It happened 3 years ago, during the alliance war. That day, a mob of weird looking humanoid creatures had suddenly started attacking us. They were falling from a gigantic space ship that had somehow instantly appeared over the city I was in. It was later revealed that they were actually called Qwaglers and were led here by the Pure-Childs in that ship.
Qweglers are a species of humanoid aliens. In height they are around 8 to 10 feets and also walk on 2 legs for which they are considered humanoid. But what's special about them is that they have dark skinned bodies, too thick to break shells all over their muscles that work as their natural armour, deep void like eyes and lastly a pair of crab's leg like structures coming out of the back of their shoulders that they use for killing.
That was the first time I, along with everyone, had got introduced to them and that was how they had overall looked at that time. On a bigger scale someone might say that they were looking like black humanoid ants, falling from your room's ceiling. But when you are of their size, you end up becoming their feast.
As of my memory from that day, they were continuously falling from that gigantic ship. It was a spaceship of Pure-Childs that had managed to enter Earth, while the war was still going on the outside. It was so huge that the whole city was in darkness by its silhouette and still we were unable to see its edges.
Despite falling from such a height, they weren't getting any harm and were able to withstand the fall easily. Qweglers have a rage personality by nature which makes them natural killing machines. So as they got on the ground and got a sight of humans, they started attacking us with their long claws coming out from their backs. Declaring a carnage.
Even though the Star-Childs are considered to be the most powerful species, because of the shades we are born with, mostly we don't get to use them on a larger scale since all the hardship and deadly fights are handled by lords. And so like I said, people tried protecting themselves by using their shades, but their fear ate them up after they saw their own helplessness and got killed.
People like me, those who didn't have the courage of saving themselves, just ran around. Soon blasts started to happen and the buildings around us started blowing off by explosions. Some even started decaying into powder and many uncommon things started happening, destroying the city even more.
Giant pieces of concrete shattered around here and there and fell on the ground, covering the path we were running on, while the dust covered the atmosphere making it hard to see. Some even got crushed beneath them but I kept running with the others left while the Qweglers were chasing after us.
Suddenly my left foot got stuck between two of the slabs on the ground, and I fell. I turned around and saw the mod of those terrifying creatures coming at me while making terrible dins and screams. It even looked like they were fighting among themselves to get to me first. The people around me had already gone ahead so I was the only one left there, at that time. I tried pulling out my leg and ran ahead too but then I realised…
It had got deeply stuck and also a sprint. I couldn't pull it out even a bit in that pain.
I looked behind and tried seeing how far they were from me. I was panicking. A cold chill ran through my body when I saw that they weren't much farther away.
And while looking at them I noticed something new about them…
They had another pair of claws!!
These ones were coming out from their waists. From the corner, above their thighs, they had two slippery tentacles coming out of them that were as long as half of their bodies. And at the tip of each tentacle they had those new claws of theirs.
In the next second they extended their tentacles and they started coming out more. They ran to me with their wild screams, making such horror that could make anyone panic and be traumatized.
From my very childhood I never had a dream but that day I wished for it all to be a dream of mine, and for me to wake up from it. I didn't want to die!! I was just wishing for it all to stop somehow.
And then it really did!!
Surprisingly, suddenly it all stopped, the whole world around me, the people, those Qweglers, everything. But somehow my mind was the only thing that didn't. So I was able to sense it all. It felt like someone had just stopped the time that the whole world had become frozen. And then he showed up.
Out of nowhere he suddenly appeared before my eyes, standing in front of me while facing towards the Qweglers. It had happened so instantly that I had no idea of what was happening or where he had come from. I wasn't able to see much of his looks because of the translucent environment caused by the ship over us, but by his silhouette I could tell that he was wearing his overcoat, a lord's uniform. The long end of it was waving in the air like it was telling me not to worry since he'll handle it, representing itself like a flag of peace and justice, and seeing it made me feel relieved.
Because the whole world had stopped but only he and his clothes were moving like normal, I found it strange and several questions popped up in my head. Like:
Why did the time stop? Was it a universal thing?
If yes, then why didn't it affect him? Or was it all his doing??
But then he turned his head to me and I saw a vivid light of aqua blue colour being emitted from his left eye. It was shining so brightly that it was making me unable to see his face. But then unexpectedly he tilted his head a bit while looking at me and I caught a glimpse of his lips moving. He was telling me something. But his lips moved so fast that I couldn't understand anything and while sitting down there his voice sounded like a sonic boom to me.
After that he turned away again to his front and in the next moment he suddenly vanished out of my sight. As he vanished I noticed that the environment had got a weird ray of light which was going around all those frozen Qweglers, connecting them like it was a string art but on a human scale. It was also emitting vivid lights of aqua blue colour, like his left eye, that made it look like a shining thread in the sky. And in that next matter of seconds all of their limbs got cut off in an instant and everyone was saved.
Assumingly it was all his doing, he had saved everyone and witnessing it made only one thing come to my mind-
COOL!!
HE WAS SO COOL!!
I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE HIM!!
The whole time stopping thing also ended, but only after a long immeasurable period of time. And surprisingly after coming out of it, I found out that it had only happened to me. I mean when I asked others about it, they said they didn't experience anything like the time stopping at all. To them, they were only running for life and then suddenly somehow all those Qweglers got cut into pieces.
Later, the government revealed that the one who had saved us was actually the new One, the new first lord. It was his debut mission. Also I found out about why that time freezing had happened but the fact which was more important than that was that only I had witnessed it, something that others couldn't. And on that day I realised that without even me or him noticing, he had ignited a will in me of saving lives and becoming a lord.
.
.
.
It's the third period now and none of the teachers have come to teach us anything. The first period was boring and so was the other. Since it's the first day, Mr Targil told us to make friends with others and self study and left. But although it has been a while till now, none of the teachers have come. I still haven't talked to anyone. The reason for my isolation is that I don't remember anyone's name here besides Rem's.
Only if I knew it beforehand then I would've stayed focused during the introduction period.
I looked at Rem. When looking at him, he seems like a hardworking person. Because from the moment Mr Targil has left he is studying continuously, even right now. Personally I do like honest and hardworking people, who continuously work harder to make their dreams come true. But one thing that I can't understand is, just what kind of studying he is even doing at this time of the year?
I mean the semester has just started and none of the teachers have taught us anything. Then why?
Self study??
I guess this is what it takes to engineer a topper.
Then suddenly my vision shifted to the girl sitting between me and him. She was studying too. But she was reading something while he was writing. She also had twin tailed hair, unlike me but the same as others, so I guess everyone in this school is disciplined.
Maybe I shouldn't disturb them, since they are so focused.
I turned and looked at the writing board then roamed my vision around the other students. But I just couldn't get the toppers out of my head. Now that I think about it, the topper trio is actually missing a member. Yes, the second one is absent.
I wonder what kind of person is he?
But why is he absent when all his rivals are here, hardworking? Is a topper even supposed to take leaves like this? There must be an emergency, I guess.
Wait! Is he even a guy? Or a girl?
"He's a guy!" The 3rd ranked girl said.
I unexpectedly turned as I heard her. That was a surprise! Did I say that out loud??
"He's usually absent like this so don't ponder over him much!" That 3rd ranked girl continued while she was still looking at her text book. She was just continuously reading her book this whole time while she has left me questioning how did she even hear me?
Guess it's her shade!
"Hello!!" Suddenly a girl's voice with a tap on my shoulder said from behind. It was sudden and surprising but I calmed myself and turned around to her, greeting her back with a 'Hi'.
"You're a newcomer, right?" She asked while looking at me. She had a little pink mixed long black hair and was sitting while laying her chin down on her arms, on the table. She got up and continued, "You can call me Shin, nice to meet you!!"
"Yes and I'm Alvish!" I replied. "Are you a newcomer too??"
"Oh no no, I just got moved up in the section."
As she had gotten up, looking at her I tried assuming her height. She seemed a bit shorter than mine but she had a better figure. Her looks were jaw-dropping stunning with that hair style. I'm pretty sure boys should be hovering over her.
"So what are you doing??" She asked curiously.
"Aa… nothing much, just waiting for any teacher to come and teach us something!" I said as I broke out of my thoughts.
"If that's your wish, then it's not gonna come true today!" She stated as I finished.
"What??" I asked as just what she said hit me like a thunderbolt. "But ain't that what schools do? Especially this school, it's even popular!!" I continued.
She came close to my ear and whispered, "It's Aragona's style of celebrating April fools!!"
I backed off immediately confused.
April fools??
What the hell is she even talking about-
"They do it every year to newcomers who enter thinking they shouldn't be absent on the first day 'cause they might miss something important as the roots, but they get fooled here" She started explaining as she took back her seat. "Well, Aragona never accepts that they do it so it's just a conspiracy theory. Instead, they say that they don't teach on the first day so the kids can socialise and explore the school on their own!!"
I was confused as I heard all through it. But after knowing about it, it does kinda make sense. I admit it's a good idea, but to think a school… would really do such a thing?
"Wait… for real??" I asked.
"Well as I said it's just a theory so, who knows? It's just what I had heard on my first day!" Shin replied.
Oh, I get it in now, it's just a myth among the students. Also, by her behaviour It seems Shin is a talkative person.
"But if you already knew about it then why did you still come to school today?" I asked as this question suddenly came to my head. And as she heard it, her face turned red and she started looking around. She was actually trying to avoid gazes from mine. Maybe she just remembered something embarrassing that she doesn't wanna share.
"Promise me you won't laugh." She turned and whispered quietly while making a wall of fingers beside her lips, like she was telling me a secret of hers.
"Aa… okay!"
"Actually I got fooled by someone that it's 2nd April today."
"What-t??" I said as I cracked up. I know I had promised but it was too funny that I lost control. I had tried my best.
"Hey, you're so mean!!" She said angrily. She seems to have been offended but I also won't say it's her fault. Afterall, I was the one who didn't keep her promise.
I was laughing quietly all this time while covering my mouth with my hand. But I tried getting a hold over myself and said , "I- I am sorry, I just couldn't help myself". I apologized as soon as I got the chance because I didn't want it to go on anymore. And luckily after some narrowed stares she finally forgave me and started laughing along with me. Guess she had also realised that her accident was funny.
…And with that I thought I just made my first friend here!!
"Alvish… you know…??" Shin said and placed her hand over mine, which I had placed on her table when I had turned around. And while holding it she said, "...your hair is beautiful…!"
WAA…WHATT!?
Although, I was happy that someone was finally complimenting me for my hair and looks, the way she was holding my hand felt weird.
But I couldn't just complain about it so I just let it slide while complimenting her back a little nervously, "Yours is beautiful too…"
"So tell me, who's your favourite??" She then asked in a voice full of excitement.
"What…? What do you mean?" I asked as I was clueless of what she was talking about.
"I meant which one of them is your favourite?" Till then she had freed my hand from her grip and I also felt like I had an idea of what she was talking about.
She is talking about the lords I think. Since I had mentioned them in my intro, from there she would have found out.
"The first one, of course!!" I answered.
"Oh you mean him, yeah I love him too!!" She said with her hyped up expressions. "He is so handsome, I just wanna marry him!!"
Marriage? What?? I also admire One but I see him as a role model for my life rather than a life partner. I don't have a crush on him! I want to be like him, not with him.
Also, handsome? Has she seen his face? I thought he doesn't reveal himself much.
"But sorry Alvish, I already have someone in my heart." She interrupted my thoughts and continued, "The third one, I love him more. The white hairs of his, they just make him look like a snow wolf. He's just so hot!!!"
Now again, WHATT??
Because the third lord is actually a girl!!
There was a male Third, but he was before her. She had taken his spot on her debut day, just like One, along with him on that same day.
Many thoughts of ours were just not matching out. So I assumed that we were talking about different topics.
"Aa- Shin, I think we are not on the same page here." I said.
"What? You don't think he's hot??"