The classroom was an auditorium with three sections and five levels, decorated with gaudy wood carvings painted gold and red tapestries with gold patterns. From the moment Ivar first stepped into this classroom the first day of class, he thought this classroom was the spitting image of where a portentous wealthy asshole would like to pretend to learn. The only small comfort that Ivar had in being in this class was knowing that most of the class had the same feelings of being here that he did.
The fist level of the center section was where the wealthy students sat so they could be fawned over by the teacher, and every time Ivar passed it, he felt disgusted. His seat was on the fifth level of in the right section, the most crowded section of the class. There were thirteen people in a space designed for five, and now Ivar made fourteen. Most of them were meek little children, too busy trying to hide themselves to dare look in Ivar's direction. This was fine with Ivar since his plans for class was to sit in the back and continue to saturate his demonic spirit. But that plan failed the moment he sat down.
"Ivar, how was you hunting trip?"
Turning to his left, Ivar saw Ayden staring at him. Like Ivar, Ayden's family came from the city's western district. But Ayden came from a poorer family of religious pacifists in a city of warriors and demonic spiritualists which made some of the students in class think of him as a worthless coward. It didn't help that he was dragged to class in chains on the second day by the city's militia for failing to comply with the city managers decree, while begging to go home.
"Meat prices are down, but shell bugs sold for double."
This simple conversation drew looks of disgust from several students, but those students looked way the moment Ivar looked towards them.
"Sounds about right, lots of people are hunting and buying armor. Just yesterday George was showing off his new armor for all to see, it was a full set too."
"Money sure is wasted on the stupid, he's got a high-grade diamond soul gem, a mid-grade sword, and now he has some armor. Mid-grade at the very least, right?" Disgust could easily be heard in Ivar's voice.
"High-grade."
The mocking grin Ayden just made just filled Ivar with more disgust.
"What's the point of having of all that gear if he doesn't train? Even you have broken through to the first layer, and you aren't trying ad are just going through the motions of being here. Meanwhile that worthless shit has the backing of his family's merchant company and still has bothered to advance."
"Relax Ivar, rich people need to show off, or else how would people know their rich?"
"Fine, I'll change the subject. Want a Shadow Badger's soul?"
"What?" The sudden change in topic had left Ayden confused and made Ivar smile in delight. It wasn't the first time that Ivar had offered to bring back a demonic spirit for Ayden to fuse with. After reaching the first layer, any demonic spiritualist can fuse with a demonic spirit and after completing the three steps of the integration process will find their cultivation processing at a far faster speed. But before Ivar could bring this up, he was interrupted by Ayden.
"Michael's coming."
Ivar followed Ayden's gaze and saw "him". Michael came from a farming family from the southern district and not wanting to be poor anymore, he decided to suck up to the students from wealthy families. What no one could figure out is if the rich kids were paying him to be a complete ass to everyone but them or if he was practicing be rich by being a complete ass.
"Well don't you two look... friendly." Michael was trying to speak with a tone superiority but only made him sound foolish to Ivar and Ayden.
"Why are you here Micheal? The first time you tried bullying Ayden and the others; I punched you hard enough that even a stupid person would know not to mess with them. The second time you tried it; I beat the shit out of you. So, what should I do to you this time?"
There was a very cold tone to Ivar's words as he spoke.
Micheal's face flushed red as he heard snickering from the other students and saw a smirk on Ayden's face.
"I'm a demonic spiritualist too Ivar, there will be a day when I get strong enough to return what you have done to me. As for you coward, you won't always have your thug with you, I'll get you then and..."
Before he could finish his threat, Ivar stood up and hit him in the stomach with an uppercut. Micheal fell to his knees gasping for air. Ivar grabbed him by the neck and lifted him high into the air, as Micheal tried desperately to summon his strength to pull Ivar's hand off him but couldn't.
"If you don't want to be a farmer, then don't be a farmer. If you don't want to be poor, get a good job and save your money. If you want to throw out your pride and suck up to the wealthy students, then toss what little pride you have and be their lackey. Just stop being a worthless shit."
As Ivar spoke his spirit energy began to circulate in his body and his skin took on an orange tint with very faint blue stripes. His pale blue eyes became brighter and iridescent, and his round pupil turned into a slit. This was not a true transformation; this was just his body reacting to the little amount of his spirit energy he had saturated it with, he still had a very long way to go. But it did make his appearance and voice seem far more menacing than before.
"PUT. HIM. DOWN. Everyone return to your seats, class is beginning!" Ivar knew who was speaking, it was Berry, the teacher of this class. Ivar moved the arm holding the flailing Micheal to the right, and saw his teacher surrounded by the wealthier students walking through the doorway. With a flick of his arm, Micheal was sent flying through the air and landed on the ground in front of the teacher with a heavy thump.
Micheal thanked them between his gasps for breath, as he stumbled to his feet.
"Idiot, they sent you in to get beaten up, and you thank them, you are fucking a moron."
With a slight shake of his body hie body returned to normal, then he sat down like nothing had happened.
"Hey Ayden, I'm going to be busy doing something during class, wake me up at the end of class or if someone tries messing with you guys again."
After Ayden had given a nod, Ivar closed his eyes and began saturating his demonic spirit with his spirit energy. The rules said he had to attend the academy, and to attend his classes, but there were no rules saying he had to pay attention to his classes.