"Settle down class, I have an announcement to make!"
The students stared at Professor Frank, waiting for her to continue.
"I have two good news and one bad news, which one do you prefer to hear first?"
"The bad news!"
The students responded, while some just waited in silence.
"Alright, then let's start with the good news first!" Professor Frank said, grinning as she showed her braces on display.
"We said we want to hear the bad news first…"
The students mumbled in a faint voice, complaining and whining in murmuring tones. While others just stayed quiet as they didn't care.
Ignoring the complaining students, Professor Frank remained smiling as she continued. "The good news is that the dean master assigned me as the student's advisor of this class, what does everyone think? It's indeed good news, right?" She then started cackling to herself through her smiling grin. "Hihihihihi…"
Students started clapping with a wry smile, and while some looked uninterested. Only one student looks genuinely happy and that is Gabriela.
Probably noticing the atmosphere in the air; Professor Frank stopped laughing immediately as she cleared her throat. "Anyway, the second good news is that the academy always prepares a welcoming festival every year for all freshmen, sounds fun, right?"
The students didn't respond, and only Gabriela nodded her head adamantly as if saying that she agrees.
Professor Frank cleared her throat again as she added. "Well, here is the bad news, every year, there is a tournament for all freshmen that every new student is required to join, and the bad news is that only those at the top 200 out of the 700 students are going to be able to make it to the next stage...what I mean is; the rest who can't make it in the standard ranks will be expelled from the academy."
Students widen their eyes from the news. But others look bored as they yawn to themselves. Some are just uninterested. While the remaining several look ecstatic.
"Oh right! In addition…if anyone fails to join this tournament then they will be automatically disqualified and expelled as well," Professor Frank said as she added shortly.
Someone from the back row raised his hand, attracting Professor Frank's attention. "What is it, Leon?"
The blue haired boy Leon stood up and said, "Professor Frank, when is this competition going to be held? Will we have enough time to prepare? And what are the requirements and mechanics of this tournament?"
Professor Frank's grin deepened hearing this. "You got good questions there, boy," she said, pointing at Leon.
Leon sat down again as he waited for Professor Frank to answer. Some of the other students also stared at Professor Frank in a curious and expectant gaze.
"Well, about the first and second question, the tournament will start next year before a new batch of freshmen arrive, enrolling in summer, which means, everyone will be able to prepare in advance," Professor Frank explained.
At this explanation, some students release a sigh of relief, easing the tension building up in the room. Other students grin more excitedly. The remaining ones are just not into it.
"As for the requirements or mechanics, well unfortunately, this information can't be disclosed yet," Professor Frank said with a helpless smile; her inner eyebrows cross up together, looking at everyone in the lecture hall.
"How about the festival, when will it be held?" The spiky red haired boy named Axel asked, raising his hand.
Professor Frank grinned again, fixing her glasses with her middle finger. "The festival will start in four weeks from now, and it will be held for a whole week. During that time, related family or friends of the students are welcomed to enter the academy during the first day of the festival, so everyone can invite your friends or family to come and visit."
Everyone cheered up hearing this. Some students even stood up, dancing in joy, while others remained sitting as they smiled in delight.
"Oh and there are no classes within that week of the festival, so consider that celebration a short vacation and just enjoy and have fun." Professor Frank then went back to her desk as she smilingly continued, "alright, that's it for today's session, everyone is dismissed!"
After that, students one by one left the lecture hall, and Kendra hurriedly bid farewell to Faye.
She was in a trance earlier during the class, and Kendra can't concentrate on anything around her because of that incident. It's been a week since that day when Kendra overheard Zelda and Lilith in the restroom. After Kendra replaced her classes with the previous courses.
Every monday to friday; after class ends; when Kendra's schedule is free; she would either spend her time researching in the library or with Professor Hemlock, learning under the instructor as she help assisting the senile woman in return in the laboratory.
Meanwhile, it is during the weekends that she trains with Penelope in the forest. After all, the dean master made Kendra her direct disciple. There are two reasons why Kendra agreed to that arrangement. First, Kendra will become closer to Penelope, and at the same time; Kendra could learn what she lacks under Penelope's guidance. What Kendra lacks is experience in fighting and combat. Since Kendra didn't have the chance to join any sort of real fights in the war, she never had the opportunity to utilise her talent to the fullest potential.
Which is why Kendra is learning under Penelope wholeheartedly. In addition, she also learns another form of fighting under Professor Hemlock's guidance, and Kendra is anticipating how to use these new tricks she learned on both Lilith and Zelda.
But, Kendra is still taking her time to research about the cult religion of Sitan. Right now, Kendra wants nothing but just to go to the library, so with those thoughts in mind; Kendra quicken her pace of walking.
***
After four weeks.
The library is currently full of people because of the festival. Students invited their friends and family in, making the academy quite crowded, including the library.
Hearing the distracting noise of the crowd; Kendra decided to go to her favorite place in the forest, bringing the books with her inside the satchel bag.
She left the library then went to the flower field in the forest. As soon as she reaches the flower field, Kendra breathes in feeling relaxed that there is no longer unwanted noise. It's been a while since Kendra went to this place after that day with Nasrin.
Speaking of Nasrin. Kendra heard from Penelope that Nasrin went to train with Alexandra under the special education course system.
It's a kind of a special education course only granted to chosen students by the instructor's themselves. However, no one really wants to implement this since this is risky.
All the duty and responsibility of the well-being of the student will be passed on to that certain professor; who chose that certain student. This is why no one really implements this except for a certain few.
Some professors choose students if they deem those students as a genius in their field of study. However, in this academy where every student has potential; it really takes more than talent to make the instructors take risks and take action to get a student under their guidance.
Well, Kendra hopes that Nasrin is doing well. She has not returned the debt she owes to Nasrin yet, and that's why even if Nasrin is from a noble family; Kendra only wishes Nasrin good health and well-being.
Considering how worried Alexandra towards Nasrin; Kendra thinks that Alexandra would probably take good care of Nasrin.
In addition, Kendra also wants Nasrin to get stronger since there is a war coming, and what's more, cult members have already infiltrated the kingdom. That's why Kendra wants Nasrin to really get stronger.
When the time comes and in the most crucial moment, most of the time, there is no one there to support or help you, and this is based on Kendra's experience in her original timeline when she died with Lory in the blazing fire.
Suddenly, recalling those memories in her mind, Kendra remembered how she was slowly burned alive to death.
Kendra could still feel how it felt; when her skin melted when the ember of fire made contact with her flesh. The smell of her own meat being barbecued are all deeply ingrained in Kendra's memories. She could still vividly remember how she and her sister screamed and cried. She still could clearly remember the sound of the laughing echoes of the crowd.
One of those faces is the most familiar to her, and with one glance, Kendra could already tell who it is.
Those golden blonde hair swaying in the air; emerald eyes staring at her condescendingly; standing tall with an egotistical proud stature. It's none other than, Cliopatra Kingsley, her scumbag ex-wife.
The sound of her arrogant laugh will never be forgotten by Kendra, and every night, this scene still haunts her in her dreams like a nightmare of hell.
No one in this world hates Cliopatra more than Kendra does, and she will never forget that day, because it's the moment when Kendra died tragically and was reborn anew.
It's the day Kendra awoke from being blind of love. For Kendra, love for her is nothing but a made up illusion of lingering memories. She feels so stupid for falling in love, and when Kendra awoke anew in this second-life; she promise herself to never make the same mistake again, and that is, to never fall in love.
Kendra started to forbid herself from falling in love. After all, she doesn't want to experience that pain again.
[Never again.] Kendra thought in her mind, recalling those unwanted memories.
Kendra also made up her mind to always take control of her emotions. Nothing good comes out when Kendra is being swayed with her emotions, and that's why Kendra always took good control of own feelings.
Anyway, whatever the reason why she was sent back into the past; Kendra has nothing in her heart but gratefulness, and Kendra swears that she will find her purpose no matter what it takes. This is to thank whoever it was that brought her back to life. It's because Kendra has a chance to redo every mistake and every bad decision she made.
Kendra will not take it for granted. Kendra will protect her people this time, and Kendra will make sure to get her revenge against Zelda, Cliopatra, and those people who betrayed her trust.
Feeling more determined in her heart, Kendra lightly taps her cheeks with both of her palms as she tries to focus.
Anyway, as of the moment, she has to research and prepare first. Kendra learns to always prepare in advance before facing an enemy. She can't just suddenly fight people without any preparation, and what's more, Kendra is not differentiated yet. It means that she is still not in her full power yet.
Calculating the time she needs for the preparation stage; Kendra thinks that she probably needs one to two years to get herself battle ready against the cult members.
With a silent sigh, Kendra started walking to the flower field. Looking ahead, Kendra widens her eyes, seeing a fluttering folded paper in the air in the middle of the flower field.
It's one of the oldest and ancient types of communication. In a certain book Kendra read, this type of communication was commonly used to send messages through the battlefield. Because this type of communication is the fastest and the easiest way to convey messages.
However, nowadays, young people only use it for fun because of the growing rate of revolutionizing technology.
Sometimes some people also use it to write their thoughts in the letter. Like words that they can never tell anyone. It's the same act of telling a secret to a tree.
Feeling the sprouting curiosity in her heart, Kendra used her wind attribute. After that, Kendra guided the fluttering paper towards, grabbing it with her hand.
Kendra opened the letter then she started reading the insides out of curiosity. As her ocean blue eyes move left to right, Kendra's eyelids slowly widen as she reads more the content of the letter.
Gasping in shock as she covered her mouth, Kendra faintly mumbled, "Nasrin…"