Zain had been Kayden's friend ever since they were freshmen back at highschool. For as long as he knew Kayden, the latter had always been a secretive person, who wouldn't even open up to his friends about the things that were bothering him.
However, after witnessing Kayden being at the mercy of those two students, he decided to step in and assist him at his time of need. He did something that friends were supposed to do for each other. Friends were also meant to tell each other what was going on with them when they had a lot of things bothering them.
"About what?" Kayden asked, his tone heavy, not wanting to talk about anything related to the incident that had just taken place. Zain looked at both students on the floor before turning back to face Kayden.
"I've known for a while now that these two have been after you. You've been worrying about them for over a day now. I saw how distracted you looked during all the classes today. You could barely keep your focus even when your instructor pinned you against the ground.
"You were worried about what these two might do to you just because they were closer in rank to you than anyone else."
Kayden didn't say a word as Zain continued to lecture him. From what he was hearing, it was obvious that he knew as much as him about what was going on so there was no point in trying to lie to him in order to make him believe that what he was saying wasn't the truth.
"Still, I can't believe how shortsighted you can be, Kayden. These two got beaten up and had their ranks taken by other students. Don't you think that they would one day come after you and your rank as well?
"And at the same time, you had to worry about these guys who were thirsty for revenge and stealing your rank. You, yourself should be smart enough to know how this academy works. Survival of the fittest.
"In order to make it in this system, you need friends, allies who will help you when you need them. No matter how strong you may be, you cannot stay at the top where there are those beneath you banding together to take you down. Strength in numbers will always outweigh the strength of a single person!"
Zain folded his arms in annoyance, glaring at Kayden with intensity. Kayden took a deep breath before thinking of what he would say in response.
In the end, he wasn't someone who was actually comfortable with bothering others about his problems so he was really thinking about what he would say to calm down his blazing friend.
"I understand that you're worried about me," he started off. But you need to understand that I can handle myself on my own."
Zain rushed at Kayden with speed, grabbing the latter by the throat while inflicting his ability on him from a closer range than normal. The latter was unable to notice this on time and was unable to dodge against the attack. Right now, Kayden was at the mercy of the red-haired student.
"Can you handle yourself well on your own now that your life in in my hands?" Zain asked, not giving Kayden a time to breathe or collect his thought as his ability was still active and affecting him.
"Forget ranks. With the way things are now, if I so wished, I could end your life right here and now.
"You think that strength in all that allows you to throve in this world, huh? Then, in that case, you are sorely mistaken."
Zain threw Kayden against the floor, sending his body sliding until he eventually stopped. He didn't even have a chance to transform as Zain. had managed to deal considerable damage to him in such a short amount of time. Kayden was in severe pain as his Mana was being utilized to heal up his wounds.
Meanwhile, Zain walked closer toward him, his eyes still glowing fiercely, ready to activate his ability if need be.
"I won't force you to understand what it is I have to say," he declared. "But remember this, the next time you find yourself in such a dire situation and I'm aware of it, I won't come to assist you.
"Moreover, I'll tell the others not yo help you as well once they're aware about the fact that you were in danger but chose not to tell us about it. I'm sure they're already aware of it. We aren't fools who can't see what's right in front of us."
Zain then walked away after saying everything he felt needed to be said. Kayden's body had been fully healed and he could move his body without experiencing any form of pain. He looked at the figure of his friend disappearing into the vast hallway before gritting his teeth.
'I don't want you guys to worry about me,' he thought to himself. While he was on his way back to his dorm room, it wasn't long until a couple students passes by.
Seeing the severe condition of the two students who had fought against Kayden and Zain, they picked them up and carried them to the infermary to receive medical attention.
Kayden couldn't stop thinking about the things Zain had said that night. He had to agree that what Zain said was true. In the academy, one's rank wasn't set in stone. There would always be those fighting to get a better rank.
The reason why students were so interested in the ranking system was because, it dictated their social status and importance amongst the other students.
Students who had higher ranks were accorded privileges that the lower rank didn't have access to. One of them being the fact that the majority of the female students would be head over heels in love with you.
In the academy, activities such as sex, drinking, gambling, and so on, were allowed. The only action which was strictly prohibited by the academy's staff was the killing of a child who comes from an influencial family.
Although Kayden wasn't interested in any of those things, despite the fact thank was the Titan four amongst the first year students, he couldn't say the same for the other students.
There were those who could kill just to have a girl give them a little kiss on the cheek. The next day, everyone seemed to be gossiping about something different from yesterday.
"Did you hear what happened yesterday?"
"Well, no. I was too busy teaching my roommate a lesson for looking at me the wrong way."
"Ugh, who cares about that?! Anyways, this morning, on my way to class, I stopped by at the infermary to check out those who had been hospitalized the night before, and you won't believe who I saw."
"Just tell us already!"
"Alright, fine! I saw Josh and that friend of his at the infermary. They looked pretty busted up and we're unconscious."
"What?! Someone else was after their rank already?!"
"Didn't seem like it. I checked their wristwatches, and their ranks were the same as they were after they were defeated the first time."
"Then who do you think it was that dealt them in?"
"Seeing as their rank didn't change, I think that they were defeated by someone who had a higher rank than the both of them."
"You thinking what I'm thinking?"
The girl nodded her head in response. "He must've tried challenging Kayden for his rank right aft he was discharged from the infermary. Only to have his ass handed to him in the end," she replied.
The girls then turned their attention to one of the students they were gossiping about, however, he paid no attention to their piercing gaze as he enjoyed his meal in silence.
No one on the table had spoken a word to each other. The reason was quite obvious, still, Kayden chose not to dwell to much on that.
'Sooner or later, they're bound to come around, right?' Kayden wondered.
Once breakfast was over, it was time for the combat class. So far, almost everyone had learnt the Ikkyo technique which the instructors had explained and shown how do to at the everyday since their first day at the academy.
Since the week wasn't yet over, the teacher would keep on assisting the students in learning the technique until it was time for them to start teaching something else.
Although Kayden was bothered by the fact that his friends had stopped talking to him, he couldn't help but feel like he was being treated unfairly.
However, there was nothing he could do about the way things were for now. So, he chose to focus on his learning instead. During all the classes, Kayden made sure he gave his all in them.
He wasn't distracted like he was before, and he was grasping more understanding from the words of the instructors. Of course, he would make sure that he didn't show too much progress to the other students so as to not make himself any bigger of a target than he already was.
Even the instructor responsible for teaching the students with Mystery Class abilities was glad to see that he finally had his head in the game. While there was a rift between he and his friends, other students were busy fighting each other to claim rank, and it wasn't long until a gang of students had set their eyes on one of Kayden's friends.
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