Lucas decided to find out about more about how his affinity worked on his own as he left the awakening center. ''Now that I think about things carefully, there is no reason for me to ask the researchers for any help. My affinity is the first of it's kind after all.. I will have to figure out more about it on my own.''
+++++
''Why do you always have to get yourself into trouble when you cannot even stand up for yourself!!?'' The nurse berated the scrawny, black haired young man as she tended to the bruises on his face and his now exposed , malnourished abdomen.
Lucas sighed as he succumbed to the naggings of the nurse. She already knew his situation, and insisted that he drops out of the academy or he was gonna get killed one day. When he was brought to the clinic by some janitors a few days ago, he was so disfigured that she almost vomited her innards out.
The nurse gave him a look of empathy, and sighed ''Not that you have any other choice. I know that leaving the academy will only make things worse for you''
Lucas chuckled '' A second ago, you told me to drop out of school and then in the next instant, you tell me that you understand that I will practically become a worse burden to society if I drop out of the academy... Old hag, just why are you women so complicated?''
The nurse had finished using her healing ability on Lucas, however she did not instruct him to leave, but gave him a scornful look and retorted ''I look young enough to be your girlfriend, just why do you still insist on calling me an old hag?''
Lucas chuckled lightly then replied '' Appearances are deceiving in this current world. I know you have been consuming some of those anti aging drugs to look young, and you have been going about on dates with young men you are old enough to call grandsons!!''
The nurse snorted and squeezed his left ear '' Hmph!!, so what if I have been using anti aging drugs, what if I have been going on dates with young men? As long as they do not know my real age, I do not care...Also, you brat, do not tell me your consecutive appearances to the clinic and how sweet I am to you is making you develop feelings for me? If you want to ask me out, just say it, and I will consider your proposal''
''Never, what would a young, energetic and charming young man like me want to do with an old hag like you'' Lucas firmly defended his honor with a serious look on his face as he managed to remove her hand from squeezing his left ear.
''Have you even looked in the mirror...tsk'' The nurse retorted as she clicked her tongue.
Lucas smiled lightly then seriously spoke ''Thank you seriously granny Daffny, you are the only one in this academy who has genuinely treated me like a human being ever since my parents died''
''What is going on with you brat, this is not like you...are you dying or something'' Daffny was slightly taken aback by the young man's sincere words. He was usually thick skinned to her, not nice and polite.
''No, I sincerely mean my words. And I want you to know that things have changed for me from now on. I have awakened as an E class hunter, and from now on I will only visit you to check up on you, not to receive your naggings after getting bruised and battered. I will keep on getting stronger so that no one can bully me ever again, so do not worry too much about me from now on'' Lucas punched his fist into the air dramatically as he stood up from the clinic bed and poised like some character from a famous movie franchise.
Daffny's face warmed up at Lucas' words then she sighed with a predominant tinge of surprise in her voice as though she had remembered something. She tapped on her ID bracelet and a holographic feed appeared before her ''So you are that brat trending on the website of the World Hunters Alliance... Initially I thought it was some prank message so I did not even pay attention to the details and skipped the feed, but it turns out it was true after all''
''What do you mean old hag?... I'm trending?'' Lucas was shocked.
''What did you expect?... You are the first person to ever awaken an affinity after crossing the age of ten. Not only that, however, you also awakened as an E class hunter instead of awakening as a usual F class hunter. Although you are not considered a part of the strong bunch of awakened yet, this is a shocking news on it's own'' Daffny replied with an incredulous expression on her face, alarmed at Lucas' inability to not have anticipated how unique his situation was.
''Well, now that you mention it... It looks like I might be getting a lot of unwanted attention from now on..'' Lucas facepalmed inwardly, and sighed outwardly.
''You need to move into the academy as soon as possible so that you will be protected from unwanted threats...Quite a number of deranged people out there might seek you out for reasons you may not like, such as trying to use you as a lab rat for strange experiments. The academy can be very unfair to those with no strong backing, but in your situation where the scope of the norms have been tipped and you have even awakened at the age of fifteen and also by skipping a rank, the academy will not deem you as a regular awakened but as someone special with a lot of potential... Stay in the academy and use the academy as a shield of protection from things that would now pose serious threats to you in the outside world'' The nurse strongly cautioned Lucas.
''I see, I will move into the academy as soon as possible... Thank you Aunt Daffny'' Lucas thanked the healer, suited up his black windbreaker and walked out of the clinic.
He mused to himself as he decided to head to the cafeteria to grab a bite.
''Moving into the academy may protect me from unwanted threats outside the academy, but it will not protect me from nonsense in the academy such as the annoying skirmishes of arrogant young masters and jade beauties in the academy...Some of these fellas from rich families and guilds may even try to force me to work under them...ughhh... the horror, so nauseating. The academy higher ups will probably stay behind the scenes and not interfere in any bullying incident that is associated with me to see how I use my affinity to defend myself. Based on how I demonstrate my strength, they will make a judgment that would either confirm or denounce their decision to invest into me as someone worth grooming. I need to demonstrate strength and become a heaven defying genius, in order to have the academy's backing... If I do not have a backing, my path to growth may be short-circuited ..In short, I need to prove my worth to the higher ups of the academy so that my stay here in the academy will be pleasant . Also, standing up for myself will make others think twice about messing with me''
Just as Lucas walked into the cafeteria, all eyes landed on him...
''Is that him?''
''Did he really awaken?''
''Yeah, it's legit...''
''He seriously awakened at fifteen and skipped a rank?...I have awakened for two damned years and I am now an F+ hunter...life is really unfair''
''..the account that posted the information on the website of the WHA is the awakening center of our academy, so no matter how hard you complain, it is what it is.''
''Well, he may have awakened but what if his growth rate slows down...''
''Yeah, I mean, he may probably have little potential, there is no need to worry''
''What if he comes after me?... I bullied him some time ago, and I am not even an awakened''
''Dude, you are in hot sauce then''
''Me too, I maltreated him some time ago''
Lucas listened to the chatters that were directed at him ''Damnation, these antagonists just won't let this protagonist grab a meal in peace''
Just as Lucas walked to the place where the serving of the the lunch took place, a fat tall boy with a rotund belly and blonde hair intentionally bumped into Lucas and soiled his black windbreaker with sauce.
''Lick the sauce on your windbreaker, your good for nothing loser'' The fat boy's condescending voice echoed and brought silence to the cafeteria..
Everyone was curious as to how the scene would unfold before them.
Lucas shook his head, and sighed as he stared eye to eye with the tall fat teenager. He may be skinny now due to malnourishment, but he was not lacking in the height department.
''Fatso, I know your father runs a guild and all, but aren't you being too full of yourself...'' Lucas shamelessly retorted back...he stood his ground.
chatter, chatter ,chatter
''Lord punching bag actually stood his ground?''
''Is he not being too cocky, that fat guy is the last son of the Fanoma guild. He may not be an awakened, but his backing is strong enough to even make some awakened not mess with him''...
''Punching bag is doomed''
This and many other exclamations of shock reverberated through the cafeteria.
Just then, something happened. Lucas raised his right knee whiles staring eye to eye with the fat guy and shove it with great force into the fat guy's groin area.
Aiyooooo!... The fat guy squirmed in pain on as he squatted on the ground and breathed heavily.
''You...will pay...'' His heavy voice was cut off by Lucas who now had a blue flame dancing on his right palm as he squatted and looked eye to eye with the fat guy...His cold dark pupils sent a chill down the fat guy's spine.
Lucas' playful voice reverberated throughout the cafeteria as he spoke to the fat guy ''Lick the color of your t-shirt for it to become colorless, or this flame will roast your already screaming sacred jewels...''
The cafeteria was dead silent, as the spectators could not believe their eyes and ears.