— We have arrived, cadets. I ask you to be respectful before the highest authority.
We are in front of two large doors of an elegant white material. When they open, we can see inside: two large pillars support a crystalline ceiling; the walls are adorned with paintings on white walls that exude elegance. Most of the paintings seem to depict wars and fights. The place is also decorated with various precious stones, but the ones that stand out the most are rubies. In the middle of the hall stretches a long corridor with a red carpet, and at the end of it is a white throne, elevated on stairs. Behind the throne are several dragon skulls, placed as if they were some kind of trophies.
However, what is most impressive is the presence of a young woman, sitting cross-legged on the throne, with an imposing pose. She wears a long red dress and has very long hair, as deep red as blood. Her face is covered by a veil, which gives her an air of mystery, while she gives off an aura of overwhelming divinity.
"What is this pressure I feel, am I the only one (I look around and notice that some are even trembling). But my gaze is fixed on the princess. Shit, how come she seems to be so calm, will she be holding on like me?"
— Cadets! Everyone kneel down, you are in the presence of the academy director," says the deputy director, who comes out from the side.
As if it were a natural impulse, we all kneel down, unable to stand.
The woman stands up and, with a walk that looks like death itself, takes a few echoing steps to stand in the middle of the stairs. In a seemingly angelic voice, she says:
— I have sent for you, young prodigies, to meet you. But don't be so tense, my students. I will only tell you to become the strongest living beings on the planet. Each of you represents the future of your races. Be proud to belong to the elite of this school and to be my students. I expect great things from you. I will support you in every way I can to make you stronger.
The woman, who appeared friendly, turns to the vice principal, keeping a gentle tone:
— I have finished talking to them. You can get up and take my students back, but I'd like to have a little chat with that young lady with the red hair.
Hoping that she was referring to someone else, I turn around, but I freeze when I see her hand pointing directly at me.
— Okay, Cadet Haruki, you can get up and wait in this place," says Professor Yukimura.
Everyone gets up and leaves the room, except for the vice principal, who kneels down again, and me, who remains standing a few feet away from that woman.
"Why does this have to happen to me, what a shitty day."
— Now that everyone is gone, dear student, I want you to tell me who you are.
With what little strength I have left, I answer:
— M-my name is Haruki.
Before I could say anything else, he interrupts me.
— HAHAHAHAHA! Sorry for not expressing myself well, little one. I'll rephrase the question...
In the blink of an eye, he disappears from my sight, but I notice his terrifying presence behind me. Approaching my ear with a voice and tone totally different from before, he asks me:
— WHAT ARE YOU?
At that moment, my legs begin to tremble like those of a simple animal sensing danger. I can perceive a murderous aura emanating from her. This feeling I already knew: the fear of death. Unable to formulate a sentence, she grabs my cheek and turns my face towards her.
Although I have always seen people with a huge X on their heads, which made it difficult for me to recognize them, I could see his uncovered face perfectly, without the cloak that covered it before. He did not look away from me. His eyes were scorching, like those of a monster, of such an intense red that they became more threatening the more I looked at them. In a moment, I felt as if my body was on fire, and I realized that my breathing was becoming more and more agitated. The pressure of his gaze wouldn't let me breathe, but suddenly, he released me and I fell to the ground, gasping in a desperate attempt to catch my breath.
— I guess you can't answer a simple question like that, and I can't figure out what you are either. Deputy Director Koyama, get her out of here.
— As you command.
The vice principal helps me up from the floor, and once I'm on my feet, I weakly make my way toward the exit.
— Just one last thing, child. You better get strong, because the next time we meet it will be on the battlefield, and I will kill you. You better buckle down and become a fun toy.
And with a mocking smile she says goodbye. Still taking in what had just happened, I hurry towards the exit.
"If I don't get out of here fast, that monster will kill me."
After getting out, still panting, I run a few meters.
"I have to calm down. I'm still shaking, and my breathing is out of control. Will I have an asthma attack? No! I must fix it. Maybe using the system..."
— Ice System, Control.
I try to control my energy flow, and after a while and a lot of effort I manage to stabilize it.
"I feel a little calmer already. I'm still shaking a little, but as long as I keep using the system, I'll be able to breathe and talk normally. I have to find my brother. He's the only one who can calm me down now. I want to give him a hug."
As I walk, I see the silhouette of a girl standing, watching in my direction, and she approaches.
— Haruki, are you okay? I decided to wait for you so we could leave together.
"I see, that voice is Lylyth's. She's really naive... but a good person."
— Yes, I'm fine. I just wanted to know my name the headmistress," I reply with a smile.
— Just as well, although you look a little tired.
"I guess my acting skills aren't much use right now."
— It's because it's been a tiring day and I feel tired, haha.
— You're right. We'd better get going. Let's go.
With a more serious countenance, I ask:
— Why do you care about me?
— Because you ask, it's very simple: you are my first friend.
Her words surprised me. "Can someone really be that simple? I know empty words when they say them, and I know this is not the case. I don't sense evil in her heart either. From the first moment we spoke, she has gone out of her way to be my friend. Is it possible for good people to exist in this rotten world? Looking at her... Haha, she really is a good person.
— (While closing my eyes) Haha, you really are a kind person, Lylyth.
— What? Why do you say that?
As I open my eyes wider, I watch in surprise as the huge X that covered Lylyth's face slowly falls, revealing the beautiful face of a beautiful elf, with moon-gray hair and eyes of the same color, as well as a pair of long, pointed ears. I can only smile broadly at her.
"So that's what elves look like."
— Why are you smiling like that all of a sudden, Haruki?
— Haru. From today, you can call me Haru," I reply with a smile.
She, with a chagrined face, replies:
— Just like that all of a sudden? It's not that I dislike the idea, but it took me by surprise.... Haru.
— Okay, Lylyth, it's time to go.
— Yes.
After that talk, more pleasant and unexpected than the previous one, we leave. After a while walking, I say goodbye to Lylyth, as she takes a different path than mine.
As I walk and think with a cool head I realize everything that happened with the director, although I still don't confirm her name, I think I know who she is.
"Good, I feel much better already. Over here is my brother's building.... I saw him. He's talking to someone, he looks like a gentleman. When he leaves, I'll go over and give my little brother a big hug."
My expression turns serious and somber, with a smile I whisper.
— And I also swear that someday I will kill that Goddess... Ares.