Chapter 3
.
.
.
.
.
It was as if the world stopped, freezing its time scape, but in reality, it was only a moment before Eric reacted.
'This?...'
And just then, the disbelieving eyes of the crowd at what they had just heard, blinked. Similar to nuclear reaction, each held back their breath for a moment, before an unsaid count-down to three.
One… two… three…
The crowd burst forth into an uproar, as shouts of exclamation and shock were heard among the students before they began clamoring.
Never in their wildest dream did they expect Eric would not even awaken, talkless of having a dog poop talent that could be put to use in menial tasks. In this era where the strong were respected and the weak were subjected to countless bullying and suppression by the strong.
Strength was voice.
'This… Why is my life so forked up? Who did I offend? Why me? Not even a trash talent, and I happened to encounter one in a million chance of not awakening.'
'This shouldn't be real, right? What is there to live for?' thinking back to the oath he had taken to kill any monster he encountered after having lost his parents to it.' his composed expression wore off, replaced with a pale one as his lifeless eyes, losing every bit of emotion, stared at the ground in daze. And for the first time, his shoulders slacked down in defeat, accepting his fate, and shattered reality.
But unfortunately, although he had cut short all his train of thoughts, he couldn't do the same to his hearing senses, his ears, especially unless he fell asleep.
" So there truly are people with no talent, no talent! " A vigorous mocking voice burst out from the crowd.
" What a pitiful kid, how can he live without having any talent or affinities " one of the spectating teachers said.
" Scoff, he made us wait for nothing. I even thought he was special because he was the most intelligent in class two, who knew he wouldn't even awaken. "
" No matter what, even if you are the most intelligent student in class two, without awakening, even the dumbest person with talent is better than you". Then they all laughed.
" Finally it has been proven that all brain doesn't guarantee a good talent "
Shocked voices and murmurs could be heard from the students, with a disdainful look in their eyes and their lips curled into a sneer.
Revealing their true nature, the pent up indignation of being suppressed by his intelligence through the past six years were let out. Truly the weak were stepped on, but even more so was when the strong fell. Good or bad, they would be scorned and used to satiate the public sense of Inferiority complex.
'Tears?'
'Should I cry?'
Deeply feeling confused about how to express the anguish in his heart, he garnished his teeth and chose not to reveal his weakness before such loud crowd.
Somehow, his thoughts drifted off to a distant memory of his father.
"Here, always wear this around your neck. It was passed down to me from my father. And just like my grandfather gave it to him, and he gave it to me, I'm also passing it down to you. Be strong Eric, for the Maxwells will never lose…"
'Fork!' casting away the visage of his father's smile that day as if he knew that would be his last, his eyes steeled, choking down his emotions.
'What am I still doing here then?'
…
As Eric walked off the platform, Elina who stood faraway with no one seeming to notice her presence, looked at him with pity. Her long time competitor, the only one who had surpassed her academically and perhaps caught her attention finally fell, or in another word, he reached the end of his own road.
Watching him walk away like a living corpse, there was a complicated feeling that sprouted in her heart, but was quickly casted away by the thought of her changed future. Because from now on, the same people she schooled with for the past six years wouldn't be qualified to share the same hall as her. And Eric would be no exception,she thought.
"The exam will be taken two weeks from now. You should use this period to train and advance your fighting skills. Your opponents wouldn't be less skilled. Sky-walk City puts its hope in you all for a better and differing performance " said the class teacher before exiting the school field.
And sure enough, he didn't spare Andrew a glance.