Alex woke up the next morning to the soft hum of his alarm bracelet. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft light through the curtains of his dorm room. He stretched, feeling the familiar soreness in his muscles from all the training he had done in the past year. Today was his first official day of classes at Tay Academy.
After a quick shower, he put on the school uniform an outfit that consisted of a dark grey blazer with the Tay Academy emblem embroidered on the chest, paired with black trousers. The uniform made him look sharper, more serious, and with his wild, messy hair, he felt like a completely different person from the boy who had once been laughed at for not getting a Tay.
As he made his way to class, his heart beat faster with a mix of excitement and anxiety. When he entered the classroom, it was already half-filled with students. He quickly noticed Aristotle and Sarah sitting near the front, surrounded by a group of students who clearly admired them. Alex chose a seat closer to the back, wanting to stay low-key for now.
The lecturer, an older man with a gruff appearance and sharp eyes, entered the room soon after. He walked to the front and gave the class a quick once-over before speaking.
"Before we begin, let's have the new students introduce themselves," the lecturer said, scanning the room until his eyes landed on Alex. "You there, the one in the back. Come up and introduce yourself."
Alex could feel the eyes of the entire class on him as he stood up and walked to the front. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves that were starting to bubble up.
"My name is Alex," he began, his voice steady. "I'm here to learn like the rest of you."
There were a few murmurs from the class, but no one said anything directly. Alex nodded to the lecturer and quickly returned to his seat. He could feel the curious stares from the other students, but he tried to ignore them.
The lecturer didn't waste any time jumping into the day's lesson. "Today, we'll be discussing a particular type of creature known as the Mytrill Beast. These creatures are infamous for their destructive nature. They devour and destroy everything in their path, leaving nothing behind. They come in two main forms animal-like and humanoid."
A holographic image appeared in the center of the room, showcasing various forms of Mytrill Beasts. The animal-like forms were terrifying, resembling beasts such as wolves, lions, and even serpents, but with distorted, nightmarish features. Their glowing red eyes and jagged teeth made it clear that they were built to kill. But what really caught Alex's attention were the humanoid forms.
"While the animal-like Mytrill Beasts are dangerous, the humanoid ones are even more so," the lecturer continued. "Humanoid Mytrill Beasts possess greater intelligence, the ability to strategize, and they often wield powers that can rival those of Tay-bonded humans. They are not to be underestimated."
Alex sat forward in his seat, his interest piqued. The idea of such creatures existing in this world made him realize just how dangerous the path he had chosen truly was.
"The Tay you are bonded with will be your greatest weapon against these creatures, but never forget—underestimating a Mytrill Beast can cost you your life," the lecturer warned, his gaze sharp as it swept across the room.
After class ended, Alex gathered his things and headed to the cafeteria, his mind still filled with thoughts of Mytrill Beasts. The cafeteria was bustling with students, all chatting and enjoying their meals. He grabbed a tray and filled it with food, then sat down at an empty table near the corner.
As he ate, he overheard a group of students at the next table talking excitedly about something.
"Did you hear?" one of them said. "We get 10 credit points every day just for attending class. You can save them up for training equipment, food, and even upgrades for your Tay."
Alex paused mid-bite, his ears perking up at this new information. 10 credit points per day? That didn't seem like much, but he knew that with careful spending, it could make a big difference. He glanced down at the bracelet on his wrist, which now displayed his current balance: 10 credits.
"That's good to know," Alex thought to himself. He would need to manage his credits wisely, especially since he didn't have the same financial backing as students like Aristotle and Sarah.
As he finished his meal, Alex's mind was already racing with thoughts about how he could use those credits to his advantage. He had a long journey ahead of him, but now that he was here, he was determined to make the most of every opportunity.
As Alex finished his meal and stood up to leave the cafeteria, he noticed Aristotle approaching him. Aristotle's presence always seemed to command attention—his crisp uniform, sharp features, and the air of confidence that followed him. For a moment, Alex wasn't sure what to expect. Aristotle had never paid him much attention in their old school, aside from the occasional smug glance.
But this time was different.
"Alex," Aristotle called, his voice carrying easily over the noise of the cafeteria.
Alex stopped, turning to face him. His instincts told him to stay guarded, but he kept his expression neutral as Aristotle closed the distance between them.
"Didn't expect to see you here at Tay Academy," Aristotle said with a slight smile. "It's been a while since we were back at the old school."
Alex remained silent, waiting for Aristotle to get to the point. They had never exactly been friends before—Aristotle had always been part of the elite, hanging out with the rich and powerful, while Alex had mostly kept to himself.
"Listen," Aristotle continued, his tone becoming friendlier. "We both know Tay Academy is a competitive place, and having allies can make things a lot easier. Since we used to go to the same school, I thought maybe we could be... friends."
The word "friends" hung in the air for a moment, and Alex could tell from Aristotle's gaze that this wasn't a casual offer. It was strategic. Aristotle likely saw Alex's physical prowess and the recent changes in him and thought having someone like him on his side could be beneficial.
But Alex wasn't naive. He knew Aristotle wasn't offering friendship out of genuine interest. It was about power, reputation, and perhaps even control.
Still, Alex had learned over the past year not to reject opportunities without considering them carefully. Being connected with someone as influential as Aristotle could open doors—at least temporarily. But trusting him completely was out of the question.
"Friends, huh?" Alex said, raising an eyebrow. "I didn't think you were the type to need friends."
Aristotle chuckled lightly, shrugging. "Even someone like me knows the value of having strong people around. We've both grown since our last school, haven't we?"
Alex considered his response carefully. "Sure," he finally said, his tone casual. "We can see how it goes."
Aristotle smiled, seemingly satisfied with the answer. "Good. Let's look out for each other, then."
As Aristotle walked away, Alex couldn't help but feel a strange sense of unease. Aristotle's interest in him wasn't random, and Alex knew he'd have to be careful moving forward. But for now, he had made a tentative connection, one that could either help him or turn into something far more dangerous.
As Alex left the cafeteria, he couldn't help but wonder what Aristotle's true motives were. But one thing was clear Tay Academy was full of surprises, and he would need to stay sharp if he wanted to survive here.