The student council president, Iris Sanctus. A Half-Elf, a future antagonist and someone who was one of the greatest prodigies of the modern era. She was currently looking at me with a darkened expression.
I felt the air around us tremble, as she began to use Mana to reinforce her body with Mana. I didn't even think about why she was doing it, I instead reinforced my own body with Arcane Magic.
But, before I could even stand up, her hand was on my throat. Her fingers wrapped around my neck, her other hand was above my face. In her palm, was a small ball of super condensed air.
"Who are you, and why did you direct your murderous intent towards me?"
I couldn't reply, I was merely contemplating the fact that someone a few years older than me could move like that.
I wasn't surprised that someone like Caelus could move faster than what I could see, after all, that man was the reason that the Empire had next to no crime committed by Awakened. His sheer speed allowed for him to hear about an incident on the other side of the country, and get to it in less than a minute.
He was one of the fastest humans alive after all.
But, this girl was exceptionally fast as well. And, she wasn't even someone who could use lightning Magic to enhance her speed as she didn't have such an affinity.
'This place is kinda amazing.'
Then, I placed both my hands on the hand that was wrapped around my throat and I tried prying it off. But, it wouldn't budge, at all. I felt like a toddler trying to take back a toy from an adult.
Even with Arcane Magic, and evolved body, I couldn't physically compete with this woman. The ball of air began to rotate, building up rotational velocity as it began to accelerate in her palm.
"Don't test me. Speak up and answer me."
I looked up at her, our eyes meeting.
"It's a force of habit. My name is Reinhardt Hyperius."
That was my answer, and to be fair, it was true. I typically thought about how to kill people when I first met them, it was a habit I picked up in that Hell. Everything I saw wanted to kill me, so I had to think of ways to kill them.
"Oh... uh, is that right? Well, I suppose that's an okay answer. Just be more subtle about it, okay? People people like myself are sensitive to that stuff. If you're so obvious about it, you'll be killed by someone eventually. And, you said your name was... Reinhardt?"
I nodded my head as she let go of my throat and dispersed the rotating sphere of air.
"Ah! That beast like first year who was accepted by special admissions! I know you! I watched your fight, your physical abilties are no joke."
I nodded my head awkwardly, it was really damn weird hearing this from someone who's grip I couldn't budge and who's speed was impossible to follow.
"You're a special admissions, just like me. I failed the written test too, I couldn't read back then, much less write. So, I got the lowest score on the written test in the Academy's history."
She said this with a cheerful smile, which just made this all seem more creepy than anything.
"Oh, but junior, let's set something straight. You do not direct your killing intent towards someone unless you intend to actually kill them. Anger begets anger, if you turn your murderous intent towards someone it's almost certain they'll return the sentiment. I'm saying this for your safety, you're talented but you're not exactly at a high Combat Class from what I saw in your combat exam. Don't go around thinking you can do anything just because you're stronger than most of the children in your year, alright?"
I just nodded my head.
'This woman is such a God damn weirdo. She threatens to kill me without hesitation, and then she just blabbers on and on, all while smiling at me? I can't deal with this.'
As I was about to continue reading, she leaned over, her hair in my face as she glanced at my book. This let me get a good look at her ear, which was something between a human and an Elven ear. It wasn't as long as an Elves, and it was fairly curved instead of pointy.
"Enlightened Arts, huh? Are you trying to learn how to use one? Don't bother, you can't learn it like this. If you're trying to learn about how to beat someone who can wield one, give up. Someone with an Enlightened Art may as well be a God. Without your own Enlightened Art, or unless you're some monster just give up and die if you face someone with one. It's probably better than however they'll kill you."
I looked up at the senior who was invading my personal space, making eye contact.
"Have you ever fought someone with one?"
She shook her head, laughing.
"No? If I had to fight someone with one, I'd kill myself or I'd run, and if I ran immediately it wouldn't really be a fight now would it? But, the principal has one and knowing about it is what gives me confidence in what I say. He has Life Force Manipulation. He can convert life force into Mana and vice versa along with absorbing life force through touch, if he's in something like a forest he may as well be an immortal with infinite Mana. Ah but..."
'Well isn't that just an unfair power? Isn't he just a better version of me at that point? If my strong suits are Mana Capacity and regeneration and if he can heal himself with life force and has infinite Mana then aren't I just a direct downgrade to him?'
"But..?"
"Even though replenishing his life force heals him, in regeneration and regeneration alone, you surpass him by far. Wait no, I'm wrong. You surpass him in Mana Capacity too. To be honest, even if he were in a giant forest you may still edge out in raw Mana."
'Oh, so I guess I'm not a bootleg version of the principal. Good to know.'
"But in any case, I'm done with my work here, if you ever need anything please ask. You're also a special admission who's also of a humble status, so I'll look after you. People seem to really hate our kind."
"Our kind?"
"Yeah, the talented who don't have status. Though, it won't be hard for people like us to do well in life so don't let it get to you, okay?"
"Ah, uh sure. Whatever you say."
And with that, I just left, my social battery hand long ran out after all.