The classroom air was cluttered with sharp, and firm sounds. Like a blade scraping paper. As the clattering of shoes echoed through the otherwise silent classroom, some faces became watermarked, with sweat. Some of them gritted their teeth in disbelief at what they were looking at on their papers, and others wrote mindlessly trying to give off an air of knowing what was in front of them, but at the corner near the glass panes partially sealed up by black curtains, was a black-haired boy with glasses. The oval lens reflected the light peeking through the ends of the curtains. His face was fixed in a bored & exhausted expression which was accompanied by a slight frown, However, his desire to find the answers to questions held him tightly. His brown eyes became lost in unexciting questions and answers on the paper. Black-thick ink populated the pearly pages as the steel apparatus clasped in his hand glided across the page effortlessly. With one final stroke he had reached the exam's conclusion. He lifted his plain black bag from the ground and pressed the lower lip against the side of the desk. In one motion he pushed everything on his polished wood desk into the bag. From the front of the classroom a deep voice stretched out to him.
"Kintsugi, are you finished already?" The teacher asked with a surprised expression.
"Yes... The questions weren't very challenging."
"Is that so?... Well, you can leave as soon as you hand in your paper." The teacher remarked with an amused smile plastered on his face.
Kintsugi got up from the cold steel chair, and approached the teacher's desk. After he placed his paper on the teacher's station, he strolled across the front of the class and slid open the door, tempting the rest of the students with the freedom that existed beyond the completion of their current tribulation. The rest of students chomped on their nails in a fit of jealousy as they glared at Kintsugi.
"What are you all staring at?!" The teacher asked in an inquisitive, but stern voice.
They all turn their eyes back into their exam papers with nervous faces.
"Anyways." The teacher's voice softened as he turned back to Kenchi. "Kid, make sure you enjoy your summer, because next year's exam might be the one to give you a challenge."
"I'll try, teach." Kintsugi proclaimed whilst he slid the door shut behind himself...
Kenchi trailed along the pavement of the bustling street, sipping a cup of Iced-tea clouded by the abundance of milk in it...
"Ever since my birth, I've always been able to remember every moment of my life... It's a curse and a blessing. I can recall every heartbreak, fight between my parents, and dead family member I've seen..." Kenchi eyes snapped onto his watch...
"Three-thirty-five already?... The game of the year awards should be starting soon."
Kenchi quickened his pace.
"Elden Ring was last year's winner. But, VR games are getting better, so I might be surprised at what steal 1st place." Kenchi relished in the imminent excitement of the program. A smile played on his face as he drew near to a crossroad. As he stood their lock in an intense staring contest with the yellow safety light, a man tattered in tattoos also fell into the same trans as Kenchi. The last car gradually advanced toward the four-way intersection, but upon reaching the center of the plus shaped intersection, the car stopped, and in the midst of his trans, Kenchi glimpsed a black pistol aimed at him and the tattooed-man. As sharp beeping played in his ears, a sudden darkness enveloped Kenchi. As he drifted through the abyss, it became littered with countless specs of light, and his gravity became centered again as if he was now on a galaxy colored floor... Wrapped in mist, were two figures, whom descend upon Kenchi. Chill crawled up Kenchi spine as the beings drew closer.
"Who are you guys?! Kenchi queried in disbelief at his current situation... "Are you gods or something?" He inquired, expecting a {yes}. However they said nothing...
Human appendages manifested from the mist.
"What are you doing?" Kenchi stepped back, and traced the the environment with his eyes, looking for a way out and back to similarity.
The beings slowly pointed one finger in sync, toward Kenchi.
"Rebirth." the beings calmly said as their pointed finger seemingly pierced, and bent space like a finger dipped into water. A weak force pressed against Kenchi's chest, before it intensified to a overwhelming pressure which felt like it was trying to push Kenchi out of the place he had found himself in. Kenchi closed his eyes and when he had opened them again, he found himself in a almost as dark, bitterly-cold and airy stone cage... A commanding, masculine voice reverberate through the room.
"It's this way, follow me man!..."
Kenchi's eyes raced around, scanning the darkness for any sign of life, till a glimmer of light appeared at the edge of his sight. The glimmer expanded into a flickering light, and the agonizing screams of steel hitting against the ground forced Kenchi to retreat deep into the darkness, but it was of no use. Upon spreading pass the mouth of the room, the light grew more brilliant, Illuminating the entire room. The previous voice echoed once more.
"There you are, damn beast!" A man covered in reflective steel armor remarked, as he drew his equally shiny short-sword...
A trio stood before Kenchi with malice in their eyes.
"Hey, I don't know what's going on!" Kenchi exclaimed with a bit of weakness in his tone.
"It talks?!" The girl behind the man asked with a shocked face.
"It doesn't matter if you can dance! Regardless of any tricks you can do, you must pay for killing our king!" The red-haired man next to the girl proclaimed as his veins bulged.
"You know what! I'll put an end to you right now!" He roared as he pushed pass the armored-man, and sped towards Kenchi. As his blade swung forward, Kenchi blocked his face, firmly lodging the blade in Kenchi's arm...
In that moment the flame at the girl's fingertips ran cold, and all movement ceased along with it... Upon dropping his hands, Kenchi felt a thick liquid at his bare feet. A tingling sensation on his arms prompted him to look. As he squinted his eyes, a wave of goosebumps and fear rushed through his body. His throat tightened at the sight.
"Holy Shit..."
[Passive skill Awakened: Ally System skill... Awaiting activation.]