Our last lesson was World History.
We learnt about...
"King Solomon."
Mitsui-sensei said.
Uh, I think I've heard that name before. Where though? I don't remember exactly where.
Oh yeah, Aden-Lada mentioned him, didn't she?
[Her.]
(Hm?)
[King Solomon is a woman. Or, at least when we fought against him. King Solomon has multiple incarnations, similar to me. The only difference is that his hosts don't have any control.]
"King Solomon fought alongside the Emperors against the greater dangers of the world, thousands of years ago."
Mitsui-sensei said.
(Fought alongside? I thought...)
[King Solomon is a highly revered figure in this world. If they knew that he fought against us. I don't know what would happen.]
"With his Ultimate Sigil Magic, Ten Rings, he laid waste to the greater dangers and became the Emperors' greatest ally."
Hikari raised her hand.
"What were the greater dangers?"
"Oh, that's easy. It was Scylla and Charybdis."
(Why is history so manipulated?)
[Don't ask me. It was the Emperors who made it this way.]
---
And so, World History ended and I went to the leisure area within Altheria. The Garden of Eden.
Most people come here after school.
I was sitting by myself. The way it was built reminded me of some ancient greek building.
"May we sit here?"
Someone said.
I didn't look their way and focused on my phone.
"Go ahead."
When I search up stuff about the Black Emperor. All accounts say that he was a pathological liar and did the greatest betrayal in history.
Apparently, Altair's death is well deserved.
"You--!"
"Calm down, Hayami."
"I agree with her though, Prez. He's way off the mark."
Hm? Prez?
"For a first-year, he's way off the mark."
"You too, Shouto. Calm down."
Huh?
I looked up from my phone. Three people sat in front of me, on the other side of the table. There were two girls and a single boy.
The boy glared at me. His hair was a dark blue but it looked closer to black. His hair was quite messy, which kind of reminded me of my previous hairstyle. His eyes were dark blue and he seemed to be... intimidating me. Sadly, I don't think I'm scared.
His name was... Shouto?
The girl on the right had brown hair, green eyes and wore glasses. Her hair was tied up into a bun but, because she had long hair, her hair branched out slightly. When I glanced at her, the girl clutched a book to her chest and shrank away.
The person in the middle called her Hayami.
Why is she so on guard?
Finally, the girl in the middle.
She had an aura about her. It was the aura of a monarch. She was beautiful. She had a light complexion. Her eyes sparkled blue, as the sun shone over her group. Though her hair was pitch-black, a streak for white revealed itself proudly. She had a mole under her mouth.
I've seen this person before. She was commentating during the Japan vs China matches...
Kyoka Sakai, the Student Council President.
What amazes me is that... their ties are black. That means that they're second-years.
She became the Student Council President as a second-year? That's saying something.
"What does the Student Council President want with me? A first-year?"
"Don't get so cocky--"
The girl stood up, ready to jump at me from across the table.
"Hayami. Down."
Kyoka Sakai ordered.
"But--"
"Down."
The girl, Hayami, sat down instantly. It was like an owner telling a dog to sit but way more intense.
Kyoka Sakai sighed.
"Sorry for my colleagues. Please, Shoya, call me Kyoka."
The two beside the President perked up. Before they were able to talk, she raised both her hands.
"Silence."
She ordered and they didn't dare say a word.
"So, Kyoka-senpai, why did you want to see me?"
"You catch on quick."
Kyoka-senpai smiled.
"Let me speak to him."
"Who?"
I have a vague idea of what she's saying. Maybe she was sent by Weissmann. It wouldn't be too strange since she's the Student Council President.
"Please stop playing dumb."
"I don't know what you mean..."
The black-haired girl sighed.
"Altair Marrow Crestfallen."
[She--]
I moved the moment she finished her sentence, my right forearm was cloaked in a Shadow Gauntlet. I put ample mana into it as the plates moved, acting like a booster. I aimed straight for her face.
My fist stopped short of her face. The aftershock of my punch caused the roof, floor, pillars, curved bench and table to crack.
I was stopped by a sword. Kyoka-senpai was able to block my attack in that split second. The two beside us moved until...
"Stop! Shouto, Hayami, do not move!"
They staggered.
"But, Prez! He just--"
"It's only natural that the Black Emperor would attack me after saying his true name! Just know, I am not your enemy."
"How can I be so--"
Suddenly, my gauntlet disappeared. The shadows deformed and were sucked into the sword.
What just happened?
"Shadow Magic is rare. It took Durandal a little bit of time to absorb it."
Durandal? A sword can absorb magic?
"Altair Marrow Crestfallen, I want to talk to you."
(She wants to talk to you, Altair.)
[No. Can't.]
(Hm? Why? I thought Merlyn said that we can switch places if I say your full name.)
[Sure, you can but we don't know when Weissmann or Aden-Lada will act up. We can't waste the switch here.]
Yeah, I guess that makes sense.
"Who are you?"
"Someone who wants to kill the White Emperor and save the school from being destroyed."
I sat down.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm sure you know about the Blue Emperor, the Azure Destiny."
I don't.
"She gave us a prophecy. The White Emperor will destroy the school and you will die. This is what it translated to."
Meaning that that wasn't the actual prophecy. Hysaka mentioned something like that too.
[Continue acting like me. Just in case they want to get rid of you.]
(Okay, but how?)
[Follow what I say.]
"You do know that Astoria's futures cannot be changed?"
I asked her, following Altair's instructions.
She gave a wry smile.
"I guess you are the real one."
[I knew it. She was testing you.]
"So, Kyoka-senpai, how will you change the future?"