'Shit, I'm already late.' Agonized Kellen as he rushed through the many halls of the academy to find the training grounds.
According to Ceric's ramblings through his hangover this morning, Kellen's first class at the academy would be held shortly.
'Thankfully I didn't drink much last night or I would be shit out of luck right now... Although, finding out that I have class twenty minutes before it starts was not very helpful.'
Kellen groaned as he scaled over a wall that sectioned the training grounds to bypass the long route of running around the labyrinth like academy.
The academy was already very large in size, but with the many buildings, halls, and dividing walls everywhere, Kellen felt like it was an absolute maze.
Kellen finished his skillful ascent and paused on top of the wall. Hiding behind the foliage of a young tree growing up the side of the wall, he scanned the training grounds.
Through the leaves of the tree and his current benefactor, Kellen could see a bunch of youths similar to him in age, if not slightly older, lined up in rows on the soft soil of the training grounds.
"Good, the instructor isn't here yet." Breathed Kellen with a sigh of relief as he used the tree to snake down the wall quietly.
Touching the ground running, he quickly fell in line near the back of the trainees and stood at attention by copying those around him.
A kid next to him with short light blue hair chuckled slightly, but stopped after catching Kellen's unnerving glare.
"Ahemm..." The relaxed boy coughed and playfully jabbed Kellen on the side with his elbow.
"Don't be so cold mate. We're all just lowly trainees here." The boy whispered with a friendly and mischievous smile.
"Tommy! Shut your ass up before I have you locked back up in the toolshed again!" Roared a low voice from the front of the lines.
"Uh... Yes sir! I would rather not end up there again... And can I just add that your combover is hiding your increasing baldness quite well today! I'm sure instructor must attract the envy of many!" Saluted Tommy as he abruptly stood up straight that made his comical persona even more noticeable.
"Cough** You really think so? I just tried out the new hair product that was released and it's been... Hey! Don't try to shmoos your way out of this one! Give me twenty laps around the grounds!" Barked the beet red instructor after realizing he had been played again.
"Right! I mean yes sir! Should I be running backwards? Or in a certain direction you desire? I'm afraid the other trainees will get jealous if you keep treating me so well sir!" Immediately responded Tommy as he began jogging in place while slowly spinning in different directions.
"Just get your ass out of here already!" Screamed the instructor.
"Huh, guess we'll have to talk later buddy." Said Tommy with a fake sorrowful expression pointed towards Kellen before running off.
'Is it just me or does this idiot feel awfully familiar.' Thought Kellen as an unusual feeling of deja vu creeped up his spine.
For a moment, he was reminded of his best friend back at the orphanage by the playful antics of the strange kid.
"Ahem! As you all know, today is the beginning of this semester's courses. I will be your regiment's instructor. I'm sure many of you all recognize me; I am Leebrum Noctus, a former military commander!" Started the instructor with a proudly raised chin.
However, the many trainees only glanced sideways at each other in confusion after hearing his introduction.
Suddenly, a hand from one of the young female trainees was lofted into the air.
"Yes, trainee, um..." Struggled the weird instructor.
"Rena." Calmly stated the trainee.
"Yes, Rena... What is it?" Said the flustered instructor in an attempt to regain his cool.
"Is this truly the academy's elite regiment?" She questioned emotionlessly while simultaneously destroying the instructor's struggling cool atmosphere.
"Y-yes! Welcome everyone, to the first regiment! AKA the Thunder Regiment!" Announced the instructor as he composed his previously lost stature.
Rena nodded her head in silence before stepping back into her respective line.
Instructor Noctus raised his head, feeling he had regained his dignity after his improved performance and had now gained better order of the trainee regiment.
However his performance was soon flipped again.
"Wow Lee! Did you get a promotion or something? I didn't realize you were teaching the elite regiment now. What an achievement!" Sarcastically commented Tommy as he ran backwards behind the instructor while clapping.
The instructor's raised head drooped slightly before returning to a fiery red once again.
"Go to the toolshed and fuck off Tommy! Before I call in your father to smite your ass!" Raged instructor Noctus while irritably gritting his teeth and cracking his knuckles.
"Woah, woah! Okay... Should I call that one tactician professor over to make up for it? What was her name? I couldn't really make it out through your weird goat-like moaning from the other side of the toolshed..." Whistled Tommy as he began sprinting off towards the toolshed to escape.
"I'm gonna fucking strangle you ya bastard! I'll burn that damn shed down with you inside it if I get ahold of you!" Roared the instructor as he chased after the insolent trainee.
Tommy smiled and waved over his shoulder to Kellen, before racing off into the labyrinth halls of the academy with the instructor hastily chasing after his departing figure.
The instructor's combover hysterically bobbed and waved back and forth with a life of its own as the man gave chase.
Kellen smacked his head with the palm of his hand.
'Similar? They're practically identical!' Chuckled Kellen.
He glanced over from behind his covered hand at the girl who had spoken earlier.
She still remained standing with a straight face, but Kellen noticed a slight crease in her brows from underneath her poker-like persona.
'Why does that girl feel a little odd...' He thought after receiving a cold and chilly feeling from her presence.
Suddenly, the girl's eyes darted over and locked with his.
'Huh?'
Kellen removed his gaze and shook his head while ignoring the girl's remaining stare.
'What is with these classmates of mine? They're pretty strange... Not to mention the wacky instructor.' Sighed Kellen internally.
His inspection of his fellow trainees was halted after the sound of thunder crackled in the sky and a spear penetrated the ground where the instructor had previously given his introduction.
A young looking kid in a fierce and white sparkling armor landed on the tip of the spear like lightning touching down.
Kellen immediately turned his attention towards the sudden appearance and was surprised to find the armored kid also looking directly at him through the lines of trainees.
"Woah!"
"Isn't that a Legionnaire?"
"Hey! It's Axus from the Thunder Legion!"
Multiple trainees' whispered amongst themselves and Kellen picked up some of their conjectures.
'Axus? Isn't that the guy Ceric was talking about when I woke up here? But isn't he just a kid?'
Kellen studied the Legionnaire with interest after realizing his identity.
"I apologize for the actions of my son and instructor Noctus." The small Legionnaire bowed slightly in an apology, which made the lion's face on his chest plate sparkle even more in the reflecting rays of the sun.
'Son!' Kellen almost fell on his back after hearing the legionnaire's words.
Upon closer inspection, Kellen determined that Tommy did indeed hold a slight resemblance of the Legionnaire standing before them.
"Instructor Noctus is simply my substitute for when I am unable to instruct the regiment due to... My work." Explained Axus with a charming smile.
"Aw!"
"He's so cute!"
"Are all the Legionnaires this charming?"
Kellen shook his head as he heard the many female trainees begin to swoon over the legionnaire.
'Is this really a military school?' He wondered.
"Since instructor Noctus is currently MIA... Along with my son."
Kellen noticed a glint of murderous intent, behind his emotionless face, reflecting in the small Legionnaire's eyes as he mentioned his son, and made Kellen shiver slightly.
"I will teach today's session." Axus finished as he hopped off of the spears tip and expertly kicked it into his hand.
Kellen turned to study Rena again after witnessing the Legionnaire's appearance.
'The father and son are practically nothing alike... That Rena chick being his daughter feels way more realistic.' Figured Kellen as he noticed their closer similarities when compared to Tommy.
The Legionnaire's eyes locked onto Kellen while the youth turned his head to meet the gaze again.
"Today we will be sparring to determine everyone's skills and placement in the regiment. Of course, I will be the one testing everyone... I look forward to your surprises." Axus stated with a monotone voice that eerily felt directed towards Kellen.
Kellen noticed the glare and tightened his fists in anticipation. He did not understand why the Legionnaire seemed to be targeting him but little did Axus know that Kellen was also intrigued.
'Finally, the power of a Legionnaire... I wonder if its comparable to the Legionnaire Gods?' Wondered Kellen excitedly while feeling that this was his first step closer to unraveling the mystery.