"Claude... I can't believe you're acquainted with such beautiful girls. I did expect it, but it's just on an entire level especially for Ms. Lily and Adelle. Tell me, what's your secret?"
"Luck. But before that, let's talk about Erik wearing glasses."
Glancing over Erik beside us, he's a completely different person once he wore the glasses whom I only took notice of just now. Honestly, it's probably because I only met him yesterday and didn't pay attention to it. But now, the image of Erik being barbaric crumbled upon seeing his glasses. He looks too smart! Also, it covers the scar on his face. Erik looks way nerdier than Lars for some reason. It's like black magic yet amazing how a simple item could change a person's look.
"What? Why are you looking at me?" Erik said.
"Y-Yeah... It just feels odd when I see you in glasses. It does not mean it doesn't look good, but it feels odd... It completely changes your entire character from a person that looks like battle-junky to the nerdiest person in here."
"I do agree with Claude on here."
"I don't know how to respond to your remarks, but either way I'll say it once. I'm here to pour everything into my studies, every tear, and sweat. I shall give it all. So, pay no heed to me."
"And, you thought that glasses will make your life easier in your studies?"
"What? No. Are you guys seriously labeling me as an idiot?"
"Only Claude. He's the one who asked you a question, not me. That didn't cross my mind not even once." Lars denied the accusation by directing the blame to me.
"No!" 'This bastard.'
"Well, it's reasonable since I'm in the class-F if you guys are labeling me as such then you two are the same too. I'm not alone."
'There's so much wrong about what you said, but I'll just keep my mouth shut. And, I can't refute that I'm also kind of an idiot myself, so I guess there's an upside to what he just said.'
After Adelle and Lily parted ways given that they're on Class-S, which means they're on a secluded location away from others. That also means, I can't visit them, but they said they'll just come to me instead of me coming to them. Honestly, the academy looks so unusual because the headmaster didn't explain a lot of things to us due to some unfortunate matters that occurred behind the projection.
The colorful crowd hall slowly loosened as we head our way to our own class. What I noticed during our walk was that we're practically the only ones wearing black uniforms. Though I did see one or a few, the number is still absurd for how few it was.
I also learned that Lars and Erik are not manaless like I am. Lars' inability to release his spirit's power was the reason for his placement in Class-F. As for Erik, he didn't give any specifics about his problem. They looked uncomfortable talking about it, so out of courtesy—I digressed the topic away from it.
Since we're in a practical class, we're going to the end of the hall and to the training ground where I saw some students wearing uniforms like us. There were only a few, only around eight—they're all from different races but from their appearances alone, it should be three men and five women.
Then in front of them was a slouching woman on the stool. It was a gorgeous woman around in her 30s, a MILF. Her face was filled with black tattoos and her smoky short hair was tied up around the back of her head. She's also wearing glasses and armor as her pants, and a brassiere for her upper body. And also, a noticeably third eye on the forehead which is currently close. Not sure why glasses are a thing today, but it's also a huge contrast with her outfit.
Of course, upon seeing that seems to be our instructor, we ran to our other classmates. Our classmate's eyes darted towards us and gave me a peculiar look, which cause confusion to me.
"Seems like everyone is here. Let's start the class. First of all, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Sienna Dekra. I shall be your instructor for your practical course which involves teaching you a lot of things. No exception even the manaless. I'll be teaching ways how to get over your handicap."
Mixed emotions rose in the air, as we ponder what the heck is she talking about. Yet, none of us had the audacity to speak as the instructor has been giving us the domineering eyes since the beginning making the other sit still on the ground. Of course, there's also a downside which would be getting into her nerves and marking us. Not a single student wants that to happen to them.
"This class will undergo strict rules as I shall hone your ass for the better."
"Oooh, that sounds kinky," I said mutteringly.
"Kinky, huh? Come here." Instructor Sienna said.
I was taken back. "You heard that?"
Lars and Erik had their palms on their faces already. I diligently walk upfront while thinking at the back of my head how I want to slap myself at that moment.
As I got closer, the instructor's eyes got narrower. Then she raises an eyebrow. "Oh wait, I know you. Aren't you the kid?"
"The kid? Um... Anyway, I'm here to apologize for my inappropriate remarks."
"Pay no heed to it. But let me teach you a lesson."
"Huh?"
As soon as she stands on her feet, she dashes forward and pivots her right foot forward with her left knuckle behind her, then punches me directly into my guts. However, before even her fist could reach it; I instinctively fortified it with my quintessence before impact. Then when she connected it, she smugs at me... "Heh... Aaaaw!" But she screamed agonizingly, holding her fist as her face wrapped in pain.
"That hurts! Why it's so hard! I think my bone got broken! Awawawa! Huuu... Damn it! It hurts! I can feel it dislocated! O, heavens! I think I need a new hand!"
"Um, are you okay?"
"No! Do I look okay?! What did you do?!"
"Nothing," I said straightforwardly.
"Bullshit! That's not a body! What are you hiding inside of your uniform?!"
"Nothing, see...?" I took off the buttons on my abdomen, revealing her well-packed muscles to crave for. Ah yes, her reaction says it all. The instructor had her eyes glued into it in surprise. I just did it out of instinct to prove my innocence.
"Ahem! Okay, but it's not done yet—!" She spins in the air with her back heel already close to my head. I grab the armor of her leg and tosses it on the ground. "Kyaaah!"
"Isn't this a violation? An instructor using violence against a student?"
"Just a punishment for my naughty students."
"..." 'Is she deliberately saying those things?'
When I was about to help her, I took one step and Instructor Sienna sweeps perpendicularly on my feet, upon making a connection to the tip of my feet she lifts her foot from the ground, directly to the shin of my leg or by striking it. I was caught off-guard which made me go off-balance. While in a falling motion, Instructor Sienna didn't let it pass and backed off immediately as her fist was already aligned to my face.
"Wooooh!" I heard Erik's voice crystal-clear at the back.
She slips her right fist past my face. Her decision-making in fights is quick, she unhesitatingly circles her two legs around my waist and locking my left arm along with my head, and also uses her right fist that went past my face, latching into it and locking me in place. I've got nowhere to go. I didn't expect her to know how to grapple.
"Tch! Uggh..."
"You mess with the wrong woman, you handsome devil. I hate that you smell so good. Be good and obedient from now on, if you don't want your life to be worse than hell itself. I bet some noblewoman would take fancy on you even though you're in Class-F. Fufufu~ You have some unfortunate circumstances but fret not, I won't abandon my students if you just become obedient.
"Thanks. Quite a tempting offer, but I can handle myself. Also, I can't also get enough of your smell and how cute your face is—"
"Don't struggle or I'll tighten my hold. I have something to tell you."
Her face was sticking to mine and her warm breath tickled my ears, yet I maintained my composure during the lock-hold which doesn't hurt me anymore once I followed her words. "Are you openly inviting your student for— Keh!" In response, she cuts me off by tightening the choke-hold.
"It's an important matter."
"Okay... So, can you release me?" 'Tch, I was hoping some invitation that's why I let her grapple unto me. Jokes aside, if she's telling me something important... Is this needed?'
"The headmaster told me about your rare condition. A manaless person, huh? I wonder what kind of monstrous spirit lingers around your body? From what I've seen, you caused some quite of a ruckus on your evaluation. Aren't ya' a naughty one? Mr. Irregular."
I frown upon hearing her words. "What do you mean by that?"
"I'll tell you more later."
Instructor Sienna finally lets go of me. I stand on my feet without any sort of expression on my face and neatly fix my uniform on the way back to my seat. To be honest, during all that time, my mind was in a state of zen mode. While walking back, Erik was chuckling while Lars was looking at me out of pity.
"Well then, let's continue. The headmaster's explanation yesterday was cut short and we're instructed to continue it for you guys..."
Then she continues on explaining the point system like what Stephanie already mentioned to us, earlier.
"Now, we're going to tackle the Class-system of this academy. As you may have known, you're on the lowest of low, but that doesn't mean you'll stay here forever. And most importantly, you can go into a higher class depending on your performance in the labyrinth dungeons."
"The academy was constructed under an unknown reality, drifting in the cosmos. We don't even know if we're still on the same living planet that we used to live in, or just a dimension inside of it. Our curriculum is different from other schools, as we have a unique system of dungeons, catacombs, and labyrinths that are separated from our reality."
(A man-made space... I didn't even realize that.)
(Is that a complex thing to do, Diana?)
(Of course. You're basically creating a world and you need an eternal source of power to maintain it. Just like Avalon. But in here, the mana of world spirit still flows through it, which means, we're still connected to the world. Unlike in Avalon, where the gate into this world has been sealed off for countless years, and to interact, we needed to transport our souls to the spirit realm.)
"How you may ask? I also don't know how it functions. However, one thing's certain, we have the most unique monster that you will never find back in our world. They're more profound and stronger which is good for experience. We have an advanced artificial monster system that allows you to extract mana stones from their body."
"Huh?"
"Mana stones?"
"This means they're living beings created artificially from these so-called mana stones inside their body. That's why I mentioned our unique monster system in this academy. Other academies also have this kind of monster system. It was introduced back hundred years ago by a researcher to make the younger generation stronger. Some of you may already have experienced subjugations, but trust me, the monsters you will encounter are different."
"Now, back to the topic of increasing your class status. That will be based on your performance in your examinations. Simple as that. Not hard, right? However, for you guys, that will be just a dream come true. Heck, you'll be lucky enough to even step foot in E-class."
All of my classmates sigh exasperatedly, except for me who doesn't give a single care about it.
"Yes, it sounds harsh. But I'm just giving you the reality check. That's why we will be thorough in your training. Anyway, Class E and F were considered as the special class considering some of you have problems with your spirit or mana. Also, the reason why we have this customary practical training every morning for you guys. This serves the purpose of helping you guys out. Of course, that also includes our only manaless person ever in this year! Claude Weiss!"
Lars and Erik's gaze were at me as if they saw an apparition.
"You're manaless!?"
"Is that for real?! Claude?! Are you really manaless?! Why are you here in the first place?!"
The way they shake my body is getting annoying.
"Ha ha ha, settled down. Quiet." Instructor Sienna coldly said to the two, to which they complied obediently.
"Yes, he's the only person who enrolled in our school who is currently manaless. Moreover, there's an important note underneath it, he's also the disciple of the Blade Saintess alongside the princess of the Askar kingdom who's currently in the S-Class."
'Nice, she introduced me to them. No hassle for me. What's their aim? I'm certain they knew about my quintessence, or have the least knowledge about it. But why the introduction? What's the purpose of introducing me highly?'
"Now, let's start our class."