The sun had almost rose high enough for someone to have brunch time. The light fluffy clouds were resting neatly on the entire canvas of the vast blue sky. Skyscrapers were standing mightily in the middle of the modern city with numerous floating vehicles on the air. The atmosphere was peaceful as how the people living their best life in the current time. And there was me—
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH GODDAMMIT! I GOT LATE AGAIN!!!"
Hye! my name is Evans Reinhard. Call me Evans. I am student of an infamous heroic academy called 'Azaria Prominent Heroic Academy'. I'm 20 years old by the way. This academy I am studying at is located at the Central City of Azaria Empire.
Within Azaria Empire resides five main countries that are ruled under one ruler which is the Emperor of Azaria himself. But instead of calling those countries as 'countries', we just call them as cities. The Central City is called Anthea, the northern city is called Nyssa, western city is called Wisteria, eastern city called Evora, and southern city called Sylvia. In each city will have their own leader from the royal bloodline.
Anthea is the largest city with highest population in the empire. Countless top companies, empire's important figures, main military base and even most of royal blood families resides in the central city. My family lives here in a standard-size two-stories house at a small province which is thirty minutes away walking from the academy.
My academy is a multi-course academy that have tons of subjects for students to choose but the main, renowned program of this academy is 'Blade Mastery Program', which predominantly teaches the students how to use their weapons in a refined and practical way to fight against the monsters and others dangerous creatures.
The trainers here is vastly knowledgeable about self-defence and monster slaying, they teach us how to use the weapon we wanted to use. The fun fact is, I am currently using a bow as my main weapon. I love swords, but this bow is my grandfather's gift. He gave it to me on my tenth years old birthday. I like it because it is kind of special than normal bows, this one can produce its own arrow the moment I pulled the string.
"Brother! Is that a magical bow you carrying at your back?" a primary schooler asked to me while waiting to cross the road.
"Yeah, exactly!"
"That's cool! I want to have that when I grow up!!"
"Yea, you can do it!! But for now, make sure you focus in the class alright?"
"Un!!" the boy nodded excitedly.
The traffic light for pedestrian crossing finally turned green indicating it was safe to cross the road.
"See you later boy!!" I waved to the boy while continue on sprinting to the academy.
--- [Lecture Hall] ---
"Kreek…"
I pushed the lecture room door slowly but it still produces a clear creaking sound.
"EVANS REINHARD."
I sighed and pushed the door casually with a resigned expression.
"I am sorry for being late. I promised I won't be late anymore," was the sentence that I want to say like how a normal student would say but—
"Yep, that's me sir. Good morning…"
The whole class was looking at me which made me super nervous. Please don't look at me. So, I decided to look straight to the lecturer who called my name just now while standing still at the door. It was too awkward to have my eye to any other spot of the classroom for now. Ah and the name of the lecturer was Atlas.
You know what? He is 29 this year and yet still single. He's knowledgeable, since he works as lecturer of course he is also loaded with money and on top of those, he is handsome. Why? He must be a nerd that's why.
But wait, I don't have a girlfriend either so am I also a nerd?
"So, tell me, why are you keep getting late in my class. Is learning history so unimportant to you hm… Evans Reinhard?"
"Yes— I mean no— eh, I mean it's important, Sir…"
The whole class burst to a small laugh.
There goes my 'roasting' session. I have faced this harshness and hardships since I am a first year. It's not like I get late to the class everyday but well, sometimes…
…
Ahh… after getting a good, never-ending nag from him, finally I got to have a seat. My butt had been waiting to sit.
"Thus, the humanity was saved by the legendary heroes. But above all, if the three sacred blades did not appear, humans would have perished for good. As we live in this wonderful prosperity, we should remember the names of our saviour and their deed to the empire. Now for a little quiz, who are the wielders of the sacred blades?" Mr. Atlas asked to the class.
The guy beside me stood up and answered, "Emperor William Maximillian Stardust, the wielder of The Everlasting Sword Dominia!"
"That's correct, next!"
"Alisa Frosty, the wielder of The Endless Rapier, Ristorea," a girl responded.
"Yes. The last one?"
No one was trying to answer.
"Looks like I got to pick somebody huh… then… Evans!"
"E-eh?! Me? Um…"
"RINGGGG!!!!!!" The bell rang signified the end of class.
"I guess you have a good luck today, Mr. Evans. So, everyone, I think that's all for today, dismissed."
He walked out from the lecture hall...
Finally, my three-hours-straight boring history lecture had ended, well it's two hour and thirty minutes since I came in thirty minutes later, ten minutes 'personal lecture' in front of the class, ten minutes attentive focus on the lecture, the rest was 'sleeping beauty' session, and last ten minutes for being awake for the end of the class which I regretted.
Now I have an hour gap to take some rest or eat. After this is my favourite class, the Sword Art Class. I need to get motivated and eat something to get my energy up.
"Evans, why are you getting late again? Did you sleep late last night? It's not good for you man," a guy caught up to me as I walked to the cafeteria.
This is Quinn, my best friend. Blessed with a handsome face and unbelievable memorising ability. He can memorise the content of a book just by reading them one time. He is the guy who answered for the first sacred blade wielder just now. Girlfriend? Fairly sure he does not have anyone, but he surely has lot of fans.
"Hye Quinn!" A girl greeted him.
"Hye Quinn, want to join us to cafeteria today?" Another girl asked.
"Thanks, but I've got to keep this best friend of mine company today, maybe later!!" He replied to the girls with a bright smile.
Numerous girls keep on greeting and asking to Quinn while he and Evans were on their way to the cafeteria. Why the heck he keeps on getting hit by girls?
You know what? A handsome face does have something to do with being popular. In fact, I personally think I'm quite a good-looking guy too, but I wonder why I am not popular.
"Huh…" I sighed.
"Can someone just confess to me already?" I said to myself. Softly.
Quinn looked at me with a smile.
"Don't worry Evans, as your best friend, you always have my unconditional loves!"
"Ah you heard that? Well, I'm sorry about that, let me rephrase the sentence, can any girl just confess to me already? Huh…" I sighed again.
"Hahaha! Well, let's grab something to eat," He invited.
"Yeah sure," Evans replied.
Aren't that the reason why we are heading to the cafeteria now?
"Hey, how is your sister doing today? Does she attend to academy today? I did not see her yet… I wonder why…"
Ah… I remember saying he does not have crush on anyone but apparently, he has a crush on my sister who is two years older from me.
"She always goes early to the academy, so I'm not sure—"
"Let's check on her!" he suggested excitedly.
"Don't want to. go by yourself."
"Aw come on!"
--- [Cafeteria] ---
And we arrived at the cafeteria. I got to say that the area for this cafeteria was quite vast and artfully arranged with interior furniture on certain spot of the cafeteria. Each corner and pillar of the space were set with eye-catching beautiful flowers with the ability to produce an aromatic smell. The cafeteria had always been one of the favourite spaces for the students but…
"Eh? The cafeteria is kind of peaceful today. How rare…" I wondered.
"Eh, you don't know. Today is the day the 'Blade Festival' will be announced at the main hall!" Quinn explained.
"Oh, that…"
I nodded and took a seat on the one of the dining tables. I took out my smartphone from my pocket and put them on the table.
"Oh, that is some cute girl," Quinn mentioned.
"WHERE?!" I asked furiously while wildly glanced at every corner of the cafeteria.
Quinn pointed to a table behind me. I turned around just enough to see the face of the girl. My face turned expressionless with a sigh.
"Haa…"
There were two girls sitting not too far from our table behind me. The girl Quinn pointed on had long black hair with those refined purplish eyes.
So, she wears the purple one today… I thought as I saw the contact lens wore by the girl. Her lip was coloured with soft pink colour.
"See! Beautiful, isn't she?" Quinn said excitedly.
"Well…"
Evans lifted up his right hand and smacked Quinn's left shoulder.
PANGG!!
"That is my sister god damn it!" I accidentally rose my voice.
My sister startled from the small shout hence she turned her face to our table. Let me cover my face for a sec.
My sister stood up and come over to my seat.
"Isn't it my lovely brother, Evans!!" She said out loud.
Really? She just says that in this spacious, quiet, and peaceful zone?
I sighed.
"Really? Did she just shout 'my lovely brother' is this spacious, quiet and peaceful room?" Quinn whispered to me.
"She does that every time she sees me," I replied.
"And I'm here being jealous for not being you."
"Shut it Quinn, she's just a bully. She bullies me a lot at home."
"Hm, you are just not appreciating her enough… what did she—"
"What are you two whispering about?" My sister butted in.
Anyway, meet my older sister, Eva Reinhard, 22 years old. A beauty and the top student in her class. A cliché setting, I guess. She is quite an athletic person, on top of that people said she is particularly good with bow and currently the head of Archery Club, but I have never seen her using doing archery till now. I didn't even go to any tournament that she entered. My grandpa can do archery too. I guess my family members do have a knack with bows.
"Nothing Eva, just go to your seats and chat with your friend," I said and showing a 'go away' gesture with my hand.
"So rude! You must call me sister! How can you call me by name when I am so curious about what my little brother is talking about?"
"Yeah, yeah, sorry about that sis, now go."
"Hmph! So stingy!" She pouted before leaving our table.
"…"
"Damn, she is even cuter when she's pouting!" Quinn uttered.
"Euw, not at all!"
"Bahahaha!"
I took my smartphone and tapped the screen twice to turn it on. I was kind of board so I searched for some latest news that I can read online.
"The Crystal Dragon, Crysdraga, reported was seen at the borderline on the sky of East Azaria Mountain," I read the news title and got quite curious about so I continue on reading.
…
"Hey Quinn, ever heard of Crysdraga the Crystal dragon?"
"Crysdraga? Of course, I have heard of it. It is one of the most feared and crazy strong dragons from 100 years ago right. I can't believe a dragon like that can still exist now since the empire have been monster busting from hundreds of years before that. But I do curious about it though."
"As the news said, the glimpse of it was seen from East of Azaria Mountain."
"The east of the empire? That extremely far from here. I guess we don't have to worry much. After all, we also have those teachers and armies that can fend of the dragons right! Even the notorious 'Supreme Blade of Azaria' is here!"
In the entirety of Azaria best combatants and elites in the military were originated from here, The Azaria Prominent Heroic Academy. Bunch of the students here were extraordinarily strong and capable of fending themselves against the monsters too. Well, as the student of infamous 'heroic academy', every single student that were year two and above will be sent to the battlefield at least once during their first year period as a first-hand experience to see the real pressure and mood of the battlefield. Not to mention all the trainers that were teaching here were splendid battler and more than enough to protect the whole Azaria city. That might be going too far, I personally think they might not make it if a thousand of S-class monster suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
But with the aid of technology, various weapons that had been developed were superb, proven with experiments that demonstrating the magnificent qualities, signifying the legendary weapons power can be replicated but still it its own limitation. With the creativity of human, we also discovered new skills and ability to threaten the monsters with the help of 'magic technology' imbued within the weapons. Most developed weapons were swords, but still other types of weapons such as spear, bows, javelin, war axe, war hammer and more magical items have been created to be use according to individuality choice. Well then maybe it's true, I guess we do don't have to worry too much.
I mentioned that our academy was the infamous heroic academy before, there are also other academies that teach how to learn self-defence and even how to use the latest technologies on how to fight with the monsters. But a big difference to compare with this academy is that we have the 'first-hand experience' in our first years. They send out first year to see the how to fight directly and gain experience. That what's make our academy is superior to the others. But if any heavy accident happened, the academy would take all the responsibility on treatment and for the student wellbeing. The academy has quite a lot of funding from ex-students and the empire itself.
"Evans, it's time!" Quinn declared as the break time was over.
"Eh, already?"
"Yes, why are you always lost in thought like that?"
"Nothing. Let's go then."
It is already time for my favourite class, the Sword Art Class.
--- [Battle Training Simulation Arena] ---
The Sword Art Class. This subject usually takes places inside the academy battle hall and so it is for today.
"Okay, students, grab your weapons, cast onto yourself some defence spell, because we are going to do some fighting!!"
"YESS, MISS VANESSA!" All students replied.
Now is the sword art class period and we are going to have some training partner battle, monster simulation fighting and swinging practice. The students can either bring their own weapon or just borrow the one that the academy prepared.
"Evans! Come here, grab your sword!"
Miss Vanessa. My favourite trainer in this entire academy. Let's start the introduction session. Our academy has these six main figures of academy that is famous enough to be known throughout the empire, they are called 'Supreme Blade of Azaria' group. They earned the title by performing an incredible feat called 'Dragon Slaying'.
First of all, a full-fledged matured dragon is extremely hard to be killed because first they are huge and possessed those impenetrable scales with unbelievably high tolerance to heat and cold, a puny attack as basic fireball or simple ice crystal are nothing to them. Dragons are extremely rare to be seen in a battlefield so one no need to worry much unless they have an unbelievably bad luck.
So back to Miss Vanessa, she is one of those "Supreme Blade of Azaria". In fact, she is the youngest member and have an incredibly good reputation within the group. Her skills are already top-notch in the empire, but that is not the important point.
The thing is, she is a drop-dead gorgeous lady, possessing a top hourglass body figure with 83-50-79 measurement roughly and few centimeters below me in height. Presently, I am 175 centimeters while being 20 years old. I wonder if I going to be taller in next few years. She currently eight years above me and luckily for me, single. A beauty with might, the perfection of a person called lady, totally my type.
"Coming!!" I answered cheerfully.
I go to her after picking up a rapier from the weapon box.
"Why are you using a rapier?" She asked while pointing her rapier to me.
"Hmm, because you use a rapier?"
"Actually, I am wondering why you are always using rapier when with me, but you are very good with sabre…" she said while lowering her rapier with an unsatisfied look.
"I just want to try another type of weapon, and since you are the best with rapier, I guess I would love to have a fair fight with you."
"Oh, what a gentleman you are Evans, I like people like you, so brave! So youthful!"
"Yeah, I like Miss too," I replied in a slow my voice.
"Pardon?"
"No, nothing… hehe."
Why did I laugh that off? what if she eventually likes me back? What if…
"Alright, here I come Evans!" She dashed towards me.
"Eh? Wai—"
There is a wrist guard on every student including me which is one of the technologies invented from the empire technologies industries acquired from monster slaying. With this, we can activate some magic skills, or we called it 'spells' that has been installed into the system.
This item is called 'Spell Art Conjure Device', 'SACRED' for short and I have installed about two spells. I must buy the spell if I want it, the more powerful the effect, the pricier.
"Activate Fortify Body!" I declared an activation of a spell.
[Fortify Body(C-rank): Increase the body overall endurance including organs.]
Instantly, my body emits a dim blue light covering my whole body just before my ass kicked. Well, it is going to be kicked anyway.
"Auch!!"
I fall to the ground after several thrust from Miss Vanessa that hit on my wrist while covering my body.
"I don't even have enough time to prepare yet…"
"Oh really? Okay then this calls for a round two!"
"Sure! I will show you my lov.... lavender strike technique!!"
--- [Treatment Room] ---
"Auch!"
"Please bear with it a little bit."
Currently, my sprained ankle is being bandaged by a lanky girl who is supposed to be a nurse in the treatment room. I Have not seen her here before, maybe she is a newbie, and beautiful at that. She was the only one who are here presently.
This is not the first time I'm here. So, I recognised seven nurses that have been working here as the medical staff before but today, only this tall, fairly pretty lass is the only one who tend to my wound. I think it would be good if even more nurses came to tend my injury.
"There you go. Please take care of yourself in the future. Ah wait, one more…"
"Yes, I will come again later," I stand up in a cool way.
"Huh?"
I walk out of the treatment room with flamboyant manner.
"See ya, Miss Nurse," I said with a cool voice.
"Eh wait—"
And I closed the sliding door after giving her a perfected eye-blinking to her. I bet she falls for me now.
"…"
"Argh!! My ankle still hurt!!" I moaned after a stinging pain suddenly appear from my ankle.
Then I heard a few footsteps headed towards my direction. I thought it is Quinn.
"Hey, help me walk, my ankle's hurt like hell!"
I'm on ducking position while holding my ankle to ease the pain a little so I did not see his face. His steps do not show signs of slowing down at all. Not long after that, he just walks past me. In a quiet voice, he muttered some words to me which I heard it clearly with my ears.
"Draw the legendary sword, or a disaster shall be fall upon you and your beloved."
"Wha...
I try to turn behind as fast as I can to see his attire and all, but he is not there anymore. The hallway suddenly become so quiet and gloomy as if the brightness is being lowered. He vanishes as if there was no one in the area in the first place.
Ah, what a day. What with this sudden event in my peaceful life story? Did I do something bad to raise a flag like in the games that I played? I am exhausted and confuse at the same time. The excruciating pain in my ankle is making me so uncomfortable right now. It is already six in the evening right now it is time to go home.