"I am Duke Hellaris! The 5th Commander of the Reina Kingdom!" The man announced in a booming voice filled with confidence and enthusiasm resonating inside his helmet.
He was covered in full, white plate armor with extravagant gold patterns, but his big build is obvious from the size of it. The chest area was bulging along with other parts such as the thighs and shoulders.
The students looked at him with disbelief before nodding and continuing with their training, as if they didn't hear anything.
It wasn't unbelievable, but with the recent events that had occurred it didn't surprise them any more.
Duke silently stood as he watches the students carry on with their tasks with a bulging vein on his head hidden under the visor of his helm.
He took a long sigh before walking back to the flag pole.
"My body hurts like hell," Zack grunted.
He swayed his arms and kicked his feet as soon as he stood up, stretching his back in the process.
"A little help here?" Michael muffledly uttered with his face rooted in the grass, lying down in a prone position.
"Hm? Did someone say anything?" Zack asked in an aloof tone.
"Must be the wind." He shrugged.
"ZACK!"
Michael screamed but what came out was just a muffled scream.
Zack walked away with a smirk on his face.
"That guy..." He sighed regretfully.
Michael tried to stand up multiple times but his shaking and sore hands weren't able to lift his upper body.
He struggled to push himself up multiple times, sweating profusely as he forces himself to stand.
Eventually, he flipped himself upright to be greeted by a warm smile.
"Need any help?"
A short boy with blond haggard hair asked. Putting his arm out.
"I'm Chase Soliel, nice to meet you." The boy smiled as he helped Michael up.
"Y-Yes, thank you. I'm Michael. Michael Fortune." He said with a hint of irony, holding onto Chase's shoulders as he stood.
His legs were also trembling.
"Need me to help you sit down?" Chase asked with an innocent face.
Michael took his hand off of Chase and stood straight, "No." he said with a proud tone despite his legs visibly shaking.
"You really are interesting." Chase chuckled.
Michael raised his chin a little and crossed his arms trying to hide his embarrassment. Though he looks outgoing with his low fade haircut and confident body movement, he's quite socially awkward.
After a short while of thinking, he sighed and looked at Chase, "What do you want."
Upon closer inspection, Chase is considerably shorter than him, so short that Michael was looking down at him.
Which surprised him. In school, he was considered one of the shortest students. So he had assumed the others were close to his height.
Michael speculated that Chase was about 5'3.
He had a clean, attractive face but unkempt hair that looks shaggy with a thin stature. However, if you look hard enough you'll notice his well-toned body slightly bulging underneath his brown sweatshirt with white crumpled patterns and blue jeans. His strawberry blond hair made him look quite feminine.
All in all, Chase looks like a cute cinnamon roll. Quite literally.
"I..don't need anything?" He said as he tilts his head in confusion.
"Why did you help me?" Michael changed the question with a serious tone.
"Isn't it normal to help people in need? Especially so when we're all in the same predicament, helping each other can be beneficial." Chase explained whilst circling Michael with a smile.
"I mean, It's natural for everyone to help each other." He added which made Michael bitterly smile.
"Yea, you're right..." He said in a low tone and a nervous face.
"Ah, I get it now." Chase nodded as he held his chin.
"It's because of those bastards right?" He pointed.
"Don't be so down, humans all together are nasty creatures," Chase said with faint hatred in his voice.
"N, no that's not it..."
"Then what's wrong?"
Michael looks down at his feet. "I think it's going to break."
He said whilst his legs shake even more violently.
"O-oh I see." Chase awkwardly smiled as he supported Michael to one of the benches. Slightly embarrassed about coming to the wrong conclusion.
'Look's like you couldn't endure any further.' Chase laughed inwardly.
As they both sat down, Michael was finally able to properly catch his breath.
'Damn, I really want a bath right now.' He thought as he slid his back on the bench slightly, sitting down in a slanted position.
"..."
Michael had a hard time thinking of what to say while Chase smiled, swinging his legs under the bench like a little kid.
'Damn my inability to talk to strangers without getting nervous.' He cursed himself.
After calming down, he took a deep breath and looked at Chase. He was already staring back at him with an innocent smile which startled Michael a little bit.
"So...where are you from?" Michael asked trying to start a conversation.
"The same place where you live," Chase replied.
"You're from the Asia also?"
"You're an Asian?!" Chase exclaimed. "You look European."
"I'm 100% Asian,"
"And judging by your reactions, you're not?"
"Yes, I'm half French and half American, my mom being the bread lover," Chase explained as he got up.
"You're a pretty introverted guy huh?" Chase suddenly uttered as he grinned at Michael.
"Let's go? Everyone going inside already." Chase said immediately after as he pointed at the others already entering the dormitory.
Michael was skeptical of Chase and used his skill briefly.
"Yes, let's," He answered as he stood up.
As soon as Chase faced forward, Michael's expression took a 180 turn. A troubled one.
He then turned his gaze to his left where a concerning message followed him;
[ ... ]
[ Name: Chase Soliel ]
[ Using: ??? ]
[ Happy, Curious, Mischievous ]
These were the messages that appeared when he used his skill on Chase.
Though nothing happened, he was uneasy when he found out Chase was using a skill the entire time. Who knows what he had used on him. Thinking of all the possibilities, he couldn't help but feel worried and shudder at the thought.
Not only that, but even (Thorough Analysis) cannot identify it.
But underneath all of his concerns, he had once again found out another feature of his skill; he can move and prevent the messages from disappearing.
Upon seeing them earlier, he gawked at it then looked away, noticing that the messages had stuck with his vision.
He turned his head multiple times but it had still lingered in his sight, stopping in place after blinking which was now at his left.
'If only I had paid attention to the others.' Michael inwardly cursed as he scratches the back of his head.
'Whatever, I doubt he'll start trouble. And besides, that might just be a buff skill. No need to freak out.' Michael calmed himself up.
'But he's feeling mischievous...'
'I just hope that it isn't directed at me.' He prayed as he jogged towards the building and entered.
As Michael set foot in the dormitory, he was greeted by five maids on each side.
Same as the castle, the tiles were made of marble. But the walls had a different style, the previous redwood was replaced by cement painted in white. It wasn't like this before.
Apparently, one of the girls told stories to the king and he changed their quarters to match the descriptions to feel at home.
"Good afternoon hero. Here are your towels. Lunch will be served soon." One of the maids approached Michael.
"If you need our services you can ring the bell inside your room. Don't hold back we can even relieve-"
Michael takes the towels and ran, "Yes, thank you!" he yelled.
Memories of his first day resurfaced in his mind, making him blush.
He was undressed by the maids unexpectedly saying they were going to change him, and almost got himself laid when one of them notices his bulging friend and tried to "help" him.
BANG!
Michael slammed the door shut and locked the doorknob, jumping on his bed immediately after.
The room was 5x5, small but cozy. He liked the fact the bed wasn't centered and is in a corner; he likes sleeping with his back against the wall.
"This is bliss..." Michael moaned as he loosened up and hugged a pillow.
"The only thing missing is a hot bath..."
Just as he was about to fall asleep, his rest was interrupted by a knock, followed by a woman's voice resounding in the room. "Dear hero, lunch is ready..."
Michael sat down and yawned, "Coming, I'll change first." he answered as he rotates his shoulders.
"Need any he-"
"No thanks!" Michael yelled as he slams the wardrobe open. "I'm already getting changed!"
"If you say so~," The maid said with a faint chuckle.
Micheal took a pair of a white polo and black pants then sighed, "Now, how can I get rid of you." he said out loud as he looks at the holographic message beside him.
"So if I stare at the messages the skill gives me long enough, I can make it stay?"
"But what would be the use of that? Won't it be just a burden in a battle?" Michael thought to himself as he sat down again.
He stared at the message again thinking it might do something, "Of course it won't," Michael scoffed.
He rolled his eyes around the room whilst lost in thought, finding himself looking at the bookshelf on top of his desk. Particularly at the "How to end a battle" book.
"Close." He suddenly uttered.
Troinkk! Troinkk! Troinkkk!
The holographic message disappeared one by one.
"Damn that scared me." Michael cursed. "That's the first time it made a sound." However, in truth, he was too shocked to notice the sound the first time.
"Open didn't work but Close did?"
"Hero!"
"A-Ah yes!"