"Oppa! I'm sorry!"
A girl with waist-length blonde hair, sapphire eyes, a fine body, and with a stature of at least 166 cm. apologized to the man, whose back was facing her. This man walked with slow, but heavy steps. The other students in one of the hallways were looking at them with myriad expressions.
Half-turning his head, the man spoke firmly.
"Didn't I tell you?! Don't even bother participating in such an exam!"
This man, with the same facial features as the girl; having short blonde hair, deep blue or sapphire eyes, a fitted body, and a stature of at least 173 cm. tried his best to restrain himself from shouting at the girl, but he still delivered his thoughts.
"I-I'm sorry... Oppa..."
With her head hung low, Mira, the younger sister of Leon, walking behind her brother, said in a dejected tone. She didn't win the Disciplinary Officer Trial Exam, and Leon, who valued the family 'Obreyon', felt like his younger sister had brought shame to their family.
'Tsk... Why do I have such a weak, talentless sister?!'
Repressing his emotions due to the attraction they were garnering, looking ahead and with his back facing the dejected Mira, he instead spoke.
"Get lost. Don't make me repeat myself!"
Understanding the personality of her older brother, Mira didn't press the matter anymore. She was left standing in the hallway, her sapphire eyes seemed to produce tears of unworthiness. A few seconds later, she was approached by three students, her friends, and her classmates at the same time.
"Mira... what the hell is wrong with your brother? He's a f*cking prick!"
A girl with short brown hair, brown eyes, a fine body, and with a stature of at least 166 cm. spoke in irritation; she was accompanied by another girl and a man.
"...It's alright, Lyn."
Mira replied firmly. Every time she was treated as a worthless person, her desire to become stronger just getting more intensified.
"Sigh... If you say so. Let's just go to the cafeteria and relax, alright."
Lyn said, concerned. She wanted to comfort her friend. The other two companions didn't say anything because comforting a person was something they were not suited for.
'This... what the hell is this?!'
Russell, who waited for her younger sister in the Obelisk Cafeteria One, frowned as soon as he saw Rumia, princess of Nereia, together with Freya, Amelie, and Amery.
'Interacting with Samantha is somewhat fine, considering her predicament, but this... this is doom.'
Although Samantha was the daughter of the Number 1 Player in the human domain, she was distant from her father. In other words, she has more freedom socially when compared to Rumia, a princess, or even Elizabeth, the princess of Etheria. The Obelisk Academy was a place where 'status' wasn't taken on a high degree, but, even so, there were still shadows lurking behind Rumia and Elizabeth.
It means whoever the princess approached or the other way around would be investigated in the shadows. It's fine for Russell if he didn't have a family, but this world was different, and staying low-key, at least for now, to observe everything was his intention.
'Just why is she with them? This fuc-'
"H-hello...? Is she...?"
Russell asked his younger sister with an inquisitive expression. He controlled himself in blurting out such profanity. He couldn't blame Rumia because, at this point, she didn't know that there were shadows guarding her.
"Uh... She wanted company, so we let her get along."
Freya reluctantly replied.
'Why isn't she with her bestfriend right now?'
He thought, remembering Elizabeth — who was occupied due to Professor Emmanuel's remarks.
"Uh... Hello, Princess Rumia. I-it's an honor to meet you."
Russell introduced himself out of formality, revealing a smile that was almost forced while thinking about the scrutinizing eyes in the shadows.
"I'm Rumia. Sorry if I'm being inconvenient right now."
She replied, slightly embarrassed. There were no shaking hands since it was not truly a formal event.
After that, they proceeded to their lunch.
...
Somewhere in the Obelisk Academy.
"You got anything?"
A mysterious figure in her mid-20s with waist-length black hair, green eyes, a fitted body, and a stature of at least 170 cm. casually asked.
"Here."
Casually replied another figure, who was also in her mid-20s. She has short blonde hair, blue eyes, a fitted body, and a stature of at least 169 cm.
On a holographic screen presented through a smartwatch, the summarized personal backgrounds of the four people who were with the princess were thoroughly projected.
"A brother and a sister with parents... they came from Cassiopeia? Then one came from an orphanage.... she's not abandoned, her parents died around 10 years ago. While the last one has parents, but she's separated.
"These people have somehow complicated past, huh? Hmm... Nothing's certain for now, but it's our job to investigate people who are interacting with the princess. If it's for her good, there's no need to worry. Let's just continue to observe for now."
The green-eyed woman casually said, their figures vanished in the shadows as if they were swallowed by the ground.
...
Russell bid goodbye to his younger sister. Turning his back, going back to their respective classroom, Russell's expression turned serious.
'F*ck...'
Russell cursed inwardly. He knew that something had transpired behind the scenes. It was disrespectful to some extent, but knowing the kind of society this world has, and considering the status of Rumia, it was somehow understandable.
...
Basic Mana Theory Class.
"These are the basic Mana theories that will be discussed for the entire semester. This will be expounded through time.
"Please refer to the holographic screen."
A woman, who diligently taught the class, operated a high-tech tablet she was holding. A few tapping later, a holographic projection was emitted to the wide whiteboard in front of the class.
Russell read the contents of the lesson.
...
— Famous Basic Mana Theories
1. Law of Mana Indestructibility and Alteration.
Description: Mana cannot be created nor destroyed, but can be altered.
2. Mana Coin Principle.
Description: Mana is an all-purpose substance; for harm or for a cure.
3. Theory of Mana Repulsion and Compatibility.
Description: Mana does not repulse each other, but it only occurs depending on where the Mana is being applied.
...
Russell's formed a dumbstruck expression.
'I only know the number 1!'
Russell lampooned inwardly. He had some idea regarding the meaning of numbers 2 and 3 if he based it on the novel he had written. What he didn't expect was the existence of such theories in this world.
'It's not like I have access to resources to learn these things a few years ago.'
He sighed, his mind was being enveloped by nostalgia, reminding him of his family's terrific past.
"Similar to the Law of Conservation of Energy of the Old World, after the Emergence, and after several years of thorough research and studies, it was highly suggested that any form of energy contains Mana. We were not aware of it until the System was given to us.
"Then... for the Theory Number 2... You there at the back."
The professor looked to the far left of the class and pointed at the student leisurely sitting there. Russell wondered about it, he then looked behind. A student was sitting there, so he looked back and forth from the front and behind.
"I'm asking you, Russell, right?"
Wanting to clear some misunderstanding, Russell pointed to himself, wondering if he heard wrong.
"Is there any Russell here?"
The professor said sarcastically, causing a few laughs to reverberate through the classroom.
'This b-, beautiful professor, really.'
"Y-yes ma'am?"
Russell asked, waiting for the question.
"Any idea about the indication of Theory Number 2?"
Looking and reading what's written on the holographic screen, and remembering the novel he had written, Russell answered casually.
"Ma'am, I think it's said that Mana is either for harm or for cure based on the aftermath of the Emergence.
"Because of the consolidation of Mana, every disease that existed in the Old World; mild or chronic ceased to exist after the Emergence, giving way to new forms of disease that are only Mana-related.
My point Ma'am... is that Mana can be considered as two sides of the coin. It can be used to harm or cure someone."
Russell answered, waiting if his answer was correct or incorrect.
"That's correct."
The professor straight-up said, prompting some students to look at Russell with awe. Some of them, though, murmured.
"That friendless weird sure is pretty smart."
"Should we befriend him then?"
"Nah! Thanks. Hahaha!"
The continuous whispers died down as the professor's words unintentionally cut them off.
"Mana cured old age, and yet could be used to quickly end someone's life, isn't that right?"
Her tone turned serious, and the atmosphere in the class seemed to instantly turn gloomy.
Apart from the abundance of Mana that cured old age, causing the human's average lifespan to become more than thrice compared to the Old World. Though the Emergence only happened almost 40 years ago, it was now scientifically or magically proven that the human physique or physiology reached another realm — increasing one's life expectancy. The diseases disappear, but the harm that could be variously done with Mana was evident. Apart from the existence of Skills, there's Mana Poisoning.
While the professor keep speaking, Russell remembered one specific thing... or a few lines in his unpublished novel. It was an ugly reality that he came up with — decreased empathy, and increased selfishness.
|| The aftermath of the Emergence had killed billions of people, but for some people, it became a blessing in disguise as their respective loved ones with incurable diseases or were on the brink of death due to chronic illnesses miraculously got cured after the Mana consolidated throughout the world. ||
|| It was a pity for those who lost their loved ones despite their social standings, but it was a miracle for others who lived longer, disregarding others' deaths. ||