As Liam stepped into the room, the atmosphere shifted—like the calm before a storm. He had a knack for commanding attention effortlessly, his presence magnetic enough to draw every gaze.
"Sorry I'm late again," he said, a sheepish grin spreading across his face, somehow softening the tension that had built.
Ahh, this guy is always so goofy and always makes his entrance at the wrong time
The classroom, once buzzing with chatter, fell into a charged silence. Even Katakuri paused mid-sentence, his bravado momentarily deflated. It was evident that Liam possessed a unique ability to flip a room's energy on its head.
I could practically feel the glares directed at Liam—some laced with admiration, others tinged with envy and resentment and some with lust
I leaned back in my seat, watching the unfolding drama like a live episode of a show I couldn't turn away from.
Liam wasn't just another pretty face; he was a rising star in the academy. His commoner status only fueled the resentment from the elite, who saw him as an unwelcome disruption in their world of high-class nobel and privilege.
Nothing new—racism's and discrimination always gonna be around..
Katakuri's eye twitched as he caught sight of Liam's casual confidence radiating from across the room. He leaned back in his chair, attempting to play it cool, though annoyance dripped from his every movement.
"Great, just what I need," he muttered under his breath, loud enough for those nearby to hear. "Another pretty face thinking he owns the place."
Liam, seemingly oblivious—or perhaps indifferent—walked past Katakuri with an air of nonchalance, settling into his seat without a glance back.
Katakuri clenched his jaw, shooting a glare at the back of Liam's head. "Hope you're not expecting a warm welcome, Commoner," he sneered, arms crossed defiantly. "This isn't some fan club."
The silence thickened, students shifting slightly in their seats, sensing the brewing tension. Liam glanced over his shoulder, a slight smirk playing on his lips.
"Not looking for one. Just here for class."
Katakuri scoffed, rolling his eyes. "It's only been a few days. If you think you can waltz in here and demand respect, you might want to tone down the charm."
Liam shrugged, unfazed. "I'll take my chances."
Katakuri's eye twitched again, caught between annoyance and a begrudging . This new guy was proving to be a thorn in his side.
I struggled to contain my laughter at their exchange; it felt like a cartoon—Tom and Jerry, with Tom trying to catch Jerry for no reason at all.
I want to cut the struggle for him and say, 'Katakuri, just give up, bro. You're not him.' But I know that would just make things weirder.
Katakuri opened his mouth, irritation bubbling as he prepared to unleash another jab. But before he could speak, Elara Cassielan, the class representative, cleared her throat loudly, cutting through the charged atmosphere.
"Enough," she said, her voice firm and authoritative. "This isn't the time or place for petty squabbles. We have class to focus on."
Her gaze swept across the room, landing pointedly on Katakuri, who looked taken aback by her sudden intervention. He grumbled under his breath, but the weight of her presence quelled any further protest. Elara had a way of commanding attention without raising her voice, and even Katakuri knew better than to challenge her directly.
"Liam, Katakuri—save your banter for later," she continued, her tone brokering no argument. "We're here to learn, not to create a circus."
Liam offered a small, amused smile, while Katakuri rolled his eyes, the fire in his chest dampened by her authority. The rest of the class settled into a murmur, anticipation hanging in the air.
"Very well, Elara, I see you're doing your role quite admirably," a smooth voice echoed from the doorway, capturing everyone's attention.
A striking woman stepped inside, her presence commanding and elegant.
Lona slivashield
Lona Slivashield, the teacher, was a force to be reckoned with.
Her hair, a deep, vibrant purple, cascaded in long waves down her back, adorned with delicate accessories that enhanced its beauty. Her violet eyes sparkled with intelligence, conveying warmth and depth of knowledge.
At just twenty-four, Lona was already a Nexus-level fighter with a Sapphire rank, recognized by many as a formidable presence. Her beauty was striking, complemented by an aura of strength that left everyone in the room captivated.
Lona began, her tone shifting to seriousness, "I must remind everyone of an important rule. Fighting in this classroom and throughout the academy is strictly prohibited unless you have officially requested a match."
She scanned the room, her piercing gaze making contact with students who shifted uncomfortably. "We have designated times for combat training. If you wish to test your skills, do it properly and with the academy's approval. Is that understood?"
A few students nodded, while Katakuri crossed his arms defiantly, suppressing a smirk. "Guess that puts a damper on any spontaneous showdowns," he muttered, casting a sideways glance at Liam.
Lona caught the remark, her expression unwavering. "I will not tolerate disruptions. We are here to learn, not to settle personal grudges. If you wish to challenge someone, you must follow the proper procedures."
"I have high expectations for all of you, and I want to see you grow—not fight each other unnecessarily."
With her words hanging in the air, the atmosphere shifted once more. Katakuri leaned back, annoyance flickering in his eyes, but he knew better than to challenge Lona directly. She had a unique talent for diffusing tension while maintaining authority.
"Let's begin with attendance," she said, glancing around the room.
"RANK 1 - Vale Michaelis."
Vale merely nodded, barely acknowledging her presence, which clearly annoyed Lona, but she brushed it off as usual.
"RANK 2 - Liam Fingerland."
"Yes, ma'am," Liam replied cheerfully.
"RANK 3 - Aureon Zadkiel."
Aureon, at the back of the room, slurred out, "Ah, yeah, hot bitc—uh, I mean, Lady Lona, I'm present,"
"RANK 4 - Elara Cassiel."
"Yes," Elara replied, her elegance shining through.
"RANK 5 - Caera Winterfel."
Caera also replied formally.
As the attendance continues, which is based on the students' skills in combat, including their theoretical knowledge
"RANK 977 - Akashi Seraphiel."
"Ah, yes, present," I said, earning a glare from Lona, which I quickly brushed aside.
As the attendance wrapped up, Lona launched into the lesson. Surprisingly, I found myself drawn in by her explanations..
Time flew, and before I knew it, an hour had passed.
"Alright, everyone," Lona announced, her tone signaling the end of the lesson. "This concludes our discussion for today. As you know, next up is combat training. Please make your way to the Combat Training Room.
Ah shit, I'm not ready for this," I thought, a wave of anxiety washing over me. It was just a matter of time before I had to face my first real fight, and despite having Akashi's memories, the reality of it all still made my stomach churn.
Sure, I understood the mechanics of combat from what I'd read and seen, but the actual experience? That was a whole different beast.
On the flip side, excitement bubbled within me. This was my chance to finally put those skills to the test, to see what I could really do.
"Okay, let's go," I muttered under my breath,