As Professor stepped into the classroom, his face contorted with annoyance, he fixed his gaze on Edmond and Jarek, who were creating quite the ruckus. "So, what do you think?" he said, his tone deceptively calm, but a gleam in his eye hinted at something more menacing. "If you both have so much energy, why don't we three have a little spar?"
Edmond, quick to seize the challenge, abruptly changed his posture. "Forgive me, Professor. It seems we were just a bit too excited for the first class of the day," he replied, a sly smile creeping onto his lips as he hurried back to his seat.
The professor turned to Jarek, who looked visibly flustered. "And what about you, Jarek? Do you want to spar?" he asked, his gaze sharp and unwavering.
Jarek felt a rush of panic. "Uh, um..." he stammered, quickly withdrawing his weapon and shuffling back to his desk in a hasty retreat.
As Professor settled himself before the class, the other students complied, returning to their seats. "Good to meet you all. My name is Cedric Nightbloom," he began, his voice tinged with fatigue. "I will be your homeroom teacher for this year."
A wave of excitement rippled through the room. "Cedric Nightbloom! The swordsman who battled the level 8 Abyss monster, 'Nyarlosseris'!" one student exclaimed, unable to contain their awe.
Ashura, who had been lounging with his head resting lazily on the table, finally raised it to assess the new teacher. Even he understood the gravity of a being like Nyarlosseris. It was known to take Professor Cedric an entire day to claim victory against such a formidable foe. Moreover, Nyarlosseris was a fusion of an ancient, serpentine entity tied to Nyarlathotep, possessing five heads that unleashed different elemental powers, a tail as massive as a mountain, and eyes that dripped with bloodlust.
*Damn, this place really knows how to recruit monsters,* Ashura thought, feeling a twinge of dejection about the academy.
Professor Cedric straightened up, addressing the class with determination. "As your professor, I will do my utmost to make you all stronger. My experience will greatly benefit you." The students listened, smiles forming on their faces. Some even shouted, "Damn, to think we'll receive guidance from Cedric Nightbloom! We're so lucky!"
"Are you excited, Ashura?" Edmond piped up, his curiosity piqued by Ashura's expression.
*Like hell I'm excited. I have a feeling this class won't be easy,* Ashura thought bitterly as he turned his gaze away from Edmond.
Yet Edmond, perceiving Ashura's inner turmoil with uncanny precision, offered a bright smile. "Don't worry! As long as we're {fated to meet} stay together, nothing will stop us!" he declared, his optimism radiating around the room. Ashura felt his spirits hit rock bottom, the weight of the world crashing down on him.
"Alright, I'll call your names one by one, so please raise your hand when your name is called," Professor Cedric instructed, his tone authoritative. The class consisted of twelve students, and this particular one was known as Amethyst.
The classroom buzzed with anticipation as Professor Cedric glanced down at the roster. He cleared his throat, ready to begin.
"First, Liraeth Zepar," he announced, looking up just in time to see a boy spring to his feet.
"I'm here!!!" Liraeth called out, his voice ringing through the room with uncontained excitement. His enthusiastic, open expression and bright, lively eyes were infectious, drawing smiles from his classmates. Liraeth's gaze shot slightly upwards, as if he were perpetually on the verge of discovering something extraordinary. His tousled, short hair added to his carefree, approachable vibe, radiating warmth and friendliness.
*Oh God, this boy will make me tired quickly with all this energy,* Professor Cedric thought as he forced himself to focus on the next name.
"Edric Aquarius," he continued. A boy with sharp, intense eyes stood up, his expression focused. Edric's serious demeanor hinted at a thoughtful disposition, though he carried a slight air of aloofness. His dark blue hair was longer and meticulously styled, exuding a polished discipline.
"Present, Professor," Edric replied, his tone serious and unwavering.
*Oh God, this one is too serious. He surely notices if I act lazy,* Professor Cedric sighed internally, casting a glance back at the list.
"Next, Fenn," he said. A tall, slender figure raised his hand, sharp features and piercing green eyes captivating attention. Fenn's tousled chestnut hair was adorned with leaves and small flowers, sending earthly scents wafting through the air.
*So, my class has seven commoners, huh? Unlike nobles, commoners don't have last names, but if they can enter the academy, they surely must be worth training,* Professor Cedric mused, eyeing the name list thoughtfully.
"Next, Maelis," he declared. A girl with striking silver hair cascading down her back raised her hand with graceful confidence. Her bright blue eyes and porcelain skin gave her an ethereal presence, making it hard to look away.
"Taryn," said the professor next, and a girl with vibrant red hair stood up, cropped and tousled in a lively manner. Her bright green eyes sparkled with mischief and determination, while the freckles on her lightly tanned skin suggested afternoons spent in the sun.
"Rowan," Professor Cedric called out. A medium-height boy with a lean, athletic build raised his hand. His warm brown eyes exuded kindness, instantly putting everyone at ease with his gentle nature.
"Next is Ilyra," the professor continued. A graceful figure stood up, flowing, wavy hair shifting from deep violet to midnight blue as she raised her hand. Her enchanting lavender eyes shimmered mysteriously, capturing the attention of many in the room.
"After that, Kael," Professor Cedric said, nodding towards a tall, muscular individual. Kael's short, spiky black hair framed a rugged face with a chiseled jawline, and his striking amber eyes glinted with intensity. A few faint scars hinted at stories untold.
"continue, we have Sorin," he concluded, watching as a lean boy with shoulder-length, straight platinum blonde hair raised his hand. Sharp, angular features made Sorin stand out, and his bright gray eyes seemed to observe everything with an analytical gaze.
"And of course, our two ruckuses—Edmond Valentino and Jarek Everest," he announced, a hint of exasperation in his tone.
Edmond sat back, raising his hands gracefully above his head, an easy smile playing on his lips. He seemed almost indifferent to Professor Cedric's earlier comments. In stark contrast, Jarek shot his hand up aggressively, his gaze fixed on Edmond with a mixture of frustration and challenge.
"Lastly, we have Ashura Kanon," Professor Cedric continued, a slight surprise creeping into his voice. *I never thought that a defectus of the Kanon family would choose to enter the academy,* he mused silently.
"Here," Ashura muttered lazily, lifting his hand in a half-hearted gesture. His lackadaisical demeanor drew disapproving glances from the other students, who watched him with a mix of disdain and curiosity—except for Edmond, who remained unbothered but unlike the students, Professor Cedric's eyes widened momentarily. *That hand!! Just how many times has he practised to make it like that?* He couldn't help but marvel internally, as he struggled to regain his composed expression.
At a glance, Ashura's hands appeared unremarkable, just like any other. But to someone who had witnessed countless battles, the subtle strength and hidden muscles in Ashura's hands were unmistakable—comparable to those of the fierce warrior clans of the Vikings. It puzzled Cedric how the powerful beings of the Empire Rozastar had overlooked something so significant. The answer was clear: Ashura had purposefully concealed his capabilities from their gaze.
Professor Cedric quickly adjusted his expression, a newfound determination lighting up his features. "Alright, we will begin the class today," he said, casting one last lingering look at Ashura's hands. *This class might be more fun than I anticipated. That kid, Ashura—I need to pay more attention to him,* he thought, excited for the challenge that lay ahead.
"First, we will start with the core principle. Each being has their own core. Depending on your talent, each core may grow remarkably," he explained, gesturing with enthusiasm. His eyes sparkled with a depth of knowledge as he continued, "For example, my core has grown to the point where I can fight against Nyarloseris."
A hush fell over the room as the students exchanged glances, both awed and curious. Cedrick was a renowned figure among the noble families, each of whom possessed their own cores, strengthened to face formidable opponents. "Each head of the 53 noble families has also nurtured their cores to confront powerful adversaries. So, how do we access the strength of our core?" he asked, his voice rising slightly in anticipation.
From the back of the room, Edrick stood up with pride etched on his serious face. "We use the Scale of Trials!" he declared, the confidence in his tone reverberating through the room.
"That's right," Professor Cedrick affirmed, nodding in agreement. "We use the Scale of Trials. Each core has its own level, starting from the lowest: Promodium, then Aether, Obsidian, Helios, Nexus, Sphinx, Eclipse, Empyrean, Seraphim, and finally, the highest rank—Arcana." He paused, letting the significance of each level sink in.
As Cedrick continued, he shared more about his own journey. "Right now, I'm in the rank of Nexus. Outside these walls, many beings are stronger than I am. So keep that in mind when you venture out into the world," he cautioned, his tone shifting to one of earnest concern."that why we will do the scale of trial today to see your rank and register it in academy system"