After yesterday's match, I noticed people avoiding me. It wasn't just because of me, but more because of Imeki. Her beauty and silent aura resonated more. Fear could be seen painted on the faces of students when they saw her in person just making them recall of the other day they witness her killing Urn Bethold, a noble . We were in class, and no one approached or talked to me. I tried reaching out to a few people, trying to join conversations, but they just ran away.
"Imeki, I guess your master is going to die alone due to a lack of socialization."
Imeki, who was standing behind my seat, stared at me as she listened but didn't reply.
"Oi, Miss Tsuki Ernie is sitting next to you. How can you turn a blind eye towards me?" Tsuki pouted as I ignored her while she sat next to me.
"Well, it's just that I'm avoiding you because you tried to blow up this entire academy on the first day. I don't want to be seen as an accomplice if you ever get caught."
"Haah? I was doing that because I had no other options. Our clubroom is 100 years old with no renovation. The walls are crumbling with insufficient funds and members—more like I'm the only member. If I blew up, the academy would get funds and, of course, the classroom would get renovated along with it. If I destroy the clubroom, they will just ignore it and won't even bother to fix it." She spat out her words, frustrated and speaking quickly.
"I-I see... By the way, what club are you talking about?" Her club piqued my interest, so I asked.
"It's called The Heroes of the Country Club. Of course, I am the one who made it."
I sighed deeply. She was crazy, I thought when she leapt onto my room's windowpane, but now I keep discovering more of her weirdness. What kind of childish name is that for a club? Not even a fifth grader would pick a name like that. That's why people didn't want to join. I always thought clubs were more like the newspaper club, mage arts club, or magical chemistry works club.
"Ha-ha... I guess that sounds kinda cool?" I pitied her for trying to defend the club. Of course, anyone would disband it, but she is lucky that no one told her to leave the club room, no matter how old it was.
"By the way, Tsuki, why do you only talk to me don't you have other people to hang out with? Are you in love with me?"
"L-l-l-l-love??? I thought you felt lonely, that's why I was speaking to you!" Her face turned as red as a tomato as she blushed and turned away from me.
I snapped my fingers as I understood her situation.
"I see, you don't have any friends to talk to."
"W-well I do, it's just that they are in a different class." She sweated and had the expression of a liar.
Mhm, as she cleared her throat, she changed the topic of conversation. She was embarrassed that Arnes caught her red-handed.
"Arnes, why is your maid silent? Doesn't she get exhausted from standing?"
"She is trained and used to it. It's a maid's common talent." I couldn't give a valid reason for her being a lich.
Tsuki looked at Imeki, and as Imeki stared at her, Tsuki blushed and started patting her thighs, giving a sign to Imeki.
"Imeki... come and sit on my lap."
I nodded at Imeki in agreement, and she bowed gently and sat on Tsuki's lap.
"Arnes, she is just like a cat. I am scared of how you keep a cute creature like her all to yourself."
"Huh? She is not a creature but a human, of course. And yes, she is antisocial, so she tends to isolate herself from people."
"Well, I do feel bad for the maids who keep standing behind their masters all the time. I don't like this kind of harsh treatment of them. It's a good thing her master is someone like you who cares about her." Tsuki smiled gently as she patted Imeki on the head. Hearing those words from her made my heart melt.
There were maids who attended to their designated masters. They were treated as slaves with no crumbs of food from the academy and no seats while they stayed with their masters. They were treated lower than us commoners.
"Ah, the teacher is here. Imeki, you can go back to your master." As Tsuki pointed out the teacher, Imeki stood up and went behind me.
I was shocked by the teacher's presence. It was Rebecca Stafford, the principal's personal assistant and the one who helped me with the tour of the academy campus.
"Students, as we know, new students have enrolled in this academy. Please, everyone, make a line and come towards the infirmary. We will give you the ranks according to your magic level."
***
As she left the classroom, the new students, including me, headed together to the infirmary where the old students including Tsuki were having classes as usual. forming a line where they checked our magic levels using a magic cube. Placing our hands on the cube, it measured our mana and glowed in different colors to indicate our ranks: B, A, AA, or SS. B is considered the lowest, and those students aren't allowed to do combat activities but are involved in labs as lab rats or help the academy while continuing their studies. The cube glowed different colors according to our mana capacity.
B - Blue A - Green AA - Purple SS - Gold
As we formed a line, they were being checked one by one.
"Let's go, I got an A rank... phew." Random students were relieved, as getting a B rank meant slavery, and no one wanted that. Having an A rank or above felt safe for everyone as they were provided with good facilities according to their ranks.
"I wonder what your maid's rank would be," a guy standing behind me commented.
"We will find out after measuring," I replied, knowing the conversation wouldn't go any further.
"Nice to meet you, I am Kerfern Karshatsuha." But my assumption was wrong; the guy kept on talking to me.
He extended his arm towards me, wanting to shake hands and form a bond.
"Arnes Hyouki, a new student like you." I replied with a smile, happy to make a new friend in the academy.
He smiled, and we shook hands to start a friendship. I had been getting avoided, so I couldn't make friends aside from Tsuki. Kerfern approaching me felt like an angelic intervention.
He had blue messy hair with a piercing on his right ear, wearing a battle mage outfit like all of us. He had an aura that made it easy for him to befriend anyone.
"Your name is too long... Can I call you Kerf instead?"
"Well, yeah sure, Arnes. It's nice to make an acquaintance with you."
I nodded, and we both introduced ourselves. It was an unexpected encounter. As we discussed Imeki's last match, it was my turn to measure my rank.
"Good luck, Arnes. Just don't fall at the B-rank!" We parted with his cheer, which eased my nervousness.
I opened the door and entered, seeing Rebecca Stafford measuring.
"Rebecca ma'am, I thought you just tagged along with the principal, but who knew you were a mage health teacher?" To call her with respect, I added "ma'am" to make it formal since she was my teacher, and it felt wrong to speak to her friendlier than before.
"Hmm, well, I am good at this job, so I was appointed. Anyways, sit here and put your hand on the cube. After your turn, we will measure Imeki's too."
"Huh? Imeki? But isn't she just my maid?"
"But she is your accomplice, right? They have the right to be measured for their master's benefit."
I nodded as she looked like she was in a hurry to get the measurements done with. The room had a single desk, and a black cube was placed in the middle. I placed my hand above the cube as she instructed me, and she blew out the lamp, making the room completely dark. It was supposed to glow to show the rank of the mage, but for me, it was pitch black; nothing glowed. Rebecca looked shocked as the cube didn't show any response.
"Arnes, what's the meaning of this? I think the cube is malfunctioning." Rebecca's voice trembled in shock.
"Master," I looked towards Imeki, who was standing beside me. She called me. I understood her intention and asked Rebecca to measure her instead. Rebecca agreed and started the measuring process again. As Imeki placed her small hand on the cube and the room lamp turned down, a purple light emitted through the cube filling the darkness of the room.
"Imeki is AA-Rank! That's wonderful! She is one of the third students to gain AA-Rank." Rebecca reported her rank cheerfully.
I looked towards Imeki excitedly, but Imeki showed no emotion, just like a hollow doll. I patted her for her achievement. AA-Rank was no joke; if she got stronger, she could reach SS-Rank in no time. But suddenly the mood turned somber; when I placed my hands on the cube, it showed no reaction.
Imeki tugged on my arm to get my attention.
"Master, there were faint greyish dark smokes coming out of the cube. Try to notice again while measuring."
Rebecca didn't dismiss her comment and tried again to measure. This time, when we focused on the cube, we could see it—the faint, glowing greyish dark smoke.
"..." I stayed quiet because I knew why it was unable to measure. Since it was a curse, which was totally different from normal blessed magic, I couldn't openly explain it. That cube was not equipped to measure dark magic, so it couldn't determine my ranking.
Rebecca stayed quiet for a moment, thinking, and she hesitated to speak. Arnes noticed her hesitation and the room felt congested.
Gulp. Could it be she realized I am cursed?
In that intense moment, it felt like time slowed down, even though no one was capable of manipulating time with magic—it didn't exist. Arnes stared at Rebecca's lips as she formed words into a sentence.
"Arnes, about your rank... It's...."
To Be Continued...