me?", he asked.
Seventeen tilted his head, "That's what I wanted to ask you, Arthur. Why do you look like me? I think it's just a coincidence.", he smiled.
Arthur was pretty sure it wasn't a coincidence.
What are the odds he would meet someone who looked like him? To Arthur, it is practically nil. But he didn't press on the issue. He simply nodded and sat down.
Seventeen addressed the class, "Since this is the first day, I will not be taking the class. How about we have a small sparring session?"
They all nodded in agreement. "So then! Let's go to the practice hall.", Seventeen said enthusiastically.
"Excuse me instructor.", Damien stood up in his place. The class went quiet.
"What is it Damien?", Seventeen asked, his gaze remaining cool.
"I want to challenge you to a duel.", Damien pointed at their instructor.
Everyone gasped. Seventeen's gaze remained unchanged, "Oh, and why is that?", he asked.
"I don't belong in this loser's class. So I propose this, if I win, you have to get me in S class.", Damien smiled coldly.
"And if you lose?", Seventeen asked with the same smile.
"Then you can expel me."
Everyone was stunned. 'What is it with this guy?', they all thought.
Picking a fight with an instructor is a punishable offense. Everyone thought the instructor would take Damien to the headmaster.
But Seventeen laughed, "Very well. I accept your challenge. I can see why they call you the instructor beater."
Arthur saw a crack in Damien's confident face. "Instructor beater?", he asked. Minerva nodded
"My brother told me. Last year an S-class student beat up an instructor. It seems like that student is Damien.", she said.
So Damien is a year older than Arthur and powerful enough to beat an instructor. Arthur feels like he should thank Seventeen's falcon, Selene for flying into the classroom at the right time.
"You are right Minerva.", Seventeen said.
He looked at Damien, "You would've been expelled if it weren't for your family's insistence. The headmaster agreed to not expel you but he couldn't put you in S class after what you've done. So Special class A was the answer."
"But if you defeat me in a duel, I promise to talk to the headmaster to put you in S class immediately and I keep my promises. But if you lose", he smiled coldly as those words hung in the air.
Everyone felt an overwhelming feeling in the air, the temperature dropped and a chill ran down their spines.
They felt like they are looking at death in the face, knowing it is coming for them. Arthur knows this feeling well.
He felt the same feeling as the one who killed his parents when he was a small boy.
Bloodlust.
But the bloodlust back then is nothing compared to the one he's feeling right now.
This one made Arthur feel like just giving up on everything and waiting for the knife to slit his throat
No resistance. He has no choice but to gaze at the blood gushing out and dying because there is nothing else he could do.
He couldn't hide or fight. He could only tremble in fright for the inevitable.
Everyone felt the same. How can someone have this much bloodlust?
The bloodlust disappeared as quickly as it came. Everyone started breathing. They didn't realize they were holding their breaths.
Damien gulped, suddenly unsure of his decision.
"Sorry about that. Some of my bloodlust accidentally leaked out.", Seventeen apologized.
They were stunned. It was only some bloodlust? This was enough to paralyze them. They shuddered to even think what would happen if he released the full package.
Just who is this new instructor?