"Mister Vin, we have heard so many amazing compliments concerning you throughout the school-"
"Throughout the school?" Vin interrupted without knowing.
"Yes. As I was saying, we have gotten to the point to know if or if not you should be given a double promotion to Rank C due to your exceptional results" The old man said, without putting a smile on his face.
"But," Akio cut through the tension with his beautiful voice, stepping down to meet Vin, "How do we know if this bottom feeder is really worthy of Rank C? Uh?"
"Akio not this again" The old man tried stopping him, to break the impression of him being someone unlikable.
"Hey, let me do the talking Mr Charles, I love talking to children," Coming closer, he added, "Especially one who wants to be famous and known around without any foundation to stand."
The entire room became quiet as they both stared at each other, no one else wanting to break it.
"And isn't it strange," Akio said, his eyes still locked with Vin's, "There is only one bearer of a diamond red eye, and that's Dravil. And this little boy here has the same eyes as him, what a smooth coincidence."
[I feel enraged to the bones, any insult which would leave this man's mouth would unlock a bonus level of anger.]
Taking a deep breath, Vin broke the glare, after knowing how to continue looking at those strange eyes of Akio.
"Listen okay," he finally addressed the council, "I never asked for your pointless speech, I never wanted to be here in the first place. If not for some certain reasons, I would have not stepped a single foot at this deformed building. How do you call yourself the council? When you can't give counseling to the members. I knew this would be a waste of time."
Turning his back, he tried leaving, knowing fully well Akio had solved a piece of the puzzle.
"Vin," a feminine voice called, "If you would want to be promoted, to which rank will be more appreciative?"
Her words made him stop on the track.
[I can't say Rank C, it would be so suspicious. Especially with snow here, who knows full well what I will go to immediately.]
"Miss Li," he called the woman so respectfully, the room achieved a goal of pure quietness, "I won't have the power to be placed in Rank A, neither keep the balance of Rank B, my strength aren't to compete with Rank C, anyways, I would like Rank D."
"D!!!" A male council member exclaimed. "Couldn't you ever get so unflashy?"
"Rank D?" Li stroked her chin thinking of her next word, "That is a really low rank for beginners. There would be countless missions and your mind won't be thinking so….. But anyways, prove you are worthy of Rank D. Demonstrate your powers, here and now."
Vin rubbed his tired eyes, not wanting to partake in such activity.
"Demonstrate my powers. I-"
"Don't give me that crap."
Immediately he heard this sentence, a lightning ball came flying towards his direction, one with the highest current.
[Lightning? Who on earth sends lightning to a student?]
Dodging the attack which merely scratched his skin, Vin frowned at the council.
"Akio," an older woman called, making the last comment, "Challenge the boy, we don't want weaklings in our midst."
"With pleasure" Akio smiled not knowing why he had gone bonkers to attack a child.
A rush of unending lighting struck at each and every corner of Vin's head, and what he could only do was dodge.
"You call yourself a mage and you can't land a single blow on me. How disgraceful!" Akio continued his attack while Vin had his role to play.
Dodge.
With unending lighting strikes, Vin realized Akio was paying attention to his eyes.
Unleashing a finishing blow, Akio struck Vin on the stomach and then on the pelvic region.
However, Vin didn't shake, he only slided to the opposite direction, adjusting his hood.
"Why didn't you strike back?" Li asked.
"It is against the rule to hit back on your elders. So, if I happen to fight him or strike back, I would not only end up violating the rule-"
"Looks like someone has been doing his homework" Snow gazed upon him. "You weren't done with your speech?"
"No," Replying straightforwardly, Vin continued, "Not only would I end up violating the rules, I might k…"
Thinking twice before saying the last word, Vin smiled, trying to denote the effort of suspicion.
[I'll kill him, if not I hide under this cloak, I know fully well Akio won't want to fight Dravil again. Their last encounter took one-third of the e*rth's population, destroying everything in the process. From now on, I will continue hiding in the shadows until I get my hands on that book.]