Carlos Orland Dromas. He is the face and representative of the 2nd year. He rules with an iron fist and his reign is unquestionable. In the 2nd year, he is king. This man took his time to visit the East Sector to personally punish a certain freshman.
Now, a king would have a grand entourage, even a small army at his command no matter how small a visit is... Carlos did bring a few of his grunts which disappointingly lost to the juniors that were supposed to be a year shorter than them.
For that, Carlos has to show how it is done. Carlos coming to the East Sector was not as simple as roughhousing his juniors to make them learn their place.
His purpose is far more complicated than that. As the final exam in this semester's theme is competition among year levels and as in everyone, Carlos made the personal move of investigating his dear juniors by himself.
Bringing his four other lackeys is also a calculated move on his part. They were useful cannon fodder, he thought. But destroying all of his expectations were Deron's monstrous abilities. The other 1st years were also as monstrous as Deron's power.
They were all monsters even to Carlos's standard.
However, Carlos is more of a monster than them. With the Special Ability— Cell Copy, he could copy the Special Abilities of just anyone. He is confident no one is his match. With one move, he was able to incapacitate Deron, by swiftly anticipating where he is through a copied precog abilities.
It only took Carlos a single strike in the neck to down Deron.
The others fought quite a good fight too especially Lorie and Cain. Carlos already knew that Lorie's Special Ability could not be copied, and the imperial princess took advantage of it by covering for her teammates.
Cain was also proven problematic. When Carlos copied Cain's Special Ability, he realized he could not use it as effectively as Cain does.
Still, in the end, Carlos emerged victorious. By using Jana's ice and Sheila's plants, he was able to control the battlefield to his advantage however he wants. Terraforming, freezing, and entrapment— because Jana and Sheila's potential grades were totally outclassed, they were left vulnerable and were a burden for Lorie and Cain.
In the end, Carlos easily took them down. After that, he copied the healing powers among his unconscious lackeys, woke them up, and immediately skedaddled. It only took Carlos less than 10 minutes to wipe the floor with the freshmen.
Returning to the West Sector through the channels that Pierre provided, Carlos and his party were able to return undetected.
"The four of you," Carlos voiced his concern. "…were pathetic. Get out of my sight!"
The four lackeys scurried with terrified faces. Nameless people that Carlos did not need to concern himself with.
"Milord, please… the dinner is ready." Greeting him by the manor's gate is his closest aide, Marianne, a fellow second-year only loyal to the Dromas name. With her dark purple hair and the maid uniform, she looked like a harmless servant.
Despite that, hidden under this façade is a deadly killer. Carlos appreciates this deadly beauty greatly.
"The dinner can be spared. I have work to do."
"But milord, you can't work with an empty stomach." Marianne immediately warned her lord. the worry on her face is too evident to see. Carlos saw that, but as heartless as he is to himself and his companions, he just ignored Marianne's pleading.
Carlos moved his gaze away from Marianne as he straight out went to his study room still wearing his uniform. The manor is rented by the academy to him. Properties and land inside the academy could not be sold due to some laws, but it is possible for them to be leased.
"Don't worry about me. I can just borrow a cell regenerating ability if I ever feel hungry." He told Marianne off.
"A quick bite would just do. I think abusing your ability was not right, so just stop, will you? Milord, please hear me out for once. It has been days since you haven't eaten anything. While it's true that your Special Ability was getting stronger the more you strain it, I believe there would be deadly side effects in the future."
Marianne strongly voiced her thoughts, but Carlos was adamant.
"The 4th years are unchallengeable. And the 3rd year's gap from us was widening. Now, we have monstrous 1st years in our ass. Marianne, just do your job and do what I tell you."
It was no joke. The 2nd years were in quite a predicament. Because Carlos wiped the floor with the first years firsthand, he knows just how much potential they have.
"Marianne, this was a crisis. If this continues, I would not ever get the chance to have father look my way." Haggard and stressed, Carlos lay his back in his luxurious chair. Above him, he saw the ceiling decorated with intricate patterns.
What Lorie thought as the handsome and powerful nobleman was no longer to be seen. Marianne, the only person who knows this side of Carlos, gritted her teeth in some kind of sympathetic remorse.
Despite the beautiful image Carlos displays outwardly, he actually has low self-esteem and a great lack of confidence. He was the kind of person that overcompensates for everything.
His insecurities were a burden to his heart and mind. This was Carlos Orland Dromas in his truest. Marianne sees that, and it pains her.
"Milord. I am aware of how hard you were working. I know that the second years were weak. We lack champions. Except for me and you, the 2nd year pretty much has nothing. It's a painful truth. Still, I believe that you can win your father's heart. The Archduke was not blind, so he will see you. If not in these exams, maybe the other. So please, think this over. It was not enough that you kill yourself over just to take that vague chance that you will win your father's affection."
Marianne said to Carlos sincerely. Carlos looked at her, appreciative that he has a friend like her.
"Do you like me?" Carlos suddenly asked.
"You must be imagining things, milord." With a stoic face, Marianne shrugged off Carlos's words and went out. Carlos sadly looked at her departing figure.
"Oh shucks… Woman, if you were going to say something like that, take responsibility. Will you?" Carlos complained, but just right then, Marianne returned with a cart filled with trays of food.
It could only be food. Though they were covered in lids and could not see what food it was, Carlos secretly salivated at the thought as his appetite was aroused.
"What was it, milord?" Marianne teased as she overheard her lordship's complaining.
Carlos though, was certain that despite her poker face, Marianne was actually enjoying this. What kind of servant teases her own lord? He complained in his mind.
"Fine, Marianne. You've convinced me. I will eat."
"Thank goodness," Marianne opened the lid. "Here, milord. Eat a lot of porridge." Carlos was surprised by the food in front of him.
"What is this?" He doubtfully asked as he dip the spoon into the bowl of porridge. It sank past halfway of the spoon. "Oh, god. That's deep." Carlos looked at Marianne in consternation.
Carlos's gaze however was easily deflected by Marianne's poker face. Carlos opened another lid next to the bowl of porridge... Again, it was porridge. Carlos comes to the third bowl and opens its lid... It was still porridge.
"Please eat, milord." Carlos felt like crying at Marianne's words. He felt preparing countermeasures for the 1st years might do him better.
...
After finishing all of the porridge, Carlos felt bloated. After some exercise, and doing some work in the distribution of resources among his peers, Carlos straight up goes to bed to sleep. Usually, Carlos would copy a Special Ability that would help him restore stamina and reduce fatigue so that he could continue pushing on with his work.
But Marianne has been extremely quite convincing lately.
That night... Carlos slept... badly...
Waking up in the middle of the night, he found himself drenched in his sweat. He had just a terrible nightmare.
He stands up and rushes to Marianne's room. He arrives before her door, only to halt his steps. He was afraid of whether he should go or not.
The nightmare he had, was just that... a nightmare... A result of intersecting ideas, ambitions, desires, and fear.
Carlos returns to his office, his mind set on working for a brighter future. a new drive fuels him as one by one, he makes quick work of the appeals, requests, and projects that litter his desk.
That night, Carlos decided to abandon his wish to gain his father's attention. That night, Carlos had a new goal... and that was to win the affection of the girl he likes.