"I wasn't late right?"
"You just came at the right time Vice principal",I said moving away from her though I wasn't far from her. Eli also moved away from us giving us distance.
"How?"
That was the word I heard from his mouth
"It all began after I heard what happened to Ife", I explained folding my hands. I guess I was confident that nothing will happen to me.
"I knew sooner or later,the culprit will have a word with me and that made me afraid. I kept pondering about the relationship I had with you and that's when the thought came to me to search my room. I searched and found nothing out of the ordinary except this cloak."
I released my hands and pressed the side of my watch. A cloak came out of my watch. A day before,I found out through Kofi that my watch had the ability to store non- living objects. He taught me how to use it and it was cool. If we had this function in my world,then there's no need to carry bags to school.
"Anyways",I continued. "I noticed that when I wore it, my presence vanished. So I used my watch to appraise it and found out that it was a B rank concealment cloak. Now that was scary as I didn't know where I got that treasure. I also felt linked to someone and I just didn't know who. So i just had to strategize that day. I even figured which signal I'd give Kofi to ask him for help. Then I remember the time I was with the VP* , I'd smelt a vanilla scent and it clicked as I remember that scent to be a vanilla ice cream."
When I said this, I noticed how the brows of the VP creased and saw a sharp smile on her face. It disappeared quickly.
"There's only one place that sells the vanilla type and I knew the VP would order it secretly so I had to use my contact in the cafeteria to help send a message to the VP. I chose this place as my final destination and had to sit near an ice cream stand to watch my message delivery. It was a success and I felt relieved siting down there,I sensed more people watching me and I had to get rid of them .I felt uncomfortable and started weaving through the crowd, moving mostly behind ladies just to get their perfume scent..... Creepy.... It didn't work and I felt embarrassed. Now I had left my dorm with the cloak this morning and I was compelled to use it. Wearing it, I was invisible to the environment. I lost a lot of my trackers except one. I waited at the specific places I wrote on my secret message to the VP before heading to the lake. I think she got the message late".
"You were lucky",I heard her say. "The message did come late".
"I see",I replied smiling." Now you know the rest. Through the link on my cloak,I could bring you here."
In three words,Eli said with a croaked voice. "You tricked me".He then laughed loudly for a while." I'm going to enjoy killing you Femi".
"Then you have to go through me", the VP replied smiling. "It's been a while since I have had a proper fight and this would seem exciting since I'm fighting with a B ranker with the aura of an A rank".
I was really surprised
B rank? How? He just said he was F rank.
"Though I have never seen a ranking potion capable of raising one's rank to a B level before. You..."
"I see",Eli interrupted her nodding his head. "I still am wondering why the VC of this school would come here to fight for a kid without mana. Suspicious isn't it?. I bet there's something hidden from all of us".
Kid? He called me kid? How dare him? That's right she has no reason to come here except she..... She knows my secret. How?
"I'm fair to all and will protect everyone",The VP said as a blueish light emanated out of her body. She moved towards Eli and gave a blow to the right. He blocked it and returned a jab.
Bamm
The ground beneath them cracked as different wave of air blew round about them. Meanwhile I in my simple form was interested in the fight and I didn't think to move away from them. Well the air did help me as it threw me off. I landed and rolled backwards. I must have flew about 2 meters away.
The VC and Eli blocked and returned blows to each other in an insane speed. Surprisingly,I could see them and my hearing also was very good. They moved away from each other after going on for a while and it was clear who the victor is. The VC had advantage over him due to her higher rank and experience. I saw a slight cut on Eli's face but he healed. Seem he had the regeneration skill. They both looked at each other. I believe they were reviewing each other attack and scheming new ones.
I am surprised Eli stood still stood his ground against her,I mumbled rubbing my chin. Maybe it's an added effect from the potion he took. I once read that potions had been discovered to have added effect, making the user a bit stronger than usual.
The VC brought out two short swords and readied it. With incredible speed ,she reached Eli who already had his daggers in his hands.
CLANK CLANK CLANK.
They continued attacking and parrying until the VC saw an opening,his torso. She slashed him with her two swords in a X pattern. Groaning in pain, he slammed the ground with his feet, hoping to twart her balance. She leaped backwards,making a backflip. The distance was thus increased between them.
"As expected, he's also good in close combat",she said with a click." If that doesn't work then....."
The air changed and I saw some movement in front of here. They were circling round her. Even though she whispered,I could hear what she said
[Wind path: invisible spiral thread]
I saw Eli move backwards. He was trying to dodge those threads. He could sense it like I can. He was moving in the shadows, avoiding the threads. I could feel danger in those threads. It could hurt or kill someone but she didn't emit any killing intent. Then that implied she wanted to restrain him.
"You can't bind me with this",He shouted
[ Shadow steps: quick movement]
It was as if he was one with the shadow. He could evade those threads as long as there was a shadow nearby.
"This is taking too long",The VP said watching his every move." Since it's dark and there are a lot of shadows, he has the advantage unless... I need to finish this quickly".
[Light path: illumination]
[Gravity path: Binding movement]
[Wind path : invisible spiral thread]
"Did she just tri-cast",I exclaimed." "Overpowered".
The area around her brighten and began to spread even my eyes were affected. The next thing I know Eli was binded with something,he could not move or talk. I ran from where I was to him.
"Eli it's not too late. We can work this out. You know..."
"It's too late",the VC interrupted. You must be wondering why I'm calling her VC. I don't know her name yet. She didn't display it the time I was brought to her office.
"The ranking potion he took had an added effect in that he could stand his ground against one rank above him but it adverse effect was that he would lose his mind. He shouldn't be thinking straight now. It's surprising he lasted this long.
"Ahhhhhhh"
Eli screamed. He was trying to get out of the binding that held him down. Soon enough, he broke through those thread and resisted the gravity. He then screamed,this time it was enhanced. I had to cover my ears. I looked at him and I shedded a tear. He looked different as his hair grew like a beast. His nail grew longer and his rationality was lost. I could see black smoke coming out his body.
"He has lost it",the VC said. "He has been corrupted by something. Now his strength is equal to mine. It would be a hassle to take him down here. We are too even. I think I will leave it to you old man . I have wasted a bit of strength".
The space distorted and I saw the principal appear before her instantly.
"You could have continued Gladys. I'm sure you can win".
"I can but I will be on my last strength. I'm trying to avoid that because I have a date and I won't miss it for the world. I'm leaving. Oh,the instructors will help you clean up."
She left leaving me dumbfounded.
"Hmm, kids nowadays. She could have enough ended the battle with her known destruction skill. I should also be leaving".
Huh! Leaving? But he's charging towards us.
Eli moved so fast, reading his claws to strike. Suddenly,his head fell out and the body fell and rolled before coming to a stop
[ Delayed Decapitation]
I hear him mutter.
"Well boy,you are needed at my office tomorrow morning. Tonight, go home and rest".
He left leaving me in a daze. I didn't even see him attack. He said delayed decapitation,I'm sure of that. That means he had decapitated his head the moment he arrived but he delayed the aspect of it falling off making it seems the head is still intact. Is this the power of S rank? Overpowered.
I moved near the corpse and stayed on that position for a minute. It's so bad he died that young. In that moment,I promise myself to grow stronger and help the weak. They shouldn't go down this path. They shouldn't be lost.
"Are you done",that voice brought me back. It was the voice of an instructor. "We have to clean the area . Go back to your dorm".
I moved back, looking at the corpse for the last time. Leaving the area, I returned to my dorm. It was hard to sleep but I did sleep eventually. The next morning came and I had to quickly leave my dorm to meet up with the principal. It was near the weekend and I only had classes in the afternoon. I reached his office and knocked.
"Come in"
I entered, moving forward. I saw Gladys sitting, obviously she was waiting for me. Yeah I remembered her name.
"You caused quite a trouble this week", she said. "Anyways, that's not why we are here. Tell me, why do you have the aura of an S rank within you."
S- rank? Aura?
"You have to tell us these things Mr Femi",the principal said seeing me quiet.
"I don't know what to say",I answered truthfully. "How do you know?"
"It's a known knowledge that we can gauge each rank especially we that are of a higher ran",Gladys explained. "You are different,the first I have seen so far. You don't have mana yet you have the aura of a S ranker. It's faint but I can feel it".
"Oh I see,I replied keeping quiet for a bit. "Can I trust you?"
"If you need a mana contract I'm ready". "What about you old man?"
"There's no need for a contract. I just need your word".
"Mr Femi, you can trust us".
"Ok".
I proceeded to tell them everything,well excluding the fact that I'm from another world. They were stunned, I had to touch an orb. Apparently, they wanted to know my status. You should have seen the principal's eyes. He was shocked.
"This is weighty", Principal Wole said. He then brought a chain.
"This is an S rank artifact. It will block any appraisal made on you and will hide your rank when you are awakened. Wear it always."
"I understand sir".
" I need to clarify a matter here",Gladys mused. I think she was confused about something.
"If the superior physique is locked, then why do I feel an aura from you and what about your extraordinary senses especially to danger. It should only apply to those that have mana. So how did you..."
"I don't really know. I just can do it."
"Hmm, in that case let me speed it up a little"
"Speed what?"
Before I could blink,she was in front of me. She placed her hand on my chest.
Huh.
I heard something break within me. Then everything went blank. I fainted.
**************
"Huh what is this place", I said after waking up to darkness. It was so dark that I couldn't even see my body. "What did that woman do to me".
Welcome kid, I heard someone say. I looked at my right where I heard the sound coming from. I saw a light coming towards me and immediately the darkness vanished. Soon a figure appeared from the light. It was blur but the figure became clear and I could see him. "We have a lot to discuss".
Huh??
Isn't this the old man? I pondered
"This is necessary for your survival kid", the old man said. "Now listen."