Vanessa watched the morning's news through her phone.
"Another race! Discovered in Gaia's unexplored regions. Yesterday, it's been leaked from an anonymous source, the adventurer party: Dusty Shield... um. They've discovered traces of other intelligent life in Gaia. On the screen beside me, you can see the picture what looks like a underground dwelling, there appears to be remains of a camp, there are leaf bowls in the corner. In this picture of a footprint, you will see the outline of a boot. Researchers say that after analysing the imprint and size it can be theorised that this world's people may have feet similar to ours!"
She stopped paying attention at the ridiculous statements. That was enough news for today, she thought. Recently, everyone's been talking about this new craze. Another species, personally she thought nothing of it. This weird world had elves, dwarves, demons and all sorts of magical monsters. It should be nothing weird to find another race to add to that list.
On the other hand. It could be just why everyone made such fuss. It was exciting to find someone new out there among the stars. Maybe this time, they will be'll friends instead of natural enemies.
Then again, eighteen years later. This world was still all kinds of new to her and surprises laid around every corner. Even after she thought she adapted to this world's common sense quite well, it was tiring at times. Unlike her previous world, it did beat cowering in a bunker while your city was being blown to ashes, so she little to complain about here. That was, if it wasn't for this tiny little.
"Morning dear, Vanessa. You look beautiful as usual. I've come to greet you."
A handsome man walked in the classroom. All eyes went to him, going to her, and he flamboyantly expressed himself, kneeling by her desk, wearing a toothy smile. Behind his curved blue eyes betrayed a dumb lack of sincerity. She sighed inwardly, done with this guy's crap.
"Go away Bandel. " Vanessa cupped her face, her back burned with shame. She can't believe this.
This guy actually made it into the same class and school as her. It frustrated her to no end upon finding his cursed name, Bandel An-Sol written in the list, made even more so upon seeing him open that door. He was a stlalker among stalkers. Coming from a prestigious mage family, he had backing and was capable enough to come here.
Knowing that, she can easily reason why he wanted to get together with her, the second best mage in Guiding Light Academy. Her bloodline was valuable enough to launch any 'small time' family or guild into the big leagues.
"What are you watching. The news? Oh, I like the news as well" Bandel snuck up behind her, she recoiled smacking him back.
"Stop disturbing me or I'll throw you through the window." she warned, raising a fist coated in mana, it crackled with the weight of three spells sure to wipe him out. Her voice was low, a subtle seriousness in her tone.
Bandel, raised up his arms in surrender. He knew Vanessa enough to know she didn't make empty threats. Something similar happened before in high-school he saw her fling a cocky bastard across the corridor. The thought never occurred to him that he was a cocky bastard too.
"Great. I'll see you later. Goodbye dear." he waved back.
Vanessa scoffed as he exited the room. He's probably off to extort praises from lower ranked students. She went back to scrolling Chirp, absentmindedly liking whatever post attracted her attention.
Ringggg-
The bell rung, everybody went to their seats as the homeroom teacher walked in. Vanessa packed away her phone. Despite his casual gait, the vibrations produced by each footfall ran up everyone's legs. Settling his papers and notes on the podium. Mister Braun introduced himself.
"Great to meet you all. I'm sure you already now me from the class lists but I'll introduce myself here. My name is Mister Braun Torgaz. Address me as Mister Braun. For the next three years, I'll be your home tutor. If you face issues and need help, you can all come to me. I'm in the staff room A-3, in the teacher's block. Don't be afraid to come whenever."
She remembered reading about him in the class notes. According to her good friend, Carmilla. Mister Braun used to be a prominent [S-] ranked hero. Nicknamed the Vibranium Shield, he was famed as one of the greatest tanks humanity's known. Famed for his all protecting move, 'This is my House'. Rumours have it, it summoned a literal house. Imagine one day you were in a battle, all hope's lost ad demons encroach from all sides. All of a sudden, this suburban home just appears out of nowhere, pristine green lawn and everything, she chuckled picturing it.
Mister Braun finished his spoke at a snail's pace. Shuffling all the while through his papers until he found a specific one. He fixed his eyeglasses.
"For certain reasons, rank 1 Leon Braveheart, rank 2 Ava Mode and rank 3 Kim Forger will be absent until this Thursday."
Vanessa heard the disappointed cries of some female and male students in the background.
"Anyway, I'l be calling your names in order. To start, we have rank 4 Vanessa Greene. It's a pleasure to have you here Miss Greene. Will you introduce yourself to the class?" Mister Braun nodded.
"Yes-" she raised herself from her seat for the introduction. Twenty one pairs of eyes followed her every gesture. In her periphery, she could see Carmilla, goofily giving her a thumbs up and encouragement. Vanessa put on a graceful smile.
"It's nice to meet everyone. My name is Vanessa, I'm a battlemage. Thank you for having me."
"Thank you Vanessa. You may sit down. Next, rank 5 Jovian Grey, introduce yourself."
A gaunt boy stood up, tall at six foot. He waved his ocean blue bangs to the side, revealing a cold blue gaze. His figure resembled a fighter's. If se remembered right, this guy was Leon's rival... she can't wrap her head around it.
"Jovian Grey, rank 6. Swordsman, I am a disciple of Master Zhong. My father is guild master of Greywall." He shot a glance at Vanesa while sitting down. Mister Braun cleared his throat and continued reading off names.
"Rank 7 Mair In Azra. Introduce yourself..."
"Rank 16 Mary Of Dorn, introduce..."
"Rank 20 Tartin Watson..."
"Rank 23..."
Carmilla jumped up, firing off words.
"I'm Carmilla Dayez, it's great to meet everyone. I like cinnamon rolls, and am a magic swordsman." Sparkling a wink, she sat down without skipping a beat.
Vanessa listened intently to everyone's introductions. Everyone sounded decent enough except Jovian, he gave her a bad feeling. Carmilla was Carmilla, nothing new. She noted, everyone in this class. Expected since it was class A-1 of the human realms arguably most prestigious academy. The people around her were no pushovers, even with her bloodline ability. She was more concerned over how her life would fare from now on. This academy was well known for moulding the next generation of heroes and top brass.
While her skills and magic were brilliant, that was due to the power of her bloodline. If she could, she wanted out of all the fighting, but it always found her one way or another.
"Um. Guess that ends it for todays period. We have some time left, in a few minutes you'll all be going to weapons and training practicals with Miss Ningrat. Treat her well."
Vanessa watched as Mister Braun left the classroom, his rumbling steps faded into distance.